Yoga Day: DD ready to cover mega event with 23 hi-end cameras

New Delhi: National broadcaster Doordarshan has made elaborate arrangements for the live telecast of International Yoga Day from Rajpath on the morning of 21 June including placing 23 hi-end cameras to cover 40,000 participants.

“Around 23 cameras have been deployed by linking together three OB Vans with microwave and OFC cables to cover this mega event,” the broadcaster said in a statement issued in the capital.

This live coverage is different from the Republic Day Parade that Doordarshan brings annually to India and the world as the 26 January Parade though panaromic and wide angles,concentrates on two specific areas - the saluting base at Rajpath and the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, the statement said.

The logistics involved in this live telecast are complex as the area involved stretches for 1.5 kms from Rafi Marg to India Gate and will encompass the entire lawns to the north and south of Rajpath, it added.

The 23 cameras being used for the coverage have been placed in strategic positions to cover all the 40,000 participants, distinguished guests and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be present at Rajpath on this historic occasion, the statement said.

“As the area required to be covered is much larger, the coverage of yoga day will be a much bigger challenge. Given their experience in covering mega events in the country, I am sure Doordarshan will measure up to that challenge,” Prasar Bharati Chairperson A Surya Prakash told PTI.

In the statement, Doordarshan said it is using thirteen raisers of five feet and ten feet height, covered with yoga motifs to place cameras while three Jimmy jip cameras are also being used to provide aerial views.

“One of the cameras have been additionally placed strategically at the halfway point on a hydraulic lift which can go upto about 50 ft high. This camera is at the junction between Rajpath and Janpath and can give the viewer an aerial perspective that will cover participants at both ends of the venue,” the statement said.

Two cameras are also being placed on top of India Gate and will give panoramic shots of the central vista, as in Republic Day parades, the statement said.

The coverage will also include the production of a small stage, instructional yoga by experts that is being done using three cameras and by deploying a fourth OB Van. The output of this OB Van will be provided by Doordarshan to the organisers for display on giant LCD Screens.

“The event will start at 6.20 AM in the morning of the 21 June with a 9 minute introductory film welcoming all to the world of yoga and will go on upto 7.45 am or till end,” the statement added.

The producer of this mega event is Shanti Swaroop Bhakoo from Doordarshan Kendra Delhi while Nadoja Dr Mahesh Joshi,Additional Director Doordarshan is overall in charge, the statement said.

PTI