25 years after giving Britain its first taste of 24-hour rolling news, Sky News has lost none of its appetite for innovation. Its news is available across a wide range of platforms and the Sky News headquarters in the UK is equipped with the latest technology. As is the studio of Sky Sports News HQ, which had its biggest ever revamp in 2014. Both studios feature large Barco LED-lit OVL video walls, procured and installed by Shooting Partners.
Barco all the way
In 2006, Barco equipped Sky News’s 7,500m2 main studio newsroom in London with a 14 x 3m LED video wall – a real first at the time. Just like the many other dedicated Barco solutions set up at the London-based News Centre, the video wall performed to Sky’s expectations. Yet, after more than eight years, it was time to replace the LED backdrop with new technology.
Sky News Arabia sets the tone
The Sky News team behind the Arabic Sky news station, which was launched in May 2012, chose cutting-edge technology to make the channel a success, appointing UK-based audiovisual expert Shooting Partners for the technical set- up. After numerous in-depth studio technology assessments, Shooting Partners installed a large Barco OverView OVL-708 video wall. The set-up inspired Jon Ben- nett, head of studio output at Sky News in London. He commissioned Shooting Partners to procure, provide and install a similar wall.
An immense canvas
“Jon Bennett wanted an immense canvas with minimal seams, a screen with a 2:1 aspect ratio and greater than 4K resolution,” explains Steve Jones, Managing Director at Shooting Partners. “We were certain that the OVL-708 would meet these requirements.” Ensuring a high level of redundancy and a maintenance- free operation, Barco’s OVL is the brightest LED-lit rear-projection cube on the market. Together with the Sky team, Shooting Partners installed an 8.4m x 4.2m OVL-708 wall at the Sky News studio. The result is very impressive both on screen and within the Sky newsroom.
The brightest possible canvas
Sky Sports News HQ chose a similar set-up for the new-look studio it inaugurated in August 2014. “The new studio would be twice the size of the previous one, with a huge video wall as its centerpiece,” Jones recalled. After a shoot-out with different manufacturers, Barco’s OVL re-confirmed that it was the best solution. “The 18m2 high-resolution, curved wall, which can be graphically split into differ- ent sections, provides the brightest possible canvas for our hi-res sports images,” says Mike Ruddell, Sky Sports Head of Technology.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
