FOR-A Corporation of America today announced PBS39/WLVTTV, part of Lehigh Valley Public Media based in Bethlehem, Penn., upgraded its control room last August with a FOR-A HVS-2000 HANABI video production switcher and ClassX broadcast graphics system. The new equipment has improved the on-air look of the station’s original programming as well as its live production workflows.

For example, the HVS-2000 can load and playback graphics from the ClassX, so the TD can access them during live productions. As a result, PBS39’s graphics designer does not have to be in the control room for “routine” productions. “When I saw how well the two integrated together, plus the price, it seemed like an obvious choice,” said Andrea Cummis, chief technology officer.

The ClassX also supports the use of RSS feeds for updating election results and other data in graphics, a feature that was not supported by the station’s older graphics system. Cummis said the system “worked great” for local primary election coverage last year, but she is looking forward to using the system to its full potential for Election Night in November.

Calrec has announced Graham Murray as Business Development Manager, effective immediately. Murray now represents Calrec in the Middle East. His goal is to further develop Calrec’s business in this territory and maintain its already strong presence. Murray has over 30 years of sales experience across the broadcast, studio and post-production industries in the UK and around the globe. 

Ikegami representatives head to the Dubai World Trade Centre in March for CABSAT 2020, the largest broadcast media show in the Middle East region. The exhibition together with its supporting conference and workshop will be held from March 31st through April 2nd. Highlights of the Ikegami exhibit on stand C4-20 will be the UHL-43 compact HDR camera which was shown in prototype at CABSAT 2019 and is now fully deliverable, the UHK-430 system camera with IP interface and the HQLM-3125X master grade video monitor.

The Ikegami UHL-43 is a compact HDR camera designed for applications such as robotic studios, outside broadcasting of live events, parliamentary television and point-of-view image capture.

Ikegami's UHK-430 is a 4K-native studio camera system with simultaneous HDR/SDR processing. Its three 2/3 inch CMOS sensors provide full 3840 x 2160 UHD resolution plus the depth of field needed for studio and outdoor production. The camera is equipped with a B4 bayonet mount compatible with 2/3 inch UHD and HD lenses. An optional SE-U430 expander accommodates large studio or OB lenses.

Ikegami's recently introduced HQLM-3125X is a 31 inch 4K-UHD master-grade monitor with 4,096 × 2,160 pixel 10-bit resolution and high brightness (1,000 candela per square metre).

PlayBox Neo announces the completion of a new AirBox Channel-in-a-Box playout system for Plovdiv Orthodox TV (PPTV), commissioned by the Metropolis of Plovdiv. It includes a server running Neo-19 ingest, transcoding, titling, scheduling and transmission modules. The new installation augments and upgrades existing AirBox CIAB infrastructure commissioned when PPTV commenced broadcasting 10 years ago.

"This investment provides us with latest-generation software running on new dedicated hardware," says PPTV Technical Director Yuriy Todorov. "It includes many refinements which make our day to day channel management operations more efficient than ever. Particularly appreciated is the low-glare graphic user interface which our presentation colleagues find eye-friendly throughout the duration of a working shift."

"Also appreciated is Neo-19's very logical display structure which provides the information essential to each phase of the content sourcing, finessing and scheduling process without peripheral distractions. Supplementary information, if or when needed, is easily accessible from the main GUI.

"A great strength of Neo-19 is that it alerts the operator if any aspect of a prescheduled playout process still needs attention. The PlayBox Neo system also gives our staff the option of working with full automation while retaining the ability to insert live content whenever required."

Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest television broadcast companies in America, is deploying Marquis Broadcast’s Analysis Parking software with a new enterprise monitoring dashboard for its many facilities across the United States. During its expansion, Sinclair Broadcast Group has always focused on optimising best practices for its news technology and operations. Part of this focus was to streamline and simplify the management and monitoring of multiple Avid NEXIS^® systems, helping users manage Avid projects and valuable storage space more efficiently.

