Client News

Rohde & Schwarz, a global leader in broadcast media technologies, with Pixel Power, a Rohde & Schwarz company, will be highlighting multiple end-to-end workflows for broadcast applications and underlining its clear migration paths from SDI to IP to the cloud at the Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS) 2022. Rohde & Schwarz's platform agnostic studio production, playout and transcoding capabilities offers broadcasters and media companies the robustness they have come to rely on from traditional broadcast workflows with the added agility of cloud technology - all with the purpose of enriching content and simplifying workflows.

Jörg Fries, vice president broadcast, amplifier and media solutions at Rohde & Schwarz said, “In today’s dynamically shifting landscape where consumers are driving the shape of content services, our customers need solutions that can evolve with their business, regardless of the technology they migrate to. While the way content is created and delivered might look different, what has not changed is the need for 24/7 capability and uncompromising quality. Rohde & Schwarz understands the real-world challenges that broadcasters and production companies face, and we continue to deliver solutions that help our customers meet these head on, with zero compromise on the rock-solid reliability that our brand is known for.”

With a deep commitment to helping customers transition from SDI to IP to cloud in ways that meet their unique business and operational needs, Rohde & Schwarz offers a comprehensive range of solutions that deliver on-premise and/or virtualizable workflows for cloud deployment.

As well as allowing broadcasters to handle tasks such as ingest, transcoding and quality control (QC), Rohde & Schwarz provides them with the capability to rapidly spin up/spin down channels, as and when needed, thanks to seamless integration with major cloud platforms. As a result, customers can rapidly and easily test out new business models or support one-off projects.

Summary:

Rohde & Schwarz and Pixel Power together offer integrated workflow solutions, from ingest to distribution, that include broadcast-wide monitoring, multiviewing and storage.

Studio Production – R&S®VENICE highlights multi-camera ingest and transcoding functionality for studio production using existing and software solutions for storage that synchronizes content from the facility with cloud storage. Within a single workflow, studio content being ingested could be passed straight to master control for scheduled or immediate playout. Monitoring and Multiviewing from the cloud, using SRT, brings multiviewer mosaics and monitoring content back to the studio.

Post Production – R&S®CLIPSTER, which has for many years been the gold standard solution for mastering and distribution of feature films and episodic TV, sees a new competitive CLIPSTER MKII release. The new CLIPSTER platform brings greater functionality to a wider audience at a more competitive price. R&S also recently launched its dedicated post production storage solution, SpycerNode SC, bringing high performance computing power, speed, and reliability to post production workflows.

Delivery – Delivering enterprise class reliability, Gallium PLAYOUT provides a highly integrated, sophisticated virtualizable solution for automation of multi-channel playout. Supporting modern multi-format distribution requirements Gallium PLAYOUT enables channels to be launched rapidly and provides multiple functional units incorporated into a single system, managing simultaneous delivery of traditional broadcast, web, mobile, IPTV and file-based content formats as needed. Combined with StreamMaster it offers a powerful, highly customisable software toolset designed to meet the needs of broadcasters of all sizes.

Playout, Branding and Automation workflows can be deployed both via the public cloud as well as an on-premise solution. With integrated, software defined, virtualizable monitoring and multiviewing, a powerful portfolio for playout and transmission suites is now available within one system. Fully embedded graphics and branding come with 30 years heritage and experience and offers workflow solutions for a range of sophisticated in-channel and cross channel branding and promotion as well as linear and OTT playout.

Digiturk, the major satellite television provider in Turkey, has purchased four new multi-purpose signal processing appliances from FOR-A. The FA-9500 units will provide key functionality as part of an extensive upgrade of its broadcast facilities.

Digiturk broadcasts a broad range of channels including premium sport, both to audiences in Turkey and to the Turkish community throughout Europe. It delivers these from its base in Istanbul.

The sale was negotiated by Avsistek, FOR-A distributor in Istanbul. Sales director Fatih Idge said “We have installed a number of FA series units from FOR-A over the last few years, and have been very pleased with the quality and reliability. For Digiturk they eliminate the need for a lot of peripheral video and audio equipment, making the installation simpler and more compact.”

Now installed in its central systems are four new FA-9500 frame synchroniser and multi-purpose signal processor units. These popular units support analogue composite I/O as well as SDI from SD to 3G, with full up/down/cross-conversion between them, and aspect ratio converter from SD 4:3 content. It also includes a colour corrector and an automatic video enhancer, and audio handling.

