HBS CEO Francis Tellier made a return to the company’s roots yesterday when he delivered the closing address at SVG Europe's first-ever Football Production Summit, held within the Stade de France just outside Paris. The same stadium played host to France's only FIFA World Cup™ victory, in 1998, when Francis was Managing Director of TVRS98, the host broadcaster of the tournament. He went on to found HBS soon after, in 1999, and as its CEO has been responsible for every FIFA World Cup™ host broadcast since.

The SVG Europe Football Production Summit was attended by representatives from not only the broadcast industry but also clubs and federations from across Europe. Francis' speech focused on the future of both host broadcasting and HBS, going into aspects as diverse as the importance of customer service and the questions that continue to revolve around the adoption of 3D. On this last point, he emphasised the need for patience as stereoscopic productions find their footing and praised the consistent approach to 3D that has been implemented by FIFA and HBS (in partnership with Sony) and is now being followed by the International Olympic Committee (with OBS) and UEFA (given its specific environment). As for HBS, its own future is looking bright: the company's preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ are gathering steam and its host broadcasting contract with FIFA has been extended to include the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

More generally, Francis spoke about the increasingly rapid spread of technological innovations from the cutting-edge to the mainstream (the so-called "Le Mans effect" — today in a race car, tomorrow in every garage), but he also underlined the need to not leave "late adopters" behind, pointing out that despite the prevalence of HD as a modern broadcasting standard the majority of television channels around the world remain SD-based.

Due to the Summit's location, Francis briefly reminisced about the TVRS98 days, thanking a number of his former associates and showing the assembled guests the now fourteen-year-old opening animation designed by graphic artist Marc Tatou, bringing smiles to many faces. The animation helped Francis reinforce his main point: as important a part as technology plays in the broadcast industry, pride of place will always have to be given to plain and simple talent.

Following a number of training sessions around the world devoted to football broadcasting, the HBS Broadcast Academy has just expanded its repertoire by completing its first ever athletics-oriented session. The six-day event took place in Cotonou, Benin from 6 to 13 February and included more than one hundred participants: topics covered included "all media" plenary sessions  (written press, television and radio commentators and broadcast staff) as well as more specific and technical working groups dedicated to TV direction, and commentary classes for TV and radios. Attendees who completed the course were presented with diplomas acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

As always the HBS Broadcast Academy team onsite featured a group of highly respected broadcast and sports veterans. Because of the focus on athletics this specific delegation also included reputed pole vaulting coach Jean-Claude Perrin, under whose training a total of 20 world records have been set over the years.

HBS Broadcast Academy graduates proudly display their diplomas

The Broadcast Academy was working in Benin, on behalf of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and in partnership with TVMS (Television Media Services), in preparation for the 18th edition of the African Senior Athletics Championships which will be held in Porto Novo, Benin as of 27 June. A second training session will be conducted shortly beforehand in order to help ensure optimal coverage of the event. HBS Broadcast Academy staff also took part in a two-day knowledge-sharing workshop with the event's LOC.

The Emmy Award is the most distinguished trophy in American broadcasting, which is why it was such a great achievement for ESPN to win three of them for its broadcast of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. In addition to awards for Writing and Music, ESPN claimed the prize in the prestigious Live Sports Special category for its coverage of the Final between Spain and the Netherlands on 10 July 2010 in Johannesburg. ESPN then associated HBS to its win by sending HBS CEO Francis Tellier a copy of the Emmy.

In an accompanying letter, ESPN Senior Vice President and Executive Producer Jed Drake thanked HBS for the efforts of its "tremendous team" and went on to explain that HBS' "superlative coverage was vital" to ESPN's success. HBS and its staff are tremendously honoured to have been recognised in this fashion and would like to thank ESPN for this remarkably elegant display and congratulate the American broadcaster for its well-deserved awards.