Sinclair Broadcast initially deployed Marquis Broadcast’s Analysis Parking in three major sites. The software understands the relationships between Avid projects, folders, bins and media, and runs automated Avid NEXIS analytics and visualization processes, enabling each station to maximise the use of space on their Avid NEXIS storage systems.

Paul Spinelli, director of engineering at Sinclair Broadcast Group, explains: “As a group, we’re continually evaluating new technologies that can realise further operational benefits and efficiencies. Our goal is to standardise technologies and workflows across all our Avid news operations, which now total over 60 sites. The new systems enable the recovery of large amounts of blocked-out – but usable – space and offers detailed enterprise-wide analytics on our Avid storage.”

Calrec’s Type R for TV is a new virtual mixing console with its design allowing customers to take advantage of these new workflows. It’s flexible and integrated native IP core gives customers a way to benefit from virtual working practices by integrating with station automation systems. Type R for TV is driven by station automation and is compatible with popular station automation systems including Ross Overdrive, Sony ELC and Grass Valley Ignite. Type R is the best of both worlds – it provides fully automated programming with real-time adjustment of unpredictable external factors via a standard web browser. Type R’s small, adaptable and highly portable hardware elements can be easily added if desired.Powered by standard POE switches, Type R has three different panel options. If broadcasters prefer a physical surface then banks of 6 x faders can be added, or adaptable soft panels like Calrec’s Large Soft Panel (LSP) and Small Soft Panel (SSP) can be used.

VP2 virtualized mixing system

Calrec’s VP2 virtualized mixing system has no physical control surface and utilisesCalrec’s Assist software for setup and control. VP2’s 4U core comes in three DSP sizes; 128, 180 and 240 input channels, and incorporates Calrec’s powerful Hydra2 networking solution. As with all Hydra2 products this can be controlled by a station automation system.

VP2 enables a station to reap many of the benefits of using a Calrec console, but without a physical control surface. Calrec’s Assist UI can be accessed from multiple locations via a web-browser. Control can be limited to basic functions or full control can be awarded to delve deeper to fine tune the setup or recall different shows as needed.

VUALTO, an expert in cloud-based OTT video delivery and orchestration, has partnered with ATEME, a leader in video delivery solutions for broadcast, cable, DTH, IPTV and OTT, for automated encoder integration within the VUALTO CONTROL HUB (VCH) video orchestration tool, which allows for multiple origins and encoders to be integrated seamlessly. The VCH is vendor agnostic and interoperable with a host of technology partners.

The VCH now has full integration for ATEME’s TITAN Live and TITAN Mux encoding solutions, providing integration with the TITAN Live API to automate live event streaming workflows, the ability to set specific inputs and outputs dynamically using the VCH channel configuration, provides support for redundant setups and has capabilities for on-premise and in cloud.

The automated integration with VCH makes streaming easier, removing the requirement for manual configuration and risk of error, which can be a particularly cumbersome process when using a redundant setup. The addition of ATEME’s TITAN solutions has also facilitated an extension of the VCH plugin set.

Combining the two technologies provides broadcasters with a premium quality streaming service, which is flexible, agile and entirely suited to their business model and end goals.

Media Links®, manufacturer and pioneer in Media over IP transport technology, announces the appointment of Andrew (Andy) Armstrong to the newly created position of Vice President of Sales, North American Cable Markets.

Andy has a comprehensive understanding of the media workflows and business needs across the North American cable / MSO industry. In this new role, Andy will establish new revenue opportunities for Media Links through his thorough understanding of the challenges that cable service providers face.

Al Nuñez, Media Links Senior Vice President of Sales for Americas & EMEA comments: “We welcome Andy to the Media Links sales management team. Andy’s extensive experience in cable television spans more than 25 years, and his highly regarded reputation and technology expertise will be valuable as the company expands to serve the ever important cable sector.”

Riot Games’ 2019 League of Legends World Championship final in Paris relied on Calrec’s RP1 remote production technology for the English language feed for viewers in North America, Europe and Oceania.

