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Professional Wireless Systems ensured seamless wireless audio for the NFL’s 2024 Christmas Day Halftime Show during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Netflix. The event featured a performance by Beyoncé and required significant coordination across production teams.
PWS General Manager Jimmy Van Winkle noted the complexity of the project, which was confirmed only six weeks in advance. “The timeline and scale were comparable to a Super Bowl Halftime Show, condensed into less than two months,” he said.
The PWS team conducted a site survey to determine antenna placement and manage RF sweeps. During the day, they handled frequencies for Sennheiser and Shure microphones and Wisycom and Shure in-ear monitors and coordinated with NFL gameday staff, Netflix’s broadcast crew and stadium technicians.
Flawless performance
Lead RF engineer Cameron Stuckey highlighted the challenges of covering Houston’s football stadium, which required splitting transmissions across multiple zones. “We used custom PWS solutions and partnerships with spectrum holders to maintain flawless performance throughout the show,” he said.
PWS deployed an RF over fiber antenna system supporting wireless microphones and in-ear monitors for the performers and production crew. The system used 10 helical antennas to ensure full coverage across the field, including choreography spanning 75 meters and a finale that added vertical coverage for aerial elements.
Van Winkle acknowledged the contributions of NFL Event Frequency Coordinators, Netflix’s broadcast crew, ATK, and spectrum partners. “This show demonstrated the importance of collaboration and PWS’ commitment to delivering reliable wireless solutions for live events,” he said.
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