From left, HBS FIFA World Cup™ Project Director Jörg Sander, Director of Production Dan Miodownik and CEO Francis Tellier hoist the Emmy during HBS' year-end seminar in Paris last week

Director Wolfgang Straub was rewarded for his coverage of the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™ with a Golden Podium award at last night's awards ceremony at the Sportel convention in Monaco. The winning footage for Best Slow Motion Sequence Isolated Camera Shot came from the quarter-final match between England and France, held on 9 July in Leverkusen. The match ended in a penalty shoot-out, which France went on to win when England captain Faye White struck the crossbar with her team's last shot. The winning footage depicts the French team celebrating as Faye White looks on dejectedly from the background.

FIFA TV Director Niclas Ericson accepts the Golden Podium award

Niclas Ericson, Director of FIFA TV, accepted the trophy on behalf of Wolfgang, FIFA and HBS. In his brief speech Niclas highlighted FIFA's decision to bring "best ever" coverage to the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™, thanked HBS for its host broadcast of the event and congratulated Wolfgang Straub for his win. Wolfgang, a veteran football specialist, has been part of HBS' Dream Team of directors for the past three FIFA World Cups™, including the Final in 2006. HBS offers him its most sincere thanks and congratulations.

A screengrab from the winning sequence

HBS' production plan for the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011™ featured up to 18 cameras per match across nine cities. More than 100 hours of footage were transmitted over the course of the tournament's 15 days.

The award-winning clip may be viewed at FIFA.com by clicking here. HBS also took second place in the Sportel's Best Sports Trailer/Teaser category for its promotional spot for the Ironman France - Nice, which can be viewed here.

The IBC (International Broadcast Convention) conference took place in Amsterdam recently, and HBS once again left the event having earned the recognition of its peers -- this time via a collaborative award for Outstanding Achievement in Stereo 3D given to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) for its implementation of 3D coverage at this year's edition of Wimbledon, in partnership with BBC, Can Communicate, Sony, NEP Visions and HBS.

Four matches were covered by five stereoscopic cameras: the men's semi-finals and both men and women's finals, all of which took place on Centre Court.

A 3D camera takes in the Wimbledon action

HBS is honored to have been chosen to take part in the 3D production of the Championships and to have been given the opportunity to remain on the bleeding edge of this exciting new phase in broadcast history. “The Wimbledon 3D coverage represents another giant step forward in the production quality of live sport coverage in 3D,” said Peter Angell, Director of HBS’ Production and Programming division.

From left: Duncan Humphries of Can Communicate, Mervyn Hall of AELTC and Peter Angell of HBS at the IBC awards

HBS had previously received IBC awards for New Media production at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ and for its 3D production of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Please click here to read more about HBS' involvement with Wimbledon.

Today, September 16, 2011, marks the “1000 days to kick-off” milestone … “Faltam 1000 Dias”, as our Brazilian friends would say. The 2014 FIFA World Cup™ is planned from 12 June to 13 July 2014. It will be the 20th FIFA World Cup™ in total, the first to be held in South America since 1978 and the second to be hosted by Brazil.

Three Brazilian cities announced a few days ago in the press that they would be setting up a countdown-clock: Belo Horizonte (in a ceremony to be attended by President Dilma Rousseff, Pelé & Ricardo Teixeira along with members of FIFA), Salvador and São Paulo.

HBS is in the process of opening its office in Brazil, after implementing the Preliminary Draw coverage on behalf of FIFA with Globo TV at the end of July this year in the Marina da Gloria, in Rio. The host broadcaster is hard at work with FIFA, the Local Organising Committtee and other key players to finalise project management plans and venue specifications at all the sites.

Between September 19 & 30, 2011, a venue tour of experts from these entities is visiting six of the twelve host cities (Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza) to discuss the implementation phase of the tournament.

It is full steam ahead for all as the clock ticks away the months, days and minutes to what promises to be yet another record-breaking FIFA World Cup™.

