Televisa and SKY Network tap
Omega to uplink live music festival to Mexico and Latin America...
The folks at Omega Productions recently learned that satellite technology  in South America and Mexico is far ahead of its US
counterpart... and the magic number is four. Four pictures is the number of "simultaneous programs" the SKY Network is transmitting to homes all over the southern hemisphere. So
when Televisa and SKY approached Paul and Donna Christensen about shooting and uplinking a live music festival from the 65,000+ seat Texas Stadium in Irving, just outside Dallas, the
project turned out to be anything but normal.
The special, tiled Sin Fronteras, called for uplinking four different line cuts of a live concert featuring some of the
biggest names in Latin music - Los Tigres del Norte,  Banda El Recodo, Los Angeles de Charly, Mojado, Lupe Esparza and Priscila Y Sus Balas de Plata
. Viewers who tuned in to watch the all-day festival of popular Fonovisa recording artists, were able to use their remote controls to choose between eight camera angles featured on five picture
feeds, including back stage artist interviews... all this during the action on stage and between sets.
Since the home satellite industry in North America has yet to embrace the SKY technology known as  multi-channel, Televisa
sent one of their C-Band uplink trucks to Dallas for the show. However, the challenges posed by this innovative project were far from over. Due to the position of the SKY
satellite which was located southeast and low in the sky over the Caribbean, the ideal parking spot for the uplink facility was more than 1000 feet from the video and audio trucks. Maintaining the high
quality necessary for a multichannel satellite feed of twelve video and ten audio signals was accomplished with the assistance of Bexel Dallas through the use of fiber optic digital
audio and video snakes. And the rest is history... Happy Networks... Happy Artists... Happy Home Viewers...
The concert, attended by a crowd of over 50,000, was the first large music show and celebration of Mexican Culture  in
the United States. It was of huge cultural impact for people of the Mexican community whether they reside in the US or other countries; but of special significance to Mexicans
residing in the US, the event gave the message that music brings the community together  for Latin Americans. One of the groups, Los Tigres del Norte,
who headlined the event, exemplifies this interest to bring together the cultures of North and South America. Los Tigres has been around for 30 years, since 1969 and have the
respect and admiration of the international public.  Their songs are always on the Latin Billboard Charts, as they are also an institution in the market place. Their most recent song, "
Spirit of Hope," has become a huge hit.
Miguel Rodriguez Mauri served as Executive Producer for SKY Network and Marco Flavio Cruz
Produced and Directed for Televisa. Juan Lopez Hernandez was in charge of the large event project for Televisa, along with Antonino Munguia Gasque who was Associate Producer.
Mariana Cruz Padilla with Televisa, provided valuable assistance to the Producers as did Amado Rodriguez who assisted with arrangements for staging and sound.
Mireya Valero, Spanish Marketing, Inc., produced the live concert event in conjunction with Televisa, SKY, Fonovisa and SFX Entertainment. SFX's Gene Dibble provided assistance as did Carman Aguilera, General Manager of LA MEJOR - 104.9FM
Radio in Dallas and Rosie Luna with Spanish Broadcasting. William Aguirre Ballesteros, Televisa's Chief of Satellite Broadcasting, handled Satellite duties while Raul Gonzalez Biestro,
Televisa's Music Producer, directed the recording and
mixing of the sound track. In addition, Gilbert Moreno, General Manager of Fonovisa Records, handled talent arrangements for the concert.
Omega brought in Mobile Production Services Unit 2, based in Columbus, OH, to handle the video chores, as well as Austin,
Texas based Reelsound Recording and Malcolm Harper, to mix and  record the sound track. Omega's crew consisted of
Ruthel Noble and Jan Sargent, both of whom handled talent and assisted Donna Christensen with crew support. Sel Warren, Omega's project video engineer, handled
technical issues, including the fiber optic feeds, as did MPS's EIC, Mike Garner and Dallas freelance engineer, Nick Javiland.
Dallas based Audio Engineer Ron Ballentine served as A1, assisted by K. C. Hooks. David Daniel handled Video Tape
Operations. Omega's New Orleans based Steadicam Operator and Director, Jerry Jacob took care of Hand Held Camera
duties, as did Dallas based Bruce Harmon. Don Warren, Omega's Jib Operator, who is located in Jackson, MS, handled Jimmy Jib duties along with Dallas Jib Owner/Operator, Kennny Dezendorf
. Omega also brought in Andrew Dean from Memphis, to shoot back stage
action and interviews, which occurred during various performances on stage. Andrew's footage was switched live and added to the already existing four programs being sent to viewers at
home. Rounding out the Omega crew on fixed camera were Dallas based Producer/Director Chris Brock, Omega's Fixed Camera Operator, Steve Cobb, who
hails from Anniston, AL and Dallas based Camera Operator, Jeff Cuales.
Sound reinforcement services for the concert were provided by Mike Pope's Little Rock, AK stage and sound company, PM
Productions. Generator power for the Satellite Facility was arranged for by Show Power - Dallas, and the company's General Manager, Donnie Harris.
Special thanks go out to all who worked so hard to make this project such a success... especially the fine folks who always
make our stay in Texas Stadium so pleasant - Bruce Hardy, Vice President of Texas Stadium Corporation, Susan Skaggs, Civic Affairs Director, Ron Underwood, Director of Operations,
Glen Kimberlin, Assistant Director of Operations and Becky Elliott, Operations Administrative Assistant.
It took real teamwork and sacrifice to make this project happen! Thanks folks... from both of us.
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