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SABC TV’s first Outside Broadcast took place on 6 January 1976 in Cape Town and, using 4 cameras, covered the start of that year’s Cape to Rio Yacht Race.
Since that small start, our range of equipment has expanded dramatically and we’ve broadcast thousands of events. Many of these have been transmitted across the world - and a great number have involved international players and performers.
One of our extravaganzas was the 24 camera coverage of the ”3 Tenors” concert staged in the presence of the former President Nelson Mandela against the stunning backdrop of the Union Buildings in Pretoria and we also provided nationwide facilities for the South African Millennium 2000 festivities, which were transmitted internationally.
But perhaps we’re best known and celebrated for our sports coverage, which is truly wide ranging. Our OB vans have been seen at sporting events around the world. And although we cover almost every kind of sport, we are probably most highly regarded not only for the technical excellence of our coverage of cricket but also for our technical contribution to international TV coverage of the game.
Air Time first came to the notice of the outside world when other African nations requested our help in providing equipment and expertise in the coverage of sporting events being held in their countries.
Out of these requests and their implementation, three things happened:
Firstly, Air Time had to become inventive in order to solve ongoing logistical problems, for instance the safe transportation of heavy and sensitive equipment over thousands of kilometres.
Secondly, we had to learn how to operate professionally in other parts of Africa where conditions were often different to those at home.
Soon, with the assistance of foreign local government and sports control councils, we became adept at coping with factors such as torrential rains, fluctuating power supplies and other similar inconveniences. Indeed, we are proud of our ability to work closely and amicably with various officials in the many countries in which we operate. We believe that the final product, which reflects well on all parties concerned, speaks for itself.
The third development was that, in several cases, we were asked to train our lesser experienced hosts and contribute to the development of the industry in their countries. This is a tradition that we take pride in continuing.
As several of these outside broadcasts were transmitted world wide, Air Time began to earn a global reputation in the industry as being reliable, resourceful, flexible and professional.
The members of Air Time are also proud of their role as researchers as well as superb technicians. We are continually among the first to recognise new inventions and developments and to adapt them to the requirements and benefit of our production clients.
For instance, we were one of the first users of virtual playbacks on a major event - the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This facility, which while recording the action as the game is going out live, is also able to cue up slow motion, and edit packages without losing current game information.
Air Time was heavily involved in the development of the stump camera and also fine-tuned the Pan-Eye camera system in South Africa. This equipment is used as a 3rd umpire in cricket and we were the first television broadcaster to use this aid.
At the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, Air Time supplied this equipment at 8 of the venues, including the two which were televised, and a total of 74 decisions were taken off this facility. The third umpire truly helps in ensuring the accuracy of decisions and it is now part of our basic equipment at all matches.
Air Time’s professional reputation has spread across the world. Among others, we’ve done work for the BBC, NBC, ABC, CBS/ESPN, Fox, Sky TV and TWI, and have broadcast from Malaysia, Madagascar, Spain India, England and Atlanta and even live from the super cruise liner, the QE II. Our significant contribution to the Olympic Games in Sydney was marked by us providing no fewer than 8 Outside Broadcast vehicles and a technical crew of 30.
We’re no strangers to the Far East. We’re proud to say that one of the main reasons why we were invited to the Commonwealth Games Cricket in Malaysia was because of our skills in covering the game. Similarly, on the Super 8 Series in Kuala Lumpur, we not only provided expertise in terms of our crew but also supplied the stump camera and third umpire systems.
And of course, we’ve covered several events in India and Sri Lanka, including the Tri-Nations cricket series in Bombay and at other venues.
As mentioned above, we are also well experienced in the coverage of events other than sport, including drama, religion, special events and entertainment.
When operating abroad, we employ a practice of using local facilities and expertise wherever possible.
But overall, we offer our highly skilled technicians and crews who have a wealth of experience and who are respected world wide for their television expertise and professionalism.
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