Sony has renewed its broadcast relationship with Vatican Media, the official institution responsible for broadcasting the activities of the Pope and the Vatican as a whole.
Vatican Media was previously known as Centro Televisivo Vaticano and offers footage for live broadcasts and for archive.

In a large project which began in 2020, the entire broadcast system of the Vatican has been updated to a more streamlined fibre network, connecting 4K cameras to the production control rooms via Sony’s HDCE-100 adaptor.

The fibre optic infrastructure inside the Vatican has been designed by the Technical Direction of the Dicastery for Communication to be able to carry audio video signals and controls either baseband and IP networks for SDVN applications.

The system also leaves a smaller footprint on the historical buildings, as the HDCE-100 unit used is small, silent, easily hidden and thin optical fibre cables can used on long distances.

“Thanks to Sony’s innovative solutions, we’ve built a high quality and future-proof system which will transport viewers to The Vatican and help spread our message worldwide better than ever before” says Francesco Masci, Director of the Technology Department, Vatican. “Building such a complex system while in-keeping with the historic location was never going to be an easy task, but by using the expertise of our long-term partners Sony we were able to find the perfect solution.”

All cameras across the Vatican have been progressively upgraded to produce high quality images, essential for preserving and reflecting the events happening around the most important sites in the Vatican complex. Sony’s HDC-5500s have replaced previous generation cameras, providing superior image quality and creative flexibility. The devices can shoot in 4K, HD, and HDR which allows them to capture 4K images with exceptionally low noise, perfect for the impactful, low light (and therefore difficult to capture) atmosphere of the Vatican.

“Our long-standing partnership with Vatican Media has enabled us to offer a scalable and reliable system that meets the need for shooting, producing and broadcasting around the world with a low impact on historical environments,” comments Norbert Paquet, Head of Live Production Solutions, Sony Professional Europe. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with Vatican Media as a technology partner and helping them to expand in crescendo the potential of broadcasting from this historic place with such a valuable heritage to always reach every corner of the world.”

In another update, Sony BRC-H800 PTZ cameras have been installed inside the iconic St Peter’s Basilica. The cameras small size made them perfect for installing discretely around the building, so as not to impact on the historic surroundings. The PTZs can also be controlled remotely meaning there’s no need for camera operators, reducing the footprint of production while allowing for more creative production as filming can take place from new angles not normally accessible.