Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

Pro-Bel speeds DR-Byen to air

Danish state broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) has gone to air with a four-channel Morpheus Automation system just two months after signing the contract with vendors Pro-Bel. The software helps unite DR's radio, television and new media playout on one site, with an integrated tapeless workflow writes Fergal Ringrose.

Danish state broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) has gone to air with a four-channel Morpheus Automation system just two months after signing the contract with vendors Pro-Bel. The software helps unite DR’s radio, television and new media playout on one site, with an integrated tapeless workflow writes Fergal Ringrose.

DR began a major process to rationalise its technologies and premises some years ago as it anticipated a significant growth in its TV output, and well as in its considerable radio line-up (more than 40 channels are already spread across FM, DAB and streaming) and in its online services.

By relocating to a new building, DR Byen, just outside Copenhagen it consolidated the operations of twelve formerly separate sites, and contains studios, production facilities, delivery systems and a comprehensive multimedia news area, which together serve all of DR’s outputs across radio, TV and new media.

The vision for the playout centre was to create one facility using one common platform operated by common media operators. According to DR this aim could not be met because current playout solutions don’t allow this.

Pro-Bel was called into the project when this was realised. The rest of the vision has been implemented as planned, including the key design criterion of a single IP network for all traffic within the building. A number of disparate media areas are united in the use of a central media archive that serves the entire technical architecture.

“Pro-Bel reacted very positively and quickly when our initial plans had to be altered at such a late stage,” said Lars Sorner, senior project manager, DR TES Technology Project. “The company analysed and understood our situation accurately, and provided us with solutions that worked.

“We ordered Morpheus and then had it up and running within three weeks. There were some very impressive people from Pro-Bel who knew exactly what they were doing.”