A NEW ERA IN TENNIS PRODUCTION

EMG / Gravity Media and ATP Media have introduced a cutting-edge remote production workflow for ATP Media Studios, further enhancing its flexibility on delivering innovative broadcast solutions. This development follows the success EMG / Gravity Media had in Formula E, where the team implemented a similar system to reduce carbon emissions and logistical complexity.

At the heart of this transformation are two newly designed remote production pods, built to streamline operations for ATP Masters 1000 tournaments and the Nitto ATP Finals. The initiative reduces on-site personnel while maintaining the highest broadcast quality, aligning with the industry's push towards more efficient and sustainable production models.

A PLUG AND PLAY SOLUTION FOR ATP MASTERS 1000 AND NITTO ATP FINALS

The project took about a year to develop and was delivered in January, in time for the start of the ATP Tour season. The pods are compact and designed to fit within a Q6 pallet, making them highly transportable via both air and sea freight. The Q6 pallet has a tare weight of 120 kg (265 lb) and a volume of 17.0 m³ (600 ft³) with a height of 243.8 cm (96 in). Their transportable nature allows seamless deployment between venues: while one pod is in use, the other is en route to the next tournament, ensuring there is never a delay in delivery and setup.

The system provides a plug-and-play solution that integrates smoothly with ATP Media Studios’ existing engineering infrastructure, supporting world feed contribution and court feed distribution—the backbone of ATP Media’s broadcast operations. The pods significantly reduce the number of personnel required on-site while maintaining the same level of production quality expected from a world-class sports event.

Key features of the ATP Media Studios pods include:

• Compact, mobile design: Small enough to fit into a Q6 pallet for efficient logistics between tournament venues.
• Dual-unit system: Two pods operate in rotation—one in use at an event while the other is being transported to the next venue.
• Integrated technology: The system utilises advanced encoding and decoding technology (H.264, H.265 HEVC, JPEG XS, NDI over RTP), with connectivity provided by Tata Communications’ fibre infrastructure.
• Scalability: The pods support up to 160 feeds per event, with 90 outgoing video and audio lines​.

This remote pod setup streamlines logistics and reduces costs, offering a more flexible and sustainable approach for ATP’s broadcasts.

REMOTE PRODUCTION AT WESTWORKS

The ATP Media Studios remote production model is fully integrated with WestWorks, EMG / Gravity Media’s state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot production facility in London. WestWorks serves as the central hub for live event feeds and supports both on-premise and distributed remote production workflows.

With up to 90 outgoing video and audio lines and over 160 feeds coming into ATP Media Studios for a single event, the system delivers unparalleled efficiency. 

• Court A: While OB direction remains on-site, video shading, EVS, graphics (GFX), and world feed audio are handled remotely at ATP Media Studios.
• Courts B, C, and D: These courts operate with full remote production, where only cameras and audio are captured on-site while all other production elements, including graphics, replay, and commentary, are managed at ATP Media Studios​.
• Post-production workflows: Three Adobe Premiere craft edit suites and a Media Manager Suite oversee post-production processes, ensuring smooth content delivery for broadcasters.
• Behind-the-Scenes Coverage: Additional content is captured through 10 dedicated behind-the-scenes cameras across all courts.

ATP Media Studios significantly reduces the reliance on on-site infrastructure while allowing a centralised production team to oversee multiple courts simultaneously​.

LESSONS FROM FORMULA E: SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT

The ATP Media pods are an evolution of EMG / Gravity Media’s work in Formula E, where similar remote workflows drastically cut costs and environmental impact. In Formula E, EMG / Gravity Media deployed two transportable production pods that connected to the WestWorks facility, reducing on-site personnel by 58% and air freight by 40%​.

In both ATP Media and Formula E, the key to success has been robust connectivity. Tata Communications supplies primary and backup fibre connections, ensuring the seamless encoding and decoding of signals using H.264, H.265 HEVC, JPEG XS, and NDI over RTP technologies​.

THE FUTURE OF SPORTS BROADCASTING

The introduction of remote production pods for ATP Media Studiosunderscores EMG / Gravity Media’s leadership in transforming sports broadcasting through innovation. By integrating advanced remote workflows and leveraging the experience gained, they have created a model that enhances production quality while improving efficiency and sustainability.

As the sports industry continues to evolve, remote production solutions like these are set to redefine how live events are delivered, reducing logistical challenges while maximising efficiency and broadcast excellence. With ATP Media Studios now benefitting from this pioneering technology, the future of tennis broadcasting is more agile, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious than ever before.