24-hour global news channel Al Jazeera English has purchased a sample number of Litepanels Sola 6 lights to trial as part of the network’s flyaway ENG kits. Al Jazeera will use the Sola 6 alongside three-camera mini outside broadcast kits to conduct interviews with prominent political figures in various locations around the world for its Talk to Al Jazeera programme. In a separate significant order, Al Jazeera English has also recently purchased a number of Litepanels’ Hilio high output LED fixtures to provide the lighting for its studios and down-the-line live positions in the broadcaster’s Paris, Berlin and Baghdad bureaus. The daylight balanced Sola 6, combines the advantages of LED technology with the controllability and light shaping properties of a Fresnel light. The Sola 6 draws a small fraction of the power needed by conventional Fresnel fixtures and, like the rest of the Sola series, it provides Litepanels’ soft light quality. The Sola 6 is a true Fresnel fixture that produces soft, directional illumination and uses Litepanels proprietary heat-free LED technology. Paul Quinn, acting manager News Operations, Al Jazeera English, said, “Al Jazeera travels to some of the most obscure and hostile parts of the world. We need to travel light, but we can’t afford to compromise on the quality of the fixture. The Litepanels units have given us far more flexibility in terms of being able to light and interview the subject. “It’s also been a great cost saving solution – not only have we reduced our electricity and air conditioning bills because of the low power draw and heat-free technology, we have also made significant savings on our excess baggage charges.” www.litepanels.com