Dave Talavera, Audio Engineer with Riot Games, said, “When it came to building our new European facility in Berlin two years ago, we knew, given our experience with remote production, that was the path that we wanted to continue down. Calrec was the only company that had come up with a remote production solution for IFB and they are still very much at the forefront of this. This was essential for the remote production of the English language feed for the final in Paris.”

Sony Professional Solutions Europe demonstrates a bold vision to create the ideal future for education and work at ISE 2020, as it reveals its latest AV and IT solutions. These include a new beamforming microphone MAS-A100 for lectures and presentations, an upgrade to the transformative workplace management solution with TEOS 2.2, and significant expansions to its laser projector line up.

The future of education:

Sony is expanding its range of advanced solutions for delivering, recording and streaming engaging presentations and video content in education environments. The MAS-A100 is a new IP-based ceiling beamforming microphone enabling flexible and creative “hands-free” lectures and presentations. 

The future of work:

TEOS 2.2 is the latest update allowing for more collaboration and flexibility. It uses the advances in IoT sensor technology to boost integration and unlock efficiencies with 20 new functionalities and features. The tailored Smart Automation is a new customisable Meeting Display interface and an intuitive Outlook integration for room booking, reception sign-in and content sharing.

The future of laser projection

From entry-level through to premium projectors, Sony offers a solution for any space and budget, whether in classrooms and conference venues or museums and churches. VPL-FHZ131L is the newest and brightest premium WUXGA projector from Sony, boasting outputs of 13,000lm. 

ES Broadcast has appointed former NEP UK & Ireland Engineering and Technical Director Rob Newton as its Head of Technology. He joins the systems integration, equipment sales and rental specialist after more than 30 years with NEP.

The appointment will see Newton work to a broad remit across all major channels of ES Broadcast’s business, in tandem with the company’s existing technology specialists. He will help drive the technical design and implementation at all stages of a project from scoping to delivery, with responsibility for identifying and designing pioneering broadcast solutions for clients from across the broadcast spectrum.

Newton’s career has seen him play a key role in introducing numerous ground-breaking technological advances to the industry, including designing the first HD outside broadcast truck to enter the UK market in 2001. He oversaw NEP UK’s move to HD for Premier League football coverage in 2004, as well as the step up to UHD in 2016 and remote production in 2019. He has also been heavily involved in the adoption of HD for productions as diverse as news channels and popular reality TV shows.

Argosy, a leading international supplier of broadcast and AV cables and infrastructure products, will provide support for the Middle East and North Africa media market at CABSAT 2020 (31 March – 2 April 2020, Dubai World Trade Centre, stand G3-201). By providing a one-stop shop for systems engineers and designers, Argosy supports them in building sophisticated solutions quickly, simply and cost-effectively.

Argosy specialises in every aspect of media infrastructure, from cables and connectors to active hardware devices such as network switches, fibre transport and KVM switches. At CABSAT it will showcase a range of its offerings, including its own manufactured patching and termination panels, equipment racks and tactical fibre and SMPTE camera cables. Plus products from some of the market leading manufacturers including: BES, Canare, Cliff Connectors, Ghielmetti, and Neutrik.

Experts from Austrian vendor kvm-tec will also be available on the Argosy stand, explaining how the latest generation of high-bandwidth, IP-connected KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) solutions can deliver secure connectivity with low latency while linking multiple workstations to multiple computers. Such solutions reduce clutter in operational areas by needing only one set of keyboard, mouse and monitor while instantly accessing multiple services. This also helps to reduce cost by eliminating multiple monitors which contributes significantly to an improvement in environmental performance.

“With the media world changing so rapidly, demanding more outputs and higher resolutions, we know our customers need to be able to rely on suppliers to ensure they have the right infrastructure hardware, now and for the future,” said Chris Smeeton, CEO of Argosy. “We have a strong and long standing presence in the Middle East, and our many customers know that we are much more than just cable stockists – we can help finalise the details of installations, ensuring that the system works first time and stays working.

“CABSAT is a great opportunity for us to talk to our client base in the region,” Smeeton added. “They know us as problem solvers, and we enjoy finding solutions for them that are reliable, practical and, in an atmosphere of increasing environmental concerns, as green as we can make them.”

