Ghanas largest private television broadcaster GH One has completed an upgrade of its studio and outside broadcast facilities to support Ultra HD 4K production. The solution for GH One was built around 12G-SDI broadcast infrastructure products from Blackmagic Design. The multi studio complex, as well as a 14m-long OB truck, were designed by systems integrator Axel Technology, as part of […]
Ghanas largest private television broadcaster GH One has completed an upgrade of its studio and outside broadcast facilities to support Ultra HD 4K production. The solution for GH One was built around 12G-SDI broadcast infrastructure products from Blackmagic Design.
The multi studio complex, as well as a 14m-long OB truck, were designed by systems integrator Axel Technology, as part of a co
mplete overhaul of the broadcasters production infrastructure.
A move to a new building facilitated the need for a new system, but it also gave the team the opportunity to design a flexible and futureproof workflow for the channels studio and OB locations, said Marco Branzanti, Video Projects Manager at Axel Technology.
He continued: We knew from the outset that 12G-SDI would be the cornerstone of this installation, as it not only affords a more streamlined cabling infrastructure, but also delivers a more efficient and reliable signal delivery path for broadcasters working with the 2160p60 format.
Branzanti explained that once this was in place, it was a simple choice to design the studio around Blackmagic Designs broadcast grade routers, production switchers and converters as they allowed Axel to develop a robust Ultra HD 4K workflow within GH Ones budget.
The new studio has one main set, and a virtual studio with green screen and both are equipped with an ATEM 2 M/E Production Studio 4K, and the corresponding 2 M/E broadcast panel. Also, each has access to CG and playout applications, developed by Axel Technology, which gives the production team all of the transitions, effects and graphics they need to produce their wide range of programming.
To switch between GH Ones two channels signals, a Smart Videohub Clean Switch 12×12 was installed to act as a mixer switch.
For this installation, we needed to ensure there was glitch-free switching with genlocked signals, explained Branzanti.
With the clean switch there is full re-synchronisation on every input, so the production team can switch from a camera feed to a recorded source or graphics using a simple, and straightforward interface and still get flawless switching.
GH Ones truck has the capacity for a twenty-strong team, and includes an expandable production gallery, as well as a standalone television studio workflow.
That means the vehicle can be used comfortably for longer periods, allowing multiple productions to take place without the space becoming too cramped, he added.
For example, the truck can have a full-fledged television studio up and running for several days, rather than on a short-term, event orientated basis.
Signal routing onboard is managed via a Smart Videohub 40×40 from Blackmagic Design. Housed in the OBs technical control room, it sits alongside a rack of HyperDeck Studio Pro broadcast decks, used for both recording and backup purposes, as Teranex Express standards converters, which allow production GH One to standardise any incoming video sources from external contributors.
Weve been able to implement an Ultra HD workflow based around 12G-SDI for the first time in Ghana. This gives GH One a state-of-the-art solution, both when working in the studio and out in the field, concluded Branzanti.