“This project with Digiturk solidifies FOR-A’s position as a reliable and trusted brand in the Turkish market,” said Khalid Sweidan, senior sales manager for FOR-A MEA. “The FA-9500 multi-purpose processor packs a lot of functionality into a 1U cabinet, making it ideal for busy machine rooms handling large numbers of channels and feeds.”

Citizen TV, one of Kenya’s largest free-to-air television networks, has chosen a 4K-ready production system from FOR-A in itsir new studio for Ramogi TV, a Dholuo language station in Kenya. This investment by Citizen TV was part of a large contract with StreamPort Media in UAE, which included studio camera systems and studio lighting.

Citizen TV was the recipient of a prestigious Communications Authority KUZA Award and Culture Africa Style Award in 2021 and has been witnessing rapid expansion since 2006.  It selected to build a new facility in Nairobi but faced budget restraints and lack of access to a reliable supply of products.

“We looked for technologies and partners that would enable us to reach millions of viewers across Kenya,” said Moses Waweru, Chief Engineer at Citizen TV.  “We chose a 4K-ready system from FOR-A using the HVS-490 production switcher at the heart of the production and a multi-format MFR-3232 router as well as ClassX Mini on-air graphics”.  Despite the compact nature of the products, the solution offers significant engineering and operational benefits, which translated into a very short installation and commissioning time.

“Over the course of the last 6 months, we opted for a consultative approach to identify Citizen TV’s requirements," said Muhammad Mudassir of StreamPort Media. “We finally identified the right solution and tailored a solution made up of best-in-class studio cameras, production system graphics, lighting and transmission”. 

“Through detailed discussions with the StreamPort Media and Citizen TV teams, we understood the client’s priorities and objectives, especially their drive for future scalability to 4K Ultra HD” said Khalid Sweidan, senior sales manager of FOR-A in the Middle East.“

FOR-A, StreamPort Media and Citizen TV worked diligently to meet strict project deadlines and managed to get the studio on-air in a record time on 29^th November, 2021.  The studio is now the home of “Mbak Ndalo” and “Thapki“.

”It has been a great pleasure to work with the StreamPort Media and Citizen TV teams in Kenya,” said Khalid Sweidan. “This key reference clearly demonstrates our commitment to grow the African market with focused partners like StreamPort Media, who has successfully completed several installations in Africa in the last 2 years.”

Glensound, industry leader in high quality audio systems, will demonstrate its well-known range of production sound devices at CABSAT. The company specialises in networked audio connectivity built on the Dante/AES67 standards.

Being seen for the first time in the region are a number of new products, including an updated version of its popular reporter’s mobile hybrid, and a new product for simple audio production of eSports. These will be seen alongside proven products including network audio interfaces, announcer and commentator panels, and a network intercom system ideal for production centres and temporary installations.

he new Glensound Nomad is a portable pack for live audio, built on mobile phone connectivity, including 4G. It has an XLR input (mic or line) and a headphone jack, and by using the data carrier for 7kHz audio it provides excellent audio quality with full talkback for interviews, remote commentary or in-ear monitoring. Power is from internal batteries or USB.

To manage the firewall challenges of eSports audio, Glensound has developed the GTM, part of its Dante/AES67 audio over IP range. Multiple units can be remotely configured ever the network to ensure the right feeds go to each unit, and users have individual level controls for their own microphones, team talk and live audience and commentary.

Extending the popular Beatrice network intercom system, the PM4 paging microphone has four switchable output channels and an integrated frequency shifter to reduce the possibility of feedback. Like most Dante units, it is powered over ethernet, ensuring simplicity and flexibility of installation.

For live and stage use, the AoIP2M is a twin microphone amplifier. Two XLRs with selectable 48V phantom power and individual gain controls feed onto the network. Practicality is ensured as the device is in a small yet rugged, “throw-down” box.

“The Middle East is a very exciting market for broadcast, production and events,” said Marc Wilson, Managing Director at Glensound. “We are delighted that we can meet our customers and contacts at CABSAT once again. Our business is based on understanding the operational needs of the market in detail, so we can develop products that make production easier – or even adapt existing products to tackle a particular challenge.”

Senior staff from Glensound will be available throughout CABST to discuss individual requirements, on stand 507.