HBS & the 32nd America’s Cup

Following their successful joint venture as Host Broadcaster of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006, HBS and TWI (an IMG Media Company) teamed up inside ACTV HB (America’s Cup Television Host Broadcast) in delivering the host broadcast of the 32nd America’s Cup which took place between April and June 2007 in Valencia, Spain.

ACTV HB worked as part of ACTV (America’s Cup Television), liaising with ACM (America’s Cup Management) in providing the largest scale television production and distribution of an America’s Cup.

The role of ACTV included producing live coverage of all competition as well as news and highlights programmes, coverage of special events and press conferences, the design, set-up and installation of the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and acting as the point of contact for Rights Holders from across the globe in the coordination of their unilateral services.

The ACTV Production Plan included sophisticated camera and audio equipment onboard each syndicate boat (the number of cameras and microphones increasing as competition progressed towards its final stages), an array of on-water and onshore cameras fully supporting ACTV’s philosophy of comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the event whilst being informative, entertaining and imaginative. ACTV distributed over 300 hours of live coverage across the world during 2007 as well as daily highlights and news programmes during competition days.

The International Broadcast Centre was located within the 32nd America’s Cup venue in Valencia – the purpose-built Port America’s Cup – and included a TV Compound and Satellite Farm. One of the key components of the IBC was the Master Control Room (MCR) which was transformed into a public attraction, whereby spectators, via a viewing window, watched the various live feeds and took part in several interactive television-friendly games. ACTV also designed and built nine presentation studios which Rights Holders booked to conduct their shows against the spectacular back-drop of Port America's Cup and the twelve team bases.