News

NEP Group provides broadcast and live events support for Identity at G7 Summit

Cornwall, UK

|

July 12, 2021

NEP deploys a team of 100+ and end-to-end solutions to assist Identity’s delivery of highly anticipated global event

When the leaders of seven of the world’s most advanced economies gathered for the 47th G7 Summit in the southwest of England, NEP Group was there to support Identity as they brought the event to millions of viewers around the world. One of the leading creative production agencies in the UK and around the globe, Identity utilized NEP’s technical expertise, infrastructure and facilities for both the broadcast and audiovisual solutions.

An event of tremendous complexity spanning more than six locations in Cornwall, England, the G7 broadcast required a collaboration of NEP’s UK and Ireland outfits, utilizing NEP Bow Tie’s broadcast, AV and webcasting project management experience, NEP Connect’s connectivity and transmission capabilities and Creative Technology’s live events solutions.

NEP assembled a broadcast services staff of over 100 technicians, engineers and logistics specialists, encompassing over 500 operational and planning days, all dedicated to this three-day event. NEP Connect provided three state-of-the-art satellite uplink systems, including two fully resilient dual antenna uplinks deployed to three different locations. NEP Connect engineers delivered nearly 100 hours of transmission time to reach an audience around the world, with the NEP Network Operations Centre at MediaCityUK overseeing the operation and distributing live feeds to various broadcast networks.

“Providing and managing the Host Broadcast facilities for Identity, who were the main contractors for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, was a pleasure,” said Martin Swain, NEP Group’s Head of Engineering and Technical Projects, who led NEP’s broadcast efforts for the G7.

“Having worked with them on several major events, we have a close relationship and solid partnership that makes these projects so much easier. With this great partnership, Identity’s event leadership and our technical expertise, we had the event well in hand. I am proud to say that our NEP and Identity teams, across all sites, rose to the occasion and each challenge, change or addition was met with success.”

NEP created complete end-to-end broadcast solutions for Identity, deploying four OB trucks, satellite trucks, fiber connectivity, LiveU services, media asset management services, edit facilities and ingest solutions. In addition, they created a large, purpose-built media centre from the ground up using one of their specialty flypacks along with expansive facilities that included media servers, 25 edit booths, 150 cabled workstations, standup positions and uplink facilities. All press conferences from the Summit were distributed verbatim in seven languages.

NEP’s Creative Technology team, led by Senior Project Manager, Nick Whitehead, worked alongside NEP Bow Tie and NEP Connect to deliver all of the audiovisual requirements across the six sites, including a multichannel IPTV system to feed host broadcast transmission, messaging and off-air programmes to the large format LCD displays in the main delegate venues and the Media Centre. Creative Technology also supplied desktop displays and switching in the main Summit Room as well as virtual participation equipment for remote contributors. The audio team, headed by Senior Project Manager, Staf Rowley, provided a sophisticated digital networked system to distribute multiple simultaneous interpretation feeds across the sites.

“The project was demanding due to the high-level technical and logistical requirements of a major government project,” Whitehead said. “I would like to extend my thanks to the Creative Technology in-house and freelance crew who did an excellent job in delivering all requirements on a very tight timeline.”

Michael Gietzen, Managing Director, Identity said, “Delivering G7, the UK’s first international in-person event since Brexit and the pandemic, was always set to be a challenge. Due to our best-in-class experience and our dedicated event partners, the delivery was a resounding success with our client. I would like to extend my thanks to our partners at NEP Group who provided first-class support with broadcasting this prestigious and complex event.”

NEP Group is the world’s leading technical production partner for premier content producers of live sports and entertainment. Identity is a full service, creative production agency with over 20 years of proven pedigree in the delivery of major, high profile events in the UK and globally.

About Identity

Identity is a full-service global events agency, delivering major events in the UK and internationally. Identity’s philosophy of Pioneering Human Experience provides high-profile clients with cutting-edge virtual and hybrid solutions, highly adapted to the nuances of the digital environment.

Contact

For media inquiries, contact Susan Matis

smatis@nepgroup.com

Twitter

About NEP Connect

NEP Connect, an NEP Broadcast Services Company, has been delivering critical media content since 1989. The company’s rapidly growing international fibre network, Anylive®, connects over 220+ locations including broadcasters, major switching centres, channel aggregators, sports and entertainment venues.  NEP Connect operates two Network Operation Centres located in the UK, co-located with NEP Connect teleports, which supply extensive satellite facilities to complete the connectivity offering.  The company provides a full range of broadcast services from UHD to low bit rate streaming with data and audio transmission services also available.  This comprehensive fibre and satellite infrastructure forms a cohesive and robust portfolio, broadcasting over 200 hours of live transmissions worldwide every day supporting multiple contracted and occasional use events.

Recent News

Finance Director Samantha Harrison Joins Board of Non-Executive Directors at Rise

Milton Keynes, UK

|

Finance Director Samantha Harrison has been appointed to the Non-Executive Directors (NED) board at Rise, a distinguished advocacy group for gender diversity in broadcast media technology.

read more

NEP Connect’s Helen Jeffrey, International Sales Director Shortlisted for 2023 Rise Award

Milton Keynes

|

NEP Connect's Helen Jeffrey, International Sales Director, has proudly been shortlisted for this year's Rise Awards alongside three of her colleagues across the NEP Group network.

read more

NEP Connect Builds Out ITV’s Fleet of Eco-Friendly News Vehicles

Milton Keynes, U.K.

|

Equipped with NEP Connect’s industry-leading connectivity solutions, 16 hybrid and battery-powered vehicles are now serving ITV’s regional, national and major event news coverage

read more

NEP sponsors the Broadcast Awards 2023

London

|

NEP had the honour of being an official sponsor for the greatly anticipated Broadcast Awards 2023 with NEP Connect’s Managing Director David Meynell presenting the Best Sports Programme Award, also sponsored by NEP. Celebrating the very best in British programming and channels. The awards recognise and reward the UK’s most ground-breaking content, creators and channels across the television industry.

read more