This year, Host Broadcast Services (HBS) is celebrating its 10th anniversary while EVS is celebrating its 15th. In the last decade, both companies have contributed greatly to improving the quality of the broadcasting of major sport events. HBS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media, has inspired dramatic changes in the way the host broadcast of major sporting events is handled and has emerged as an industry leader in this specialised field. EVS Broadcast Equipment has revolutionized live broadcasting with its innovative Live Slow Motion system; the company, which specializes in the design and the manufacturing of hardware and software solutions, invigorates live sport and studio productions across the globe with its Instant Tapeless Technology.

Among the most impressive and challenging initiatives involving collaboration between the two companies was the first fully-digital host broadcast of a FIFA World Cup™ (2002 Korea/Japan) with the first “multi-feed” service for broadcasters. Four years later, the introduction of the Media Server and the Clip Compilation Channel at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ allowed the delivery and the sharing of media in a truly tapeless world. The first production of a dedicated Mobile International Signal for the French Ligue 1 (2008-2012) as well as the first stereoscopic live 3D coverage of the IIHF World Championship in ice hockey in 2008, followed one year later by the first live 3D broadcast of a football match in European history, are further examples of what these two companies have achieved together.

While celebrating 10 years of successful collaboration, both Mr. Tellier and Mr. L’Hoest are already looking ahead, anticipating how they can continue to improve the production quality of upcoming events. Their next common milestone is the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, which is already expected to be the most comprehensive, state of the art sporting event ever.