The Preliminary Draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ took place in Rio de Janeiro's Marina da Glória on Saturday 30 July, thereby signaling the true kick-off of the tournament. The Preliminary Draw determined which national teams will play which in the qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™; a record total of 203 teams are expected to take part in the qualifiers, which are currently set to extend over 824 matches and more than two years.

The Draw was a massive undertaking, involving over 1500 people working onsite at the Marina da Glória, and featured former and current stars of Brazilian football such as 1994 FIFA World Cup™ hero Bebeto, former Brazil coach Mario Zagallo and young phenoms Ganso and Neymar, as well as local entertainers including Ivete Sangalo and Ivan Lins; the presenters were Fernanda Lima and Tadeu Schmidt. The show began at 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT) and lasted just under two hours.

Over 80 rights-holding broadcasters sent out the Preliminary Draw throughout the world to an audience of millions. HBS was the Host Broadcaster of the event, which was produced by TV Globo.

Additionally, FIFA, the LOC and HBS took advantage of this opportunity to hold a Broadcast Information Meeting (BIM) in Rio on Friday 29 July, where they presented the current state of planning and implementation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The BIM was the first major gathering of broadcasters focusing on the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™; the presentations from the BIM are available for download on the FIFA TV Extranet.

For more information on the Preliminary Draw, including complete Draw results, please visit FIFA.com.

After delivering 25 matches, on behalf of FIFA and Sony, in 3D at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, HBS will be in Wimbledon this season with its long-standing partners Sony and Can Communicate to partake in the 3D delivery of this flagship Tennis event.

All parties involved – including BBC Sport – are proceeding with caution in all matters related to 3D.

"This is yet again an experiment for everyone involved because 3D is a new type of viewing experience," Peter Angell, HBS Director of Production & Programming and Executive Producer on behalf of Sony, at this, the 125th edition of Wimbledon, hastens to tell anybody questioning him about the future of 3D. "It’s a three year contract as far as Sony and the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC) are concerned, but for all other parties, it is very much a question of working on "the evolution of 3D delivery."

Peter Angell and Duncan Humphries, the Creative Producer from Can Communicate, Sony’s Technical Production Partner, go on to add:

"We will use the same 3D workflow that was successfully deployed in South Africa. With 5 camera positions per match, each position will comprise 2 x SONY HDC-P1 cameras with Canon lenses fed into a SONY HD fibre adapter mounted onto Element Technica rigs and configured with SONY MPE-200 processors for convergence and inter-ocular alignment. The 3D signals generated from the 5 camera positions will be fed to a dedicated 3D Outside Broadcast facility supplied by our other partner, NEP Visions. Pictures will be processed using a complete SONY 3D broadcast solution and encoded for 3D TV broadcast and 3D cinema audiences."

Francis Tellier, CEO of HBS Group of companies, is adamant that the decision to cover the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil in 3D depends on FIFA but he is quick to point out also that HBS is using every opportunity to test and to go on improving its 3D deliverables.

"Such tests have taken place during regular French L1 matches produced by HBS this year and we will proceed again, in the UK, at Wimbledon, with the same teams behind the 3D cameras and in the custom-built 3D OB vans that were employed to pioneer 3D so successfully at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, along with HBS’ longstanding partners, Sony and Can Communicate."

Mexico, Germany, Colombia. HBS crews are hard at work again, on behalf of FIFA, in three locations spread across the globe.

On June 18, the FIFA U17 World Cup™ kicked off in Mexico with a crew of HBS staff on site to make sure that all services are being delivered on behalf of FIFA by the local TV station, Televisa. Seven venues are hosting matches until the Final on July 10 (Torreon, Monterey, Queretao, Guadalajara, Pachua, Morelia and Mexico City), mythical names for Football and Cinema aficionados alike. This tournament in Mexico follows suite to the FIFA U17 in Nigeria in 2009, FIFA U17 Korea in 2007 and FIFA U17 in Peru in 2005, with winners respectively being (quite a surprise here!) Switzerland, Nigeria and Mexico.

