Broadcast Solutions helps Kenya's new Switch TV launch new HD studios

El nuevo canal Switch Tv impulsado por Cruz Roja en Kenia cuenta con tecnologías de Ross Video, ARRI, Sony, Allen & Heath, Grass Valley, Newtek, Avid, Octopus, AEQ Kroma, Autoscript, Ffastrans, Mobile Viewpoint y PlayBox, integradas por Broadcast Solutions, para producir contenido de vanguardia para la región de África Oriental.

Broadcast Solutions has carried out the integration of the new HD studios from Switch TV, a new channel based in Nairobi (Kenya). The integrator's Hungarian professional team has been the main contracting partner for this unique project. This channel is powered by Kenya Red Cross and targets a young audience aged 18 to 35 with educational and entertainment programming. With a variety of local productions, live and informative programs, this new channel adds to the panorama of regional media with one of the most modern studios on the continent to date.

Switch TV required a studio with four sets, including a chroma verde, remotely operated cameras Sony, LED lighting ARRI, a newsroom and a post-production system. In addition to the broadcast equipment, Broadcast Solutions also delivered the IT infrastructure for the support office with 50 workstations. All systems were tested, configured and pre-installed in Budapest before being shipped to Nairobi to enable faster and smoother on-site installation. The overall planning and implementation, from allocation to commissioning, took just six months.

The core of the studio and video system is a hybrid router Ross Video Ultrix 72 x 72 with integrated multi-display with 12G capacity. The use of a hybrid router simplified the infrastructure, offering real agility in the sound department, which centers on a D-live digital mixer from Allen & Heath.

The studio uses cameras Sony HSC-300RF y Sony BRC-H800/AC, while video production is based on a Kula mixer from Grass Valley and a NewTek Tricaster TC1, used for chroma production. Ingest and playback work with servers Avid Airspeed 5500 e Interplay Command.

Switch TV news is produced with the help of a system Octopus Newsroom that controls clip playback, on-air graphics, and IP prompters. Autoscript. Communication between production team members is facilitated through an intercom system AEQ Chrome Crossnet using Dante network audio. To give operators a stylish and comfortable work environment, Broadcast Solutions designed and delivered bespoke furniture for the studio control rooms.

Post-production

Post-production is based on Avid Nexis shared storage and Interplay production asset management. Journalists and editors rely on the MediaCentral UX web-based editing system, which creates streaming proxies on the fly from high-resolution materials and allows basic editing for up to 15 journalists at the same time. The ability to work from the office or even remotely provides flexibility to editorial staff and shortens delivery times. Transcoding and file movement jobs are done with a server farm Ffastrans allowing for easily expandable operation. For on-site and on-location shooting, Switch TV relies on Sony PXW-X320 cameras along with 4K live streaming units Mobile Viewpoint.

Programming and planning of programs is carried out in the channel management system PlanAir de Commlaude. Non-live content is played from channel-in-a-box servers Playbox Airbox Neo channel-in-a-box. All program materials are backed up with a file Promax LTO. To give staff proper oversight of the channel and its competition, Broadcast Solutions has installed a bespoke IPTV system that processes SDI, DVB-T and DVB-S inputs. In addition to the enterprise WIFI and CCTV solution, Broadcast Solutions has implemented a custom facility monitoring system that checks and reports line voltages, power usage, temperature and humidity.

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