Broadcast Solutions updates MAM and playout of Georgia’s GPB

Responding to the GPB goals of transforming workflows and renewing the technology and equipment of its MAM and playout infrastructure, Broadcast Solutions Group has carried out a comprehensive modernisation of its production workflow.

Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) is one of the country’s largest producers of original Georgian programmes and documentaries and hosts two television channels and several radio programmes. Today, 85% of the Georgian population receives the broadcaster’s programmes, which are also broadcast via satellite and the Internet in several European and Asian countries.

As part of this modernisation process, Broadcast Solutions implemented a new traffic, ingest, playout, content collection, graphics systems, MAM and the company’s in-house-developed human interface control solution.

Broadcast Solutions’ human interface control system provides identification signals on the on-air part of the workflow and integrates with the new Vale da Grama equipment, which was also supplied by Broadcast Solutions on this project. Another feature of the Broadcast Solutions order was the expansion of staff training programmes and 24-hour service during operation.

George Kumsiashvili, CTO of GPB, acknowledges that “this project pushes our Georgian First Channel programme to be one of the region’s most modern and high-tech media outlets. Additionally, the project design pays great attention to data protection and information security components.”

Broadcast Solutions implemented a traffic system that allows GPB to plan and produce long-term, ad hoc production with the immediacy required for news programmes. The system was customised to meet their needs for interaction with Georgia’s advertising agencies. This included particular localisation of the user interfaces and adaptation of the metadata to the Georgian language.

Centralised ingest

Etere’s centralised ingest system and content collection for the entire GPB complex allows for the systematisation of archive materials, as well as the operational tasks of file ingest and 32-channel baseband ingest simultaneously.

The automated on-air playout system was implemented for GPB’s two TV channels with the possibility of expansion. With this upgrade, GPB works in HD, but all the main parts of the solution are ready to move to UHD without the need for essential investments.

In terms of graphics solutions, GPB and Broadcast Solutions opted for ClassX, used in GPB’s broadcast production, from graphics creation and planning to automated playout under automation control.

Etere’s MAM and file flow management tool streamlined production workflows, allowing GPB’s various departments to be combined into a single unit and encouraging the new infrastructure to interact with existing post-production systems.

As part of the modernisation process, GPB upgraded its IT infrastructure with equipment from HP, Arista and several others that integrates with the high-performance modular storage for post-production and broadcast in line with the dynamic drive pool, ARDIS.

Throughout the project, both partners paid particular attention to training GPB staff from various departments and supporting them during the first months of on-air operation with the new workflow. Part of Broadcast Solutions’ consultancy consisted of the implementation of a new organisational and operational scheme for GPB employees, associated with the technological and workflow changes.