HBS, as the FIFA dedicated host broadcast organization, has another crew busy on-site in Germany putting the final touch to the broadcast operations. Germany where, during 15 days of coverage, more than 100 hours of transmission time will be produced by 16 HD cameras - plus some special Steadicams, Cable Cams & Aerial Cameras on selected matches that bring the total number up to 18 cameras on this specific event. Five OB vans will be on site, 720 m2 of International Broadcast Coordination Centre will be operated in Frankfurt and put at the disposal of the 4 Match Directors, namely Wolfgang Straub, Knut Fleischmann, Georg Alberts and Thomas Sohns.

This tournament will see the showdown between the 16 best teams in the world in a country where the Frauen Weltmeisterschaft poster, silhouetting a pony-tailed player made up of thousands of tiny iridescent footballs, brings back such fond memories of that other all-time-world-acclaimed success, the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.

The word “Wilkommen” is flying high in all 9 host cities: Augsburg, Berlin (where the Opening Match is being played this Sunday), Bochum, Leverkusen, Monchengladbach, Sinsheim, Wolfsburg and Frankfurt, (venue of the Final on July 17).

The FIFA U20 World Cup™ 2011 in Colombia kicks off on July 29 with another HBS production crew hard at work in the host venues of Pereira, Armenia, Manizales, Cali, Bogota, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Medellin. “Nuestra Fiesta”, the Tournament’s official song, sets the scene of yet another youth competition that HBS is covering on behalf of FIFA, with the support of local resources.

HBS France Production, the production arm of the HBS Group of companies in charge of delivering the French L1 & L2 matches on behalf of the Ligue de Football Professionnel, has signed off successfully yet another year of television coverage and the provision of the ever-popular mobile feed to the full satisfaction of its customer, the LFP, its broadcasters Canal +, Orange and the ever increasing number of International Rights-Holders. Plus, of course, the French Clubs being provided with more and more web-services.

Progress this season focused on systematic quality control, working closely with HBS’ French language Dream Team Producers and the company’s long standing partners Visual, Euromedia, AlfaCam and Nice Television.

After a very short break, the HBS crews are now busy preparing the next season’ work that kicks off on July 29 for L2 and August 6 for L1.

To be noted that after carrying out additional 3D tests with French L1 this spring, HBS is now involved in the 3D delivery of the 125th edition of Wimbledon this year. But more about this event later…

If you go to the LFP website (www.lfp.fr), under the heading, “Le clip de la saison 2010/2011”, you can spend 1’53” enjoying the zappy video clip summarizing the joys of a L1 season full of emotion and high spirits, both on and off the pitch.

"With the 7th Asian Winter Games Astana-Almaty 2011 about to reach their conclusion with this evening’s Closing Ceremony, IGBS would like to take a moment to look back on an extremely successful event.

In cooperation with our partners at SICC and AWAGOC we have been able to deliver impeccable coverage of the event, achieving an Olympic production standard.

Based on our cumulative experience with winter Games, we were aware that weather would likely play a part and prepared appropriately. We were therefore able to implement back-up plans and find successful solutions to each challenge as it arose.

This event has also given us an opportunity to make new friends in Kazakhstan, both in the Organising Committee and among the thousands of extremely helpful volunteers. It has been an honour to be able to pass on our experience and know-how to our broadcasting associates in Astana and Almaty.

The Asian Winter Games officially came to a close with tonight's Closing Ceremony

Feedback from Rights Holders towards IGBS’ services and assistance has been overwhelmingly positive, and it is this knowledge which makes the intensive period of preparation and the long event time hours of our staff worth while.

Though final figures are not yet available, Rights Holders tell us that they can safely say that several hundreds of millions of viewers across the world have followed the event.

All that remains is to thank all involved for their participation at the 7th Asian Winter Games and wish all of our Rights Holders, associates and staff a safe journey back home."

Francis Tellier and Jeremy Cole
CEO and Chairman of IGBS