SVT introduces next generation SNG system to build up their regional newsgathering infrastructure
SVT, Swedish Television, the leading Swedish broadcaster has introduced two sets of the new vehicle based SNGstreamer system as part of their extension program for its regional TV channels. The units will be used to provide live video links of regional news directly into the national and regional TV channels news programs. The state of the art systems bring SVT the advantages of the latest in MPEG-4 video encoding technologies and satellite communications. The complete SNG system includes an easy to operate vehicle based mobile uplink station and a fixed downlink station at the SVT studio in Karlstad and was provided by Germany based Kirnexus GmbH in co-operation with M2sat.
An easy to use system
The SVT requirements for the mobile uplink station was that the system can be mounted on a normal car, and that a normal newsgathering crew of journalist and a cameraman/soundman should be able to operate the system. There should be no need for a satcom engineer at the vehicle.
The SNGstreamer system meets these requirements by using an auto pointing uplink antenna on the news gathering vehicle and by remotely controlling the system from the studio for the line up to the satellite. The news gathering crew only has to plug in the camera and microphone, switch on the power of the system and call the studio to establish the satellite connection. When that is done the news crew can start and stop the transmission by a simple push on the button.
Says Anders Hoog from SVT Karlstad, responsible for the introduction of the new system:
We are using the mobile uplink system with great success streaming live into our news program.
Cameramen are very happy because of the new systems easy and fast operation. Even a cameraman with no training got it running in less then 5 minutes! The remote control has worked fine. Finding the satellite and doing the line up procedure is done in 10 minutes which is really impressive. We are very happy with the performance.
A cost effective system
The combination of the SNGstreamers easy-to-use design and the integration of the MPEG-4 encoding system with the latest satellite technology, brings SVT several advantages with regards to he costs as well.
Says Hub Urlings from M2sat: Being cost efficient is very important for a SNG system in a time were more and more live video contributions are expected but within limited production budgets. The low costs of the SNGstreamer system are not only reflected in the one time equipment costs, which are roughly half that of traditional SNG systems, but also in the operation costs. Satellite transmission costs are reduced by more then 50% using the bandwidth efficient MPEG-4 Edbox encoders, and there are also no additional costs for satcom engineers or dedicated vehicles to operate the system.
A full solution
As part of the delivery of the SNGstreamer solution a fixed down link station was installed in Karlstad in August 2007. The down link station is a receive only system with satellite antenna, satellite demodulators and EDBoX video decoders that can support 4 or more up link stations simultaneously depending on the set up. It contains also the remote control system to operate the mobile uplink units. During installation the SNGstreamer downlink station was connected to the SVT IP-infrastructure for internal distribution of the live video feeds within SVT.
Says Ewald Restle from Kirnexus: We are happy we were able to provide SVT a system that not only meets their requirements for an easy to use mobile uplink station, but that also could be integrated in the SVT infrastructure in Karlstad and the way of working in the studio.
| To meet the challenge to provide its viewers more and more live video links also for its regional TV news channels but at the same time stay within the budget, Swedish Television SVT has introduced the SNGstreamer. Not only does the SNGstreamer provide the best fit for the SVT requirements for an easy to use system, it could also be seamlessly integrated into the existing SVT infrastructure and operational organisation. The cost efficiency of the SNGstreamer was an important factor in the decision to go ahead as SVT has strict budgets for live streams. The SNGstreamer is the first system that brings live links within the possibilities and budgets for regional news gathering. |