NEP UK’s NEO hybrid OB trailer uses Calrec remote workflows to simplify Sky Sports’ EFL coverage, cutting costs while ensuring quality and full broadcast redundancy.
NEP UK has streamlined Sky Sports’ English Football League (EFL) coverage with its compact NEO hybrid outside broadcast trailer, using Calrec remote workflows to reduce production costs while maintaining high-quality output and full broadcast redundancy.
By combining scalability with robust disaster recovery and minimizing its on-site footprint, NEP UK’s NEO has transformed how EFL matches are produced.
The mobile trailer features two headless Calrec ImPulse1 cores, an RP1, as well as a compact Type R mixing surface for backup operations supplied by Synthax Audio UK. This lightweight mobile unit ensures reliable remote IP routing and connectivity, capable of supporting up to three EFL games each week.
Although NEP UK has been producing remote football broadcasts for Sky since 2020, Deputy Head of Sound/Technology Neville Hooper explains that the Calrec NEO system has significantly reduced both the cost and weight of traditional remote setups while also lowering power consumption. The unit can even operate on batteries as an emergency backup.
Reliable Remote Mixes with Type R
Hooper says, “NEO is part remote production technical truck and part tender, a hybrid trailer designed to reduce the number of vehicles we send to site. The Impulse1 cores are used purely for audio routing and distribution; they process incoming field audio, gain match everything for onward distribution, route to and from the RP1, manage outputs of the RP1 for local onsite distribution, and hand everything off to Sky’s Production Hub in Osterley.
“Meanwhile, a lightweight Type R panel allows us to create a disaster recovery mix in the event of circuit problems or issues at Sky, and as the surface is POE-powered it consumes much less power than a conventional console. Coupling this with the headless ImPulse1 cores means we can keep power consumption to a minimum without sacrificing processing capacity.”
The system uses NEP’s proprietary TFC Broadcast Control System to integrate third-party IP devices and manage IP signal flows across the network. Incoming Dante streams are processed as AES67 within the ImPulse1 cores. NEP provides Sky with a multichannel MADI audio feed and additional MADI streams to Calrec’s RP1 for local cue feeds. Both outputs are remotely monitored and controlled from Sky’s Osterley production hub.
“The incoming IP flows are dual routed to both the ImPulse1 cores and the RP1, so they are effectively separate consoles,” Hooper explains. “This improves resilience, while the Type R just feeds the disaster recovery mix and audio FX back to Sky.”
With years of experience delivering Sky Sports football coverage, NEP UK understands how quickly production requirements can change. NEO’s design allows for rapid adaptation, accommodating all variations of a broadcast, whether presenters are onsite or working from Sky’s production hub.
“NEO provides a blanket configuration that meets all our needs,” says Hooper. “As there is no control surface on the ImPulse cores, control is managed via Calrec’s Assist, Control and Connect GUIs, which are already familiar.
“Calrec Assist is the main configuration tool across the ImPulse Cores, Type R and RP1, and it is helpful to have the same user interface to configure all devices; it speeds up learning as there are less new interfaces to learn to operate the system.”
Hooper highlights several reasons NEP UK selected the Calrec solution:
“It has proven reliability, familiarity for our operational crew, strength of support, known integration with TFC, our proprietary control system, and also competitive pricing.”
As broadcasters seek greater efficiency to deliver more content with existing resources, Calrec’s Regional Sales Manager Anthony Harrison stresses that adaptability is key to success in today’s broadcast landscape.
“Calrec has worked closely with NEP UK for many years to help engineer more sustainable production methods without sacrificing DSP or reliability,” he says.
“As broadcast workflows continue to adapt to more versatile production requirements, it’s important companies like Calrec continue to work closely with its partners to achieve new goals. This installation is a great example of that; a hybrid workflow that delivers huge processing power in a very compact footprint.”
Synthax Audio UK’s Broadcast Sales Manager Simon Roome adds:
“It’s exciting to see Calrec’s consoles and workflows shaping the future of broadcast production. We’re proud to work with forward-thinking companies like NEP UK, supplying the Calrec Type R to help them deliver efficient, high-quality EFL coverage and turn their innovative production ideas into reality.”
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