Providing facilities for some six studios, 16 Edit suites, graphics and content managers, Master Control is the hub of the ITN operation. As a live news broadcaster, ITN takes feeds from numerous OBs every day, and an essential part of their intercom requirement was a system to route incoming and outgoing lines at the touch of a button. The new TELEX ARP (Audio Routing Panel) developed for ITN achieves this, allowing fast switching with visual confirmation and reverse interrogation of routes throughout the complex.
Paul Flook Head of Broadcast Engineering ITN explained: "We were looking for a new intercom system that would fulfil not only our present but also our future needs and compared to the competition the Telex/RTS system proved more flexible both in its design and implementation."
Future expansion into VOIP connectivity was a major consideration for the project and RTS Voice Over Network (RVON) was a key factor in the decision to buy Telex. Steve Luck, broadcast support senior team leader at ITN was tasked with specifying the project. "We looked at all the various manufacturers offerings but they required bolt on boxes to make them work, Telex was the only fully integrated solution on the market. In conjunction with the various commendations we received from other broadcasters Telex was the clear choice."Stage 2 of the install commences towards the end of 2006 and will see PCR 1 and PCR 2 upgraded with plans to upgrade the remaining studios in the future.
Meanwhile, Telex also reports that the new STV complex at Pacific Quay in Glasgow went live in July, with Telex that powered the communications behind the broadcasts. When asked why Telex had been chosen for this prestigious project, Gary Welsh, STV's technical manager, said: "We looked at all the systems on the market and as far as we were concerned Telex was the only choice. We already have Telex in our OB vehicles and are very happy with it . . . Soon we will install RVON connections between Glasgow and Aberdeen the next stage will be to roll this out for our Edinburgh studios too."
An Adam frame of 144 ports with 16 RVON VOIP ports plus a TIF 4000 frame form the centre of stv's communication system. The latest version of AZ Edit v3.2 is now available with support for the new Audio Routing Panel, simplified RVON set up and improved help files, say Telex.
(Lee Baldock)
