PWS scores touchdown at NFL Christmas Day Halftime Show
Innovative wireless technology from Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) was the defining feature of the National Football League’s (NFL) highly anticipated 2024 Christmas Day Halftime Show, dubbed the “Beyoncé Bowl”, during the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Netflix.
Based in Orlando, Florida, PWS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Masque Sound, and specialises in developing and deploying custom wireless system packages for microphones, in-ear monitors (IEMs), intercom systems and Audio-over-IP (AoIP) networks.
The event required intricate planning and execution from all parties involved in the production. “The speed and scale of the Beyoncé Bowl were unprecedented,” said Jimmy Van Winkle, General Manager, PWS. “It was every bit the size and complexity of a Super Bowl Halftime Show, condensed into less than two months of preparation.”
Pre-production was a race against time, with confirmation only six weeks prior. The PWS team conducted a site survey to determine optimal antenna placement and gather crucial sweep data.
For the event, PWS managed frequencies for Sennheiser and Shure microphones, and Wisycom and Shure in-ear monitors, working alongside NFL gameday staff, Netflix’s broadcast crew and stadium technicians.
Cameron Stuckey, Lead RF Engineer, PWS, explained, “Covering a professional football field with flawless RF reception is never easy, but Houston’s environment combined with broadcast operations and stadium systems added an extra layer of complexity.
“One surprise on-site was the need to split transmissions across multiple zones. By leveraging our custom PWS adaptable solutions and exclusive partnerships with spectrum holders, our team ensured flawless wireless performance throughout the show.”
For the Beyoncé Bowl, PWS designed and deployed a comprehensive RF-over-Fibre (RFoF) antenna system covering UHF and STL ranges to support wireless microphones and in-ear monitors (IEMs) for Beyoncé, her dancers and the production team.
The system featured 10 helical antennas composed of four STL models, four standard UHF antennas for microphones, and two dedicated for dual IEM zones. This ensured connectivity across the vast performance area.
“The 2024 Christmas Day Halftime Show was a testament to PWS’ commitment to innovation and excellence in live event audio technology,” concluded Van Winkle.
