As a result of size, space and economic constraints, flypacks will have a larger presence at this summer's Olympic Games, but that does not mean that the production will be scaled down. Bexel Broadcast Services will be one of the prime vendors with their trail blazing "Hercules" HD Flypack "“ the first and only of its kind. Bexel will break new ground for Olympic broadcasts.

"We cannot afford the time that it is going to take to put OB trucks onto ships," says Martin Anderson of NEP Visions, Ltd. "That's a reflection of the mix of contracts that we've got and when our various different sporting seasons start and end."

"It's great when you can't get another 53-footer on top of a mountain," says Craig Schiller, vice president of broadcast services for Bexel, "but it's not perfect."

Hercules is not perfect either but, "it's very close to perfection for this application", notes Schiller. It is a lightweight and modular system designed for easy set-up and, according to Schiller, "it is ideal for production where it may not be practical to utilize a full-size mobile unit. The rugged design of the flypack also makes it suitable to all shipping conditions".

Hercules has many key components including the Sony MVS-8000G HD Switcher, the Pesa 256x256 router, Evertz MVP multi-viewers and terminal support. For audio demands, it features a Calrec Alpha Mixer at its core, providing ease in 5.1 Surround Sound mixing and routing. Space and convenience are of the utmost importance for an event of Olympic scale and Bexel will not skimp on technology in favor of convenience.