For more information, visit Argosy at CABSAT on stand G3-201.

JVC has announced new firmware for its range of CONNECTED CAM models – now shipping – including the handheld GY-HC500 and GY-HC550 4K camcorders and the GY-HC900 broadcast camcorder, available in ENG and studio configurations. The latest firmware upgrade (v0110 for the GY-HC500/550 and v3.0 for GY-HC900, available free to existing customers) lets the cameras record to both SSD and SD media in a wide variety of formats, including Apple ProRes 422 recording and backup mode recording to an SSD drive.

The GY-HC500 and GY-HC550 handheld models feature class-leading streaming and IP connectivity, with the new firmware delivering 10-bit Apple ProRes 422 50/60p recording in both 4K and HD to SSD. The update on all CONNECTED CAM models also enables HEVC/H.265 live streaming via the KA-EN200 streaming encoder; this adapter can be inserted directly into a slot on the GY-HC500, GY-HC550 and GY-HC900 camcorders, supporting up to 1920x1080 resolution and reducing network bandwidth by half compared to H.264. Other features added by the new firmware include support of SRT protocol and Network Time Protocol, plus integrated broadcast overlay graphics on JVC’s GY-HC900 broadcast camcorder.

Customers will be able to see the range of JVC CONNECTED CAM models at the KitPlus show in London at the end of this month. 

Blackmagic Design today announced that ViSo Video Solutions has upgraded its virtual reality studios, relying on Ultimatte 12 compositing processors and URSA Broadcast cameras, to produce national television commercials and shows, for clients such as Sky Italia, Mediaset, ESL and Netco Sports.

Founded in 2010, the company not only offers clients its VR services, it also creates all computer generated (CG) and 3D assets needed in house, and provides all post production which includes editing and grading in DaVinci Resolve Studio.

“Augmented and virtual studio environments bring so many benefits to productions,” begins Luigi Nino, general manager at ViSo. “We chose to develop our VR system in house so that we could control every aspect, and customize materials, lighting, animations and effects for each clients’ specific needs.”

The studio’s VR set is 130 square meters and uses three tripod mounted URSA Broadcasts as well as a dolly mounted 4.5m jib on a six meter track. An ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, with ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel, is used for live vision mixing.

Blackmagic Design today announced that LA based event production company No Static AV (NSAV) used an Ultra HD live production workflow featuring URSA Broadcast cameras and ATEM switchers to deliver in house AV and IMAG for the annual Baby2Baby fundraising gala, which raises millions of dollars for the nonprofit and the children living in poverty that it serves.

Held at the 3Labs event space in Culver City, CA, the Baby2Baby gala brings together celebrities, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, and the evening hosts the top chefs in Los Angeles, an exclusive auction and inspiring program, all while honoring this year’s Giving Tree Award winner, Chrissy Teigen. Past honorees include Amy Adams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Kerry Washington, Kate Hudson, Drew Barrymore and Jessica Alba.

With no shortage of AV deliverables, NSAV used its mobile production unit featuring a custom made flypack designed specifically with the Baby2Baby gala in mind. The unit relied on several Blackmagic Design products, including four URSA Broadcasts complete with URSA Studio Viewfinders, four Camera Fiber Converters and four Studio Fiber Converters for fiber connectivity between the cameras and switcher, an ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K and ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel for live switching, and a Smart Videohub 20x20 router to distribute content throughout the venue. NSAV also used an ATEM Camera Control Panel for remote camera control and Teranex AV standards converter for on the fly conversions.

NSAV praised the image quality from the URSA Broadcasts and the ease of use of the live production gear. The URSA Broadcasts were used for IMAG and the content was also recorded in camera in 4K and in 1080 at the mobile production unit. Camera Fiber Converters and Studio Fiber Converters were necessary for fiber communication between the cameras and the switcher, giving the team real time control of all camera aspects, and the ATEM Camera Control Panel allowed NSAV to properly adjust color correction, shading and shutter speed during rehearsals and the live show.