NBC to Present 2000 Summer Olympics in Dolby Surround Sound; Dolby Provides Surround Equipment for 2000 Summer Olympics Broadcast
Friday, July 28, 2000
NBC to Present 2000 Summer Olympics in Dolby Surround Sound; Dolby Provides Surround Equipment for 2000 Summer Olympics Broadcast
Dolby Laboratories announced that it will provide the necessary equipment and expertise for NBC to broadcast major events of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Dolby Surround sound. NBC viewers who have Dolby Surround Pro Logic systems will be able to experience theatre-like sound while watching this year’s Olympic Games broadcast from Sydney, Australia (September 13-October 1).
Multiple microphones will be placed throughout the audience to better re-create the sensation of “being there.” In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies, feature events such as gymnastics (a top-rated Olympic sport), swimming, and track and field will be mixed in Dolby Surround. A separate feed of nonverbal background sound, to which NBC will later add voice-overs for different uses, will also be mixed in Dolby Surround.
“Millions of people all over the US will be able to enjoy the games in rich surround sound, and feel as if they were actually in Australia,” says Dolby Surround applications engineer Jim Hilson. Mr. Hilson will be on hand for five weeks during the Olympic Games, helping NBC engineers install and fine-tune all of the equipment and providing on-site training and supervision to the audio mixers.
Dolby Laboratories will install and calibrate Dolby Surround sound equipment at the NBC Broadcast Center and at selected venues where several of the most popular events (athletics, aquatics, and gymnastics) will be held. In addition, Dolby will provide technical assistance to NBC and its affiliates to ensure a smooth transition to multichannel sound at the event. NBC will also use Dolby Surround for its Olympic Games promotions produced on-site in Sydney.
NBC currently broadcasts many of its top-rated shows in Dolby Surround, including Frasier, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as specials such as the All-Star baseball games.
For more information, call Dolby Laboratories at 415-645-5116.