Antenna, one of Cyprus’s main television networks, has been provided with a complete new MCR, from PlayBox Technology. The company designed, supplied, installed and commissioned the MCR, which is now on-air running three sports channels for Cytavision, the TV platform of CYTA.
Antenna’s MCR incorporates a range of PlayBox technology equipment including three servers each comprising AirBox playout and automation, and TitleBox on-air dynamic graphics. A fourth server provides N:M backup controlled by a Multi-Backup Manager. Three CaptureBox servers are available for ingesting new video material. QCBox checks the quality of the material ready for transmission and includes loudness monitoring. AlarmBox reports any urgent problems. Other system elements comprise 32TB of Direct-Attached Storage (DAS), and 8TB of Network-Attached Storage (NAS) as well as a further TitleBox for off-line preparation.
The project also includes the third-party equipment required to complete the MCR with audio and video network infrastructure, voiceover booths for adding commentaries and a Harris 64×64 matrix. Currently all playout channels are running in standard definition (SD) but can be changed to HD when required.
