BBC Studioworks makes major investment in Sony 4K technology in an IP environment

Sony's IP Live production system was chosen for its easy integration and open standards. Among other equipment, twenty-two Sony studio cameras have been integrated, including eight HDC-4300s, three XVS mixers and more than two hundred monitors.

BBC Studioworks, production and post-production subsidiary of the British public broadcaster, has opted to Sony to provide 4K over IP in its recently refurbished television center studios located in the White City district of central London.

One of the three new studios will be located in a vibrant facility focused on audiovisual content, the TC1 studio (over 1,000 square meters), which will be used by television networks and independent production companies to create content ranging from comedy series to entertainment programs and large live productions.

In total, twenty-two Sony studio cameras, including eight HDC-4300s, three

Sony technology was chosen not only for the all-in-one solution package it offers, but also for its open standards approach. As an enabler of 4K technology, Sony's IP solution integrates harmoniously into the TV center's studio infrastructure, avoiding any disruption to the company's established workflows and opening the doors to HDR production. Using Sony's IP Live production system, Studioworks gains the power to output 4K and HD quality video, audio sync signals and control data in real time over standard IP and network infrastructures.

Collaborative approach

Meryl McLaren, commercial director of BBC Studioworks, is proud to "take a collaborative approach with our clients and technology providers to ensure that the equipment in the television center has the most innovative products sought after by production professionals. Our mission is to provide studios at a competitive price with the most robust and flexible technologies, just as our clients require. We are convinced that the technology we have chosen, in combination with the location, the staff and a broader client experience, will help to make the center television in the best place to make television in the United Kingdom.”

For his part, Nick Smith, business development director at Sony Professional Europe, highlights that "we are committed to providing open standards with the solutions we offer to our customers and partners. 4K resolution over IP is the future of our sector. That is why we are delighted that BBC Studioworks has invested in future technology for its workflows and makes 4K a reality for the majority of workers in this field."

This collaboration takes Sony's commitment to developing IP solutions ready for use today and open to the future one step further. Its IP Live production studio reflects the entire IP ecosystem, serving as a training center and testbed for third-party interoperability from other production companies and broadcasters.

Sony will supply the technology starting next May and the new facilities are scheduled to begin operations in September.