Sweden’s largest independent television channel, TV4, has chosen ATG Broadcast to expand the file-based broadcast playout facilities at its Stockholm headquarters. Two new channels, TV4 Fakta and Sci-Fi, have being added to the existing eight.
This is the fifth systems integration contract TV4 has placed with ATG Broadcast and represents an increase in programme output as well as an ongoing transition from SD to fully paralleled multidefinition transmission.
TV4’s expanded system incorporates a substantial increase in facilities available to the network’s programme controllers. It includes two Omneon MediaDirector server management systems and four Omneon HD-SD MPEG MediaPorts with integral HD/SD up/down conversion. These form an expanded control system linked to 11 terabytes of online HDD-based storage.
Four Harris NEO x 8 x 1 HD/SD SDI digital video routing switchers have been added, main and standby for each channel. Each of the routers is equipped with source-format auto-detect. Two additional Pebble Beach automation channels have also been installed together with an expanded Evertz Multiviewer HD/SD picture monitoring system. The increased technical resources required for the two new channels also included modular equipment from Axon, Eyeheight, Cavena, Microvideo, Grass Valley and TV Electronics plus ATG Broadcast MUSA patch panels and power distribution.
Installed during January and February, the expanded system is already on air.
“The technical and operational staff at TV4 have proved exemplary in their approach to file-based broadcasting,” commented ATG Broadcast Sales Director, Alan Pimm. “They knew from the start exactly the facilities they wanted and allowed us to specify and install a system that would be reliable and efficient to use as well as easy to expand. The result is one of the most versatile, robust and space-efficient broadcast playout centres in Europe.”
