2011 marks the seventh year running that AVS has provided RF services to ESPN and IMG for the Open championship

 The Open is the oldest of the four major PGA Championships having been established in 1860.  This year’s Open was held near the famous White Cliffs of Dover at a stormy Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England.   “Into each life some rain must fall,” wrote Longfellow.  The players and crew got their lifetime’s worth of rain during the four-day tournament. 

AVS provided a total of 7 paths of HD RF via Link’s L-1500 HD microwave system in the 1.4GHz and 2.5GHz bands.  Six of the microwave paths were dedicated to ground based handheld cameras while the seventh was assigned to the aerial coverage for ESPN’s 37 hours of live coverage on ESPN, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV and ABC.

AVS also supplied all of the wireless on-course announcer mics. and the complete audio effects package, providing ESPN with all of the sounds of the game…..and the pouring rain.  A RF return video program feed for the roving announcers was provided.  Three synchronous UHF transmitters delivered seamless full course coverage to small hand held monitors.

AVS employed its second-generation universal camera control system dubbed “Silverback.”  The innovative and proprietary Silverback system provides control for virtually all HD cameras via the Link L-1500 microwave unit.  Without camera operator involvement, the truck video engineer now has full camera and transmitter control via the Silverback.  Most importantly, the new controller provides the ability to remotely adjust transmitter frequency and power output levels from the truck.

To free up the camera operators even more, AVS eliminated the tethered transmit system, opting for a camera mounted solution.  This permitted the cameramen to work unencumbered by RF video pointers.    

After last year’s successful debut, an AVS’ “bunker” cam was utilized at the dreaded fourth hole bunker known as the “coffin”.  AVS customized mounts for its Toshiba IK-HR1S mini HD camera provided an “up close and personal” view of any unfortunate lies.

AVS remains in the UK for two more weeks moving on to the Senior Open at Walton Heath Club and then on to the Ricoh Ladies Open at the famed Carnoustie Golf Club.  Both events will air on ESPN and associated channels.

AVS USA can be reached at 818-954-8842 or its UK office at 01904 500 153.