• English
• Svenska
• Norsk

Sotheby's - London

For many years Sotheby’s has used audiovisual technology to deliver visitor information in its reception areas and more importantly to aid the viewing experience during a live auction. 

Although state of the art in its day, the original equipment was based around a TV distribution system that relied heavily on a mixture of traditional television, early plasma screen technology and a video wall. Significant technological developments in the audio visual field had occurred since this system was installed and this provided Sotheby’s with an opportunity to improve the picture quality and variety of content displayed on these screens

The Sotheby’s team wanted a replacement system that would offer the highest possible performance yet retain ‘real-time transmission’, an important element of the original system. “Ensuring that there are absolutely no transmission delays, turned out to be a technical challenge, and we worked closely together with Impact ” explains Heath Cooper, Head of Photography for Sotheby’s in London.

The main auction room of Sotheby’s had previously utilised a four-cube rear projection video wall. This system was proving costly to maintain as the projector lamps needed to be changed regularly and it had a high power consumption.  A simple calculation proved that a return on investment would be seen in just a couple of years if it were replaced with new technology.

The four-cube wall, once a prominent feature of the main auditorium was replaced with a stunning 103” Panasonic plasma screen, suspended from a re-enforced ceiling. The new screen provides the audience with a high quality HD image, a better viewing angle and a reduction in the amount of reflection. 

A Sony High Definition 3-chip video camera now records the auction, capturing and relaying the crystal clear, detailed images, Sotheby’s had wanted. The new system also enables Sotheby’s to send live HD broadcasts from the main auction room to any one of its five newly appointed, private meeting rooms.  These purpose built rooms are used by clients who wish to participate in an auction but remain anonymous.

Sotheby’s had embraced digital signage whilst the technology was in its infancy, to deliver visitor information via two 42” plasma screens in its elegant reception area.  The graphics were created in PowerPoint and run locally from a PC positioned near the screens.

With the advancement in digital signage, both in terms of display devices and software creation tools, Sotheby’s spent several months evaluating a number of solutions before deciding upon JVC’S TV Tools as a suitable replacement to their existing arrangement.

Sotheby’s have a wealth of media and photographic content and TV Tools allows powerful graphics to be created and distributed in real-time to different locations and to different types of display. 

Three, High Definition, NEC 46” LCD panels have replaced the original plasma screens and an Extron switcher allows for the screens in reception to show live coverage of an auction.

Impact installed a full high-definition TV (HD TV) video system at 1080P resolution over CAT5 distribution; CAT5 was chosen as it overcame many of the difficulties of wiring a Victorian building.