German news channel WELT has opened its new facility at the Axel Springer Building in Berlin, built with IP production at the forefront of broadcast operations.
The facility’s communications system is based around Clear-Com’s Eclipse HX Digital Matrix, FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless Intercom and V-Series Iris Panels. Clear-Com’s Germany-based partner, MCI, designed and supplied the communications solution.
WELT provides more than 14 hours per day of live global news coverage. The broadcast centre covers 175 square metres and took three years to plan, construct and equip.
Equipment at the site includes:
- Eclipse Median Frame with integrated FreeSpeak II and V-Series Iris Panels
- FreeSpeak II wireless system connected to Eclipse via E-IPA cards
- V-Series Iris user panels with built-in IP connectivity to Eclipse placed around the studio
- Eclipse HX’s management software Dynam-EC enabling the station to see a live view of intercom routing and role assignments
- Dynam-EC also used to manage N-1s, IFBs for cueing, conferences and to switch SIP ports online in real time; dial and set up external lines via the SIP ports, and dynamically switch them to the Clear-Com Iris panels according to production requirements
“With the broadcast industry trending toward AoIP, it was very important for the new studio to be outfitted for AES67 workflows,” said MCI senior project engineer Martin Koops. “The studio’s Clear-Com Eclipse Median frame can scale up to 448 ports, is equipped with Dante ports, AES67 ports, and can connect to other devices over IP.
“The news channel’s IP communications system aligns with their goals of having a modern, state-of-the-art facility that can be flexible and agile, so they can quickly adapt to the next news story.”
