Doordarshan, the host broadcaster for the Delhi Commonwealth Games (3-14 October, 2010), will be responsible for producing and distributing objective and unbiased television and radio coverage of the event. For the first time in India, the coverage will be in the high definition format conducive to superior viewing quality on television. The coverage will constitute the basic international live feed for the Right Holding Broadcasters who have purchased the broadcast rights from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Organizing Committee, Delhi 2010, to beam it in their respective countries. The Games are to be telecast in over 80 Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries to a targeted worldwide audience of approximately two billion viewers. Doordarshan and All India Radio are the Right Holding Broadcasters for India.
About 1600 personnel will produce approximately 1200 hours of live competition transmitted from 12 competition venues. The basic live feed generated by the host broadcaster includes camera signals and audio signals supplemented by graphics generated at each venue as well as the coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies. Typically, a static multi-camera video signal and the audio commentary from the sporting venue will first be carried to a broadcast compound in the venue. From the latter, the signal will travel through optical fibres to the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC).
The IBC will be the headquarters for all television and radio broadcast operation during the Games, serving as the primary base for the host broadcast and the Right Holding Broadcasters. The IBC comprises more than 8000 square metres of broadcast facilities, video edit suites, control rooms, studios, transmission capabilities, and information and logistics offices. The host broadcast signal will be available to the Right Holding Broadcasters in their unilateral areas in the IBC. In addition, they can also send their radio and television signals to their home countries through the IBC.
Besides the basic live feed generated by the Host Broadcaster, electronic news gathering (ENG) will be a means for summarizing highlight packages about the Games after suitable editing. Further, radio frequency cameras, helicams and robocams will be deployed for outdoor events such as road races.
The on-venue result system coupled with the graphic design elements will provide a consistent and informative source of event information to the viewer as also enabling the commentary teams to perform their tasks accurately.
In all, the broadcast production and coverage of the Games is aimed at uncompromisingly fair and equal coverage of each competitor and event. It entails insightful and informed storytelling through appropriate shot selection and replay options. The tight expressive coverage of each athletic performance combined with multiple action perspectives, both live and replay will be supplemented by highlighted audio nuances that are intrinsic to the sport. Finally, clear and informative graphic presentation is to be matched with enhancement of the athlete’s speed, strength and emotion inherent to the Commonwealth Games competition.
It goes without saying that the broadcast operation for the Delhi Games will be an experience par excellence in the public-private partnership mode that will involve diverse stakeholders. From Host Broadcaster Doordarshan’s service providers, SIS Live, a former BBC company, and Global Television, Australia, to the Organizing Committiee’s telecom provider, MTNL , ensuring seamless operations to engage viewers, both abroad and within India, will indeed be a challenging task.
The writer is Additional Director General (Broadcasting) in the Organizing Committee, Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010.
