KENNESAW, GA, (December 11, 2000) - In an industry that demands bigger-than-life imagery and better-than-spectacular visuals, it should be no surprise that the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) has developed a sophisticated system of projectors and big screens to enhance its audience entertainment and communication objectives. For over a year, the hugely popular and nationally televised traveling shows – WWF Raw Is War, WWF Smackdown as well as various live and pay-per-view events – have integrated a collection of Digital Projection, Inc.'s (DPI) high-performance POWER & LIGHTNING Display projectors. 

“The projected images and screens have become part of our trademark look,” said Sean Sellman, Technical Manager, World Wrestling Federation Television. “Our sets were designed around a custom concept of using the projectors and big screens as an actual prop on the set. The DPI units help us achieve the best, the biggest and the brightest images possible.

”A bevy of engineering professionals – which includes staff video technicians and expert event pros from MBP-Image Display Services (MBP), a DPI staging partner – have mastered a network of oddly shaped screens (or “trons” as the World Wrestling Federation calls them), multiple in-house and offsite sources and constantly changing projector installation dimensions to achieve visual clarity and brightness for millions of viewers.  

“Our shows are very visual and there are a lot of interactive encounters outside of the ring and arena. We wanted to capture and present the backstage events and satellite feeds and make them part of our live audience. Using multiple DPI large-screen projectors was the only way to achieve that versus just using a house JumboTron, which really doesn't accommodate everybody,” added Sellman.

To ensure this integration paradigm performs flawlessly, a MBP engineering team, led by Joseph Mayers, Matt Dombard and chief engineer Ed D'Amico, along with WWF senior video engineer, Sid Drexler, designed a sophisticated network of digital, satellite and traditional playback equipment to feed the projectors during the performances. “Superior brightness, ease of use and advanced signal processing set the DPI projectors apart from the rest. They have been a great addition to our fleet,” said Joseph Mayers, video engineer.

In addition, adds Sellman, combating considerable ambient arena and television lights on show-site has been a real challenge. “We color match the projectors and ‘trons' to live cameras everyday. Because we are shooting the screens and the projected images must match visually in the arena as well as the reality of TV,” said Sellman. “The DP projectors are great on-camera set elements.”    

Because of the geometrically unique screens, heavy emphasis was placed on the ability to handle revolving aspect ratio requirements. Sellman notes POWER & LIGHTING Display's effective multi-aspect ratio function is a primary performance characteristic that sets the DPI units apart from the rest.

"We chose to use Digital Projection for two reasons: software/scaling and service," commented Dan Dubofsky, Director of Operations, MBP. "DPI's user-friendly software allows us to size the main screen image without the use of outboard devices. This was not available from any other manufacturer." 

“More important,” added Dubofsky, “is the service support. DPI's support has been superb. Whenever we need it, wherever we need it…it's there!”  

RAW – Screen Dimensions
Main Screen 20' x 40'
Side screen 10' x 20'  

Smackdown – Screen Dimensions
Main Screen 15' x 20' Oval
Logo Screen 10' x 5' Oval 

Design Team
Directors: Kerwin Silfies / Tm WalbertWWF
Senior Video Engineer: Sid Drexler 
Production Designer: Jason Robinson
Technical Manager: Sean Sellman, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment
Staging Supplier: MBP-Image Display Services, Fairfield, NJ.  

Emmy is a registered trademark of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.

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 About Digital Projection International

Founded in 1989, Digital Projection International (DPI) has been instrumental in the development and application of Digital Light Processing™ technology by Texas Instruments for projection systems. DPI introduced the world’s first 3-chip DLP™ projector in 1997, and has since delivered expert system engineering and world-class customer services, thus maintaining its position as a digital imaging pioneer.