KAIROS-based Video Production Systemfor an Unprecedented Ballpark
By Jennifer P
Challenge: To provide all-encompassing entertainment at the world’s most advanced baseball stadium, a highly advanced video production system that connects with various systems was sought.
Solution: The KAIROS IT/IP platform was chosen as the foundation of a comprehensive production system for synchronizing video, lighting, and sound.
Background
Es Con Field Hokkaido, a revolutionary baseball stadium, opened its doors in March 2023 as a cutting-edge ballpark outfitted with two of the world’s largest screens integrated with the KAIROS video production system to enthrall fans with stunning video, lighting, and sound. The concourse encircles the interior of the movable-dome stadium, which was built in Japan for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team. This is also the first ballpark in the world where fans can watch games from an on-site hotel or even hot springs and saunas!
System Overview
To fully utilize massive 86-meter wide screens, content that was not limited to 16:9 ratios had to be created. Panasonic’s KAIROS IT/IP platform was chosen because it allows video with varying aspect ratios and resolutions to be intuitively layered. Furthermore, approximately 600 digital-signage displays were installed throughout the stadium for immersive real-time viewing experiences. For highly efficient operation, the systems are integrated via a central management system (S-CMS)*, along with lighting and sound.
Benefits
Dynamic Production Thanks to KAIROS’ Amazing Flexibility. KAIROS is a ground-breaking live switcher that uses CPUs and GPUs for video processing to achieve a multilayered approach with no limitations on MEs or keys. Furthermore, KAIROS handles video with a wide range of aspect ratios for both input and output, which is impossible to achieve with traditional live switchers.
“We wanted something new that people could experience only at our ballpark/stadium, so we set scalability and flexibility as the themes for our entertainment system. We knew that we had to constantly deliver new experiences involving the best and newest technology. The idea was for fans not only to enjoy the team’s success, but also to be thrilled by memorable entertainment experiences throughout each game, and every time they come back. When I first saw KAIROS, I was truly impressed by its flexibility and design concept of unrestricted aspect ratio. In addition, I sensed that it had the potential to keep pace with the expected evolution of Es Con Field. In the past, complicated switchers could only be operated by technicians, but KAIROS is an amazingly intuitive system that entertainment producers can operate without restraint to achieve artistic expressiveness.”
Mr. Takafumi Morino, head of entertainment management for the ballclub’s parent company
Seamless Integration with Proprietary Systems
“Together with Fighters Sports & Entertainment, we developed a proprietary system as the core of our real-time video production, integrating a sports coder, CG equipment and more, which we named ‘Metaball’. We also created a macro system to automatically activate KAIROS from Metaball via the KAIROS control protocol. Our goal is to provide live spectator experiences throughout Es Con Field. For example, if there is a home run or big play, the large screens and approx. 600 digital-signage displays simultaneously switch to the action. Of course, such action is unpredictable, so our CG team follows the game from a window in the control room, rather than via monitor, and then uses the KAIROS control protocol to send, for example, a ‘home run’ command from Metaball, after which KAIROS instantly displays the scene throughout the stadium. In the case of a conventional switcher, multiple people would have to operate the system simultaneously to capture and project the action. But thanks to KAIROS’ high-level system integration, we can achieve real-time production with a single operator.”
Mr. Shoji Kumamoto, representative director of SITE4D Inc.
Low-latency Connection with Hundreds of Digital-signage Displays
A CATV solution based on head-end technology manages approximately 600 digital-signage displays that display game and video entertainment along with light and sound, as well as advertisements and other information. With a half-second delay, multi-channel distribution is possible. When the crowd cheers, live video is delivered almost instantly to all digital-signage displays in the concourse, restaurants, hot tubs, and so on.
“Sitting in the seats to watch a game is one thing, but since Es Con Field is designed for enjoying games from practically anywhere, we installed approx. 600 digital-signage displays throughout the ballpark. Low-latency delivery was critical, so we adopted Panasonic’s digital signage system to display content with less than a half-second delay. The result is that everyone can share the experience together, at practically the exact same moment.”
Mr. Takafumi Morino, head of entertainment management for the ballclub’s parent company
Integrated Management for Extra Efficient Operation
Approximately 600 digital-signage displays can be turned on and off at the same time using a touch panel in the control room and the integrated management system (S-CMS). In addition, the system monitors the status of all digital-signage displays and sends alerts if there is a problem. For seamless production, the S-CMS is linked to KAIROS as well as large-screen, lighting, and sound systems.
System Overview
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