Russia’s state-owned television and radio broadcaster, VGTRK, has installed multiple Omneon MediaDeck media server systems to support playout at 11 regional stations.
Systems integrator I.S.P.A. Engineering installed the MediaDeck systems along with Omneon MediaControllers and PlayTool and ClipTool Pro software to enable a smooth transition to tapeless operations.
“Unlike low-end media servers that rely on PC-based platforms, the Omneon MediaDeck media server is engineered to provide mission-critical reliability and performance tailored to the specific demands of broadcast operations,” said Igor Orlov, first deputy head of the Department of Production and Technology at VGTRK. “In our transition from tape-based operations to a file-based workflow, the Omneon systems allowed our stations to accelerate and optimise content production, from ingest to media preparation to playout.”
At each of 11 regional stations, the combination of a six-channel SD MediaDeck system with a MediaController panel and PlayTool and ClipTool Pro software maximises VGTRK’s workflow flexibility while supporting content verification and system redundancy. The MediaController panel enables realtime control of ingest and playout processes, controlling each server channel and simplifying the building and execution of up to 10 independent playlists.
ClipTool Pro offers a VTR-like graphical user interface for ingest, quality assurance, and playout operations, with standard features including jog/shuttle, crash/loop record, sub-clipping (trimming), and multiple playback modes. PlayTool allows users at VGTRK stations to assemble a list of clips and automatically schedule back-to-back playout on each Omneon MediaDeck system.
“Across the VGTRK network of regional television stations, the MediaDeck server system provides a straightforward, flexible, and cost-effective solution for programme preparation and playout,” said Geoff Stedman, senior vice president of marketing and business development at Omneon. “The reliability of this server platform, and its flexible support for different I/O modules, ensures that as VGTRK continues to refine its broadcast operations its stations have a robust solution, both now and for the future.”
