AV Specialist Africa Edition - Volume 93 - (Page 17)

The CNBC studio incorporates an innovative Barco display wall that enhances the visual impact of CNBC content. Anton de Wit, head of broadcast operations, describes the rich visual experience provided by the video wall and VizRT graphics engine as one of the key differentiating elements that sets CNBC apart from other business channels. the viewer and differentiate the channel from what is offered currently in this market,” Hasan explains. This desire translated into an innovative studio design that incorporates a 12-cube Barco display wall, as well as innovative graphics that provide real-time financial information to local viewers. The graphics are built around the same VizRT graphics engine that’s used successfully on CNBC’s Middle East channel. “The VizRT graphics system has proven itself rock-steady in our Middle East operation, providing us with amazing graphics at a fraction of the time it takes with other systems,” says Hasan. “Being a live news channel means that we need to produce innovative graphics and get them on-air at very short notice,” he says, “and that’s the real strength of the VizRT graphics engine.” The VizRT system produces on-air graphics and also feeds the Barco video wall used as a presenters’ back-drop. CNBC brings international coverage to SA business By the time you read this, Africa will have access to its first 24-hour, live, international business and financial news channel. 1 June 2007 is the launch date for CNBC Africa, and all systems seem to be a goon track to meet that date. CNBC Africa will broadcast from Johannesburg, with bureaux in Cape Town, Abuja, Lagos, Nairobi and London. The channel will focus on Africa’s business markets and provide global business and economic news from an African perspective. eedless to say, with a new broadcaster entering the market, there was much supplier activity and a number of local vendors made their way to Dubai to pitch their services to Hasan R. Sayed Hasan, chief technical officer at CNBC Arabia, and the man who oversaw the setting up of the studio infrastructure for CNBC Africa. The Africa operation is an enhancement of similar CNBC stations in Pakistan and the Middle East, and Hasan was looking for a local supplier who could match the technical capabilities of these The best of CNBC While there are a few technological similarities with CNBC Arabia’s set-up, (such as the VizRT graphics and ENPS newsroom system), the local station has also borrowed from the experience of CNBC Pakistan. “Our Middle East operation uses a comprehensive networked production facility from Avid while in Pakistan we’ve standardised on a simpler system using Apple’s Final Cut Pro as our editing platform,” says Hasan. For our Africa operation we decided to follow the Pakistan model which has proven itself to be extremely powerful and reliable, and costs a lot less than alternative systems. The local network incorporates six FCP editing stations with shared storage run through an Omneon production server. A second Omneon playout server is linked into the network. Studio feeds In addition to their studio feeds, N regional stations. “We evaluated a number of very comprehensive proposals but finally selected Inala Technologies as a primary system integrator,” says Hasan. “We liked their capabilities and their approach to the project.” Fresh visual experience Inala was tasked with providing CNBC Africa a complete broadcast infrastructure from ingest to playout, including studios, ENG gear, and management systems. “We wanted to introduce new technologies to the region which would create a visual experience for 17 Hasan Syed Hasan, chief technical officer at CNBC Arabia was the man responsible for driving the technical development of the CNBC Africa studio. He’s incorporated many of the same technologies used at CNBC affiliates in Pakistan and the Middle East.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AV Specialist Africa Edition - Volume 93

Mobile TV: bonanza or banana skin?
Students in mobile TV
Interactive digital signage
CNBC roars in Africa
Swazi TV upgrade to tapeless future

AV Specialist Africa Edition - Volume 93