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Harris helps Pinewood expand HD facilities

Harris has provided technical infrastructure to Pinewood Studios for new HD production galleries servicing two dedicated 840-square-meter production studios as part of a wider multi-million pound upgrade in Pinewood’s TV business.

Harris Broadcast Communications has provided technical infrastructure to Pinewood Studios for new HD production galleries servicing two dedicated 840-square-meter production studios. It is part of a wider multi-million pound upgrade in Pinewood’s TV business.

Although Pinewood is synonymous with movie production, it has been a major facilities provider for TV for many years. The new HD galleries feature a range of Harris infrastructure, including Platinum routers, HView SX Pro multiviewers, X50 frame synchronisers/converters and 6800+ modular core processing platforms, all orchestrated via Nucleus network control panels. This will enable Pinewood to reliably distribute, monitor and process multiple HD video and audio signals.

Pinewood’s choice of Harris as its technology provider was heavily influenced by its long-standing relationship with the company. Pinewood also owns Teddington Studios, where it has a number of presentation studios in which Harris signal distribution and channel transmission equipment has been successfully installed and operated over many years.

“We have always enjoyed a good relationship with Harris, so they were the natural choice as provider for the technical infrastructure within the new studio production galleries,” said Paul Darbyshire, broadcast director of Pinewood Studios Group. “When we evaluated the options available, we found that Harris already has the kind of equipment that we need and also they are progressing in what we believe are the right directions.”

Work started on the upgrade this spring and the galleries were commissioned last month.

“The team at Harris are very responsive — they react quickly to any issues that we have,” added Darbyshire. “This was a demanding challenge to meet our needs — Harris is competitive in what is already an inherently competitive market, they deliver and their equipment works.”

For Harris, the contract is a strategic project that illustrates the breadth and technical sophistication of its product and service offering. “By instigating this major upgrade project, Pinewood has signposted its intent in the UK TV production facilities market,” said Mathias Eckert, VP, sales and services, Europe & Africa for Harris Broadcast Communications.

Between them, Pinewood and Teddington have nine television studios with full production galleries, offices, accommodation and edit suites. For larger light entertainment formats, Pinewood and Shepperton (the group’s other studio) can offer up to 60,000 sq ft of space accommodating large sets and capacity for audiences of more than 2,000. Pinewood is also able to offer complete picture and sound post production for television, bespoke digital storage systems, workflow management and tracking tools.

Recent TV productions that have used the Studios’ include: Would I Lie To You (TV studios and post); The Rob Brydon Show (TV studios); Don’t Stop Me Now (15,000sqft Stage); Love Machine (15,000sqft stage); The Magician (15,000sqft stage; post); and Got to Dance (15,000sqft; post).
www.broadcast.harris.com
www.pinewoodgroup.com