Imagine Communications has delivered core technology for a major refresh of an outside broadcast truck for NEP Belgium. As well as providing state-of-the-art and future-proofed solutions, a key part of the challenge was the very tight timescale allocated to complete the refurbishment. Imagine Communications was able to deliver on the tough timetable with the support of its Belgian dealer and partner, VP Media Solutions.

“Our Unit 14 still had many kilometres in it, but with a technology platform that was life-expired,” said Geert Thoelen, transitions manager at NEP Belgium. “We wanted a solution that would fit into the existing space, would give us all the functionality we need today, and be ready for the future, including increasing use of IP connectivity. And we could really only take the truck off the road for little more than a month earlier this year, so our partner had to be capable of moving swiftly to install and commission.”

Imagine Communications was able to comfortably meet the requirements. The new infrastructure is built around the Platinum™ IP3 router. In a single 15RU chassis, this router provides very high-density switching of today’s SDI-HD signals. It is also capable of seamlessly integrating uncompressed video over IP, so is ready to form the basis of a migration to IP connectivity — for example, to introduce Ultra HD signals. In Unit 14, the Platinum IP3 router is also fitted with the Platinum SX Pro multiviewer cards, adding functionality while reducing rack occupancy and power consumption.

Imagine’s Magellan™ SDN Orchestrator provides overall system control in the truck. It is specifically designed to provide unified operational interfaces in a hybrid environment, easing the transition between traditional, SDI-connected technology and software-defined, IP-connected architectures.

Black Box, an industry-leading provider of IT connectivity solutions, today announced that C.N. Rood and VP Media Solutions have joined its channel partner program. VP Media Solutions (Belgium and Luxembourg) and C.N. Rood (Benelux region) will offer their broadcast customers the complete Black Box high-performance KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) solution portfolio, including the award-winning Emerald™ Unified KVM extension and matrix switching platform, which allows users to access both physical and virtual machines.

"We are delighted to be partnering with two well-known and highly respected suppliers to the Benelux broadcast industry," commented Bertrand Favier, Benelux sales director for Black Box. "By working with C.N. Rood and VP Media Solutions, we gain a larger platform that augments the already established position of Black Box in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Working more closely with Black Box, they gain even greater technical and support resources in delivering solutions to customers in this region."

CueScript, the leading developer of professional prompting solutions, will bring the industry’s first patent-pending SMPTE 2110-enabled prompting monitor, the CSMV2, to Europe for the first time at IBC2019 on Stand 12.F41.

Gravity Media, the leading global provider of complex live broadcast facilities and production services, has agreed to acquire Chief Entertainment Pty Limited, a leading Sydney, Australia-based provider of live studio and production services, from Telstra Corporation Limited, Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company. Gravity Media currently operates in Australia under the Gearhouse Broadcast, HyperActive Broadcast and Input Media brands and this acquisition will complement the existing Input Media production centres in the UK as well as its Melbourne production and Sydney post-production facilities. The transaction has not yet completed and is expected to complete by the end of August, subject to certain conditions being satisfied.

After garnering outstanding industry acceptance of their 5-inch and 7-inch on-camera monitors with built-in Teradek receivers, SmallHD adds 13-inch and 17-inch monitors to their wireless connectivity lineup. The 1303 HDR BOLT Sidekick and 1703 P3X BOLT Sidekick provide reception of Full HD video from Teradek 500, 1000, or 3000 Bolt transmitters at distances up to 500 feet line-of-sight.

Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide Emmy® award winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, is showcasing its latest solutions at the upcoming NAB 2019 show (April 8-11, 2019, Las Vegas Convention Centre) at booth C2025. Their showcase will include the latest, most powerful EnGo to date, support for SMPTE 2110, and enhancements to contribution, distribution, and connectivity solutions.

One would think that it could not possibly have gone unnoticed that SIS LIVE, the UK’s fastest growing provider of media fibre connectivity with its Anylive Network, has been providing crucial connectivity for virtually every major sporting event so far this year, and it’s still only August.