By Roberto Landini, Italian Correspondent
Thursday, December 26, 2024 – 11:07
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EMG / Gravity Media Italy and Infront have recently renewed their contract for the production of the FIS World Cup, representing a strategic agreement that strengthens a long-standing collaboration.
The new deal covers FIS World Cup events for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons, providing Infront Productions – the division of Infront that manages sports event production – with the tools and resources to cover disciplines such as alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and freestyle & snowboarding in Italy and France.
Strategic partnership
Claudio Cavallotti, managing director of EMG / Gravity Media Italy, stated: “This contract renewal consolidates the relationship between EMG / Gravity Media Italy and Infront, strengthening a partnership that combines technical expertise and strategic vision.
“This synergy ensures high production standards and enhances sports events, offering viewers a top-tier visual experience. We rely on cutting-edge technologies and impeccable organisation that merge experience, innovation, and the ability to manage complex operations in challenging environments.
“Alongside Infront Productions and through this renewed partnership, EMG / Gravity Media Italy reaffirms its central role in the TV production of winter sports events, especially in preparation for the upcoming 2026 Winter Games.”
Organisational aspects
“As always, the logistical and production commitment is substantial,” Cavallotti continues. “We will produce 27 events in just three months (December, January and February). Despite this challenge, we aim to ensure consistency and quality across all operational phases.”
The organisation involves a significant number of professionals, including a core internal team of 15 people specialised in winter sports productions; nine dedicated unit managers working in the field for the entire season in close collaboration with Infront Productions’ production managers; over 200 freelance professionals, many with expertise in the challenging conditions of mountain locations; and more than 60 individuals for just two events, in Dobbiaco and Val di Fiemme.
Highlights of the season include the Bormio stages with men’s Downhill and Super G races, and Cortina’s two thrilling women’s speed events, Downhill and Super G. Both locations will also serve as preludes to the Milano Cortina competitions.
In addition to these prestigious events, Nordic skiing competitions in the historic Italian locations of Val di Fiemme and Dobbiaco will take place during the Christmas period. Dobbiaco will host four stages, while Val di Fiemme will welcome three, including the spectacular climb to Alpe Cermis, an iconic feature of the Tour de Ski.
Antoine Bulos, unit manager for the event, commented: “The Tour de Ski production will be particularly demanding. There are seven races in just one week, spanning New Year’s Day to Epiphany. Advanced technologies will be heavily used, including 33 cameras for the Val di Fiemme stage, as well as RF cameras, steady-cams for complete and exciting coverage, and signals from cable cams, drones and helicopter-mounted cameras.”
Each year, EMG / Gravity Media Italy involves new professionals in its TV productions, with a focus on young talents. However, producing snow-based competitions remains a substantial operational and organisational challenge.
One highlight is the Alpe Cermis event, starting from the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium the day after the Skiathlon competition. This event requires significant technical production, utilising 33 camera feeds along the route. Infront Productions’ camera plan includes specialised setups such as helicopter-mounted cameras, drones, ground micro-cameras and skidoos, providing comprehensive and dynamic coverage.
RF systems using 4G and 5G backpack technology ensure smooth, high-quality footage of the climb. Signals from the cameras, transmitted via approximately 5km of dark fibre, are centralised and managed by the Nova 126 mobile control room housed in a garage under the stadium. A support vehicle is also stationed in the underground area near Lago di Tesero for backup.
This setup allows for secure operations, minimising difficulties caused by variable mountain weather conditions. Cameras along the course are mostly mounted on low scaffolds, with a few elevated stations located at the steepest sections for better perspectives on the climbs.
Infrastructure innovation and preparations
Preparations for the event began on 20 December, with a technical team handling the cabling required for the race taking place on 3 January. EMG / Gravity Media Italy lays approximately 15km of fibre optics, working in adverse climatic conditions and often on snowy or icy terrain.
In anticipation, fibre optic infrastructure around Lago di Tesero has been revamped. Pre-existing networks were dismantled, requiring the installation of new dark fibre cables for the upcoming races. Fibre optics on the Alpe Cermis climb are already in place, leaving only cable extensions from terminal stations to camera locations.
Indispensable support
The local Trentino Fiemme World Cup sports committee offers essential logistical support each year, providing resources such as snowmobiles and snowcats to transport materials to inaccessible areas. For the Alpe Cermis race from 3-5 January, EMG / Gravity Media Italy will also use mobile unit Nova 209 to oversee the climb to the summit finish line.
This vehicle will act as a hub for managing audio, video, data, and intercom signals generated by the 33 cameras used for the event. This configuration ensures efficient coordination and high-quality broadcasts, despite the large number of signals and challenging operational conditions.
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