DutchView Infostrada takes a giant step by producing live for the first time in the cloud

Lawo's “Cloud Production” IP camera solution and IP-based network for video and audio routing allow for remote live production, thereby saving technical resources and personnel at the location where the broadcast takes place.

DutchView Infostrada, a subsidiary of NEP, is using cloud-based production on the IP platform of Grass Valley. On November 22, the television program Carlo's TV Café broadcast by the private Dutch channel RTL4, it was aired using Cloud Production in the cloud. In this way, it became the first live broadcast to use this technology.

One day later, Football Inside was broadcast by RTL7, becoming the second broadcast to use this cloud-based technology. Since then, the Dutch production company and service company has been using this technology regularly in the production of some programs.

To this end, DutchView Infostrada carried out various modifications to its facilities in Hilversum (Netherlands). These experiences are the result of the close collaboration that has occurred in recent months between Grass Valley and DutchView Infostrada.

At the heart of this cloud production system are the LDX 86 WorldCam cameras and the XCU HD/4K XF IP base station, configuring a complete chain of Grass Valley IP cameras.

Marcel Koutstaal, vice president of camera systems at Grass Valley, acknowledges that working with Peter Bruggink, CTO at DutchView Infostrada, and his team has not only been enjoyable and productive, together we have taken a significant step in IP production.”

For his part, Bruggink has been proud that "RTL has so much confidence in us and have been the first to bet on cloud production technology. While some companies and broadcasters are working on remote production and video over IP, we have made a leap to a cloud platform where resources are available on demand. The work with the Grass Valley R&D team from its center in Breda has been quite intense in recent months and I think we can both be very proud of this achievement.

Red IP Lawo

To carry out live production on the cloud, DutchView Infostrada is also counting on the technology of the German manufacturer Theirs. The integration of a network for video and audio routing over IP from Lawo together with the control provided by Studio Manager Viertual (VSM) are proving key in this cloud production infrastructure.

The installation consists of numerous V__remote4 IP video production units, as well as mc²56 mixing consoles, Nova compact routers, Dallis I I/O systems and Lawo A__mic8 analogue to IP interfaces.

DutchView Infostrada cloud production centralizes resources in such a way that they can be shared more efficiently and sustainably on a production-by-production basis.

Peter Bruggink has highlighted the importance of having your own data center and a 100% dark fiber network in this environment. "The entire infrastructure is supervised by our own development tool GrandCentral, with 24/7 support service. This translates into a very stable base for this new cloud production technology," he noted.
With the new setup, it is no longer necessary for DutchView Infostrada to move a large mobile unit to a location. Video and audio routing and processing systems over an IP network allow connecting central control with remote location.

All connections use DutchView Infostrada's proprietary fiber optic network to connect to their datacenter, where all the technology is housed. Cloud production suites provide full control over the production process, just like with traditional productions.
The DutchView Infostrada and Lawo engineering teams in Hilversum worked closely on this installation prior to its commissioning. "We all learned a lot while working on this project. DutchView Infostrada and Lawo brought together as partners a compelling concept using Lawo IP-based equipment and VSM control. Equally important was the trust, communication and absolute dedication required to make this all work," admits Bruggink.

Mark de Vink, director of production at RTL Netherlands, underlines that "it was very exciting to be the first to broadcast a live program in the cloud, demonstrating the high efficiency of cloud production as it allows us to use the resources that are strictly necessary for the duration of the recording. Thanks to the use of centralized resources, we need significantly fewer professionals at the location where the production will be carried out, which results in considerable savings in travel and accommodation costs."