The IBC as a Central Hub
While a match is being directed live on site, a few key rooms at the IBC ensure the transmission from the stadiums to the Media Rights Licensees’ (MRLs) premises can be undertaken seamlessly, they are the Central Equipment Room (CER) and the Master Control Room (MCR).
The CER is where the cabled connection between the teams on the ground, the IBC, and the MRLs’ facilities is made. The equipment racks within the CER receive the Broadcast Contribution Network (BCN) from the stadiums, and also serve to route the feeds to the MRLs’ unilateral premises.
The MCR operates as the hub of the set-up, as a team of engineers oversees the Host Broadcaster (HB) network and the distribution of the feeds to MRLs through dedicated switchers, ensuring broadcasters have access to all the multilateral services they signed up for. The MCR team also monitors unilateral feeds.
The IBC hosts several Quality Control (QC) premisses, where feeds are checked by dedicated teams, both from a technical and editorial viewpoint before being distributed to the MRL’s home premises. This process maintains consistency and high standards throughout the competition.
The same transmission and distribution workflows apply to footage captured at other sites around the host country. E.g., Training Camps, Outside Presentation Facilities, etc.
