CT appointed supplier to European Golf Tour
- Details
The European Tour, headquartered at Wentworth in Surrey, manages the majority of premier golf tournaments across Europe and the Middle East, including the Ryder Cup on its four-yearly visit to Europe.
Dave Crump, CEO of CT in Europe & the Middle East commented, “Creative Technology has a long, proud and successful relationship with golf in Europe providing LED screens to around 40 events per year and having been involved in every European Ryder Cup since 1985.”
LED screens have historically been the focus of CT’s supply and whilst this continues there has been a significant shift in priority in recent years. Golf is one of the most challenging sports to support with large screen displays, typically played in full daylight and ideally bright sunlight means screen brightness and contrast is crucial, coupling this with a requirement to display high density graphical data and TV images which typically include a tiny white ball on a uniform green background means the selection of display technology is crucial.
Recent developments have allowed smaller pitch outdoor screens to achieve satisfactory brightness, contrast and uniformity meaning higher density data can be displayed on smaller and consequently more localised LED boards.
This in turn creates more opportunities and consequently demand for bespoke graphical information in addition to the broadcast images and TV graphics.
CT’s package at every European Tournament now includes a sophisticated TV production and content solution integrating data from scoring and other sources with a combination of locally produced imagery interjected into the European Tour Productions World Feed.
CT also provides multiple LCD displays installed throughout the venues VIP and sponsor village environments all connected via a rugged IPTV network allowing customisable content on individual displays across the golf course.
Two identical technology packages leapfrog around Europe typically from April to October supported by a universal production package which travels to every tournament.
Richard Smith, account manager at Creative Technology comments, “As with any live sporting event, there is a massive drive to enhance the experience for spectators, bringing them closer to the action.”
(Jim Evans)
