Belden (NYSE: BDC) and Gravity Media, a global provider of complex live broadcast facilities and production services, this month announced its involvement in outfitting four major stadiums hosting the world’s largest football (i.e. soccer) tournament, the FIFA World Cup, taking place in Qatar in 2022, with broadcast communications infrastructure.
The FIFA Arab Cup 2021 takes place this week in Qatar. In 2010, it was announced that Qatar would host the eagerly anticipated tournaments, and Gravity Media and Belden were then awarded the projects to deliver broadcast systems for four stadiums for the first ever tournament of its kind in the Arab world. Since then, Qatar has been a hive of activity as it equips the host stadiums with the latest broadcast technology.
On November 21, the partners officially kicked off the one-year countdown to the opening of the World Cup 2022 stadiums. Gravity Media partnered with its long-term supplier Belden to design, supply, install, test and commission the broadcast cabling systems for the opening match venue Al Bayt Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium and Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
Gravity Media says it shaped the project design using input from local broadcasters and its expertise with high-profile international federations. “It was an honor to be involved in such prestigious projects,” said Eamonn Dowdall, Executive Director for Gravity Media. “With the combined expertise of Belden and Gravity Media, the solutions provided will support the stadiums’ needs well into the future.”
The respective installations required Belden’s broadcast systems including its SMPTE, Triax, video, multi core audio, and single-mode fiber cable products – enabling host broadcasters to connect their facilities to 50+ camera positions in each of the stadiums which includes interviews, arrivals and other off-field activities. This will enable broadcasters to transmit content to billions of fans around the world while simultaneously future proofing the stadiums’ systems for long-term, sustainable use.