José Carreras Christmas Gala Live

When COVID-19 prevented José Carreras from traveling to Germany, Camera Crew Spain delivered a broadcast-quality live stream solution, connecting Barcelona directly to ARD’s German control room.

The Project: International Broadcasting Under Pressure

ARD’s Christmas special programming faced a critical challenge when pandemic restrictions prevented José Carreras from traveling to Germany for the live broadcast. The German broadcaster needed a solution that would seamlessly integrate the Barcelona performance with their studio production.

The Challenge: Bridging Two Countries in Real-Time

The project required more than basic live streaming. ARD needed:

• Broadcast-quality 4K production meeting German television standards
• Real-time integration with their German control room systems
• Professional staging appropriate for the Christmas special format
• Multilingual coordination between Spanish and German production teams
• Complete reliability for live television broadcast

Traditional remote broadcasting wouldn’t suffice – this required full studio production capabilities deployed in Barcelona.

Our Solution: Full Production Studio in Barcelona

Set Design & Staging

Our team created a custom Christmas-themed set in Barcelona, complete with professional decoration and staging that complemented ARD’s overall show aesthetic.

Technical Infrastructure

We deployed broadcast-grade equipment including:

• 3x Panasonic AK-UC4000 studio camera systems (4K)
• Camera control units enabling direct signal transmission to Germany
• Professional teleprompter systems
• Complete lighting and audio setup

Production Team

• Director of Photography ensuring cinematic quality
• 3x experienced camera operators
• Dedicated producer coordinating the international production
• Lighting specialists (gaffers) and electricians
• Professional makeup artist
• Live translators providing Spanish-German coordination

Real-Time International Coordination

The technical complexity involved direct signal transmission from our Barcelona setup to ARD’s German control room. Our team coordinated in real-time with German technicians, ensuring perfect synchronization and broadcast quality throughout José Carreras’ performance.

The multilingual production support eliminated communication barriers, allowing seamless collaboration between our Spanish crew and ARD’s German production team.

Results: Seamless International Broadcasting

The live stream delivered broadcast-quality footage indistinguishable from in-studio production. José Carreras performed as if present in the German studio, creating an immersive experience for ARD’s Christmas special audience.

Key Outcomes:

• Flawless 4K live streaming maintained throughout the performance
• Perfect audio-visual synchronization with German studio components
• Successful multilingual production coordination
• Zero technical interruptions during live broadcast

Need international broadcasting expertise in Spain? Camera Crew Spain has delivered complex productions for major European broadcasters since 2008.