Broadcast Pix Brings Video Production Efficiency to ConocoPhillips
Third Largest Energy Company Selects Slate 5016 System for New Digital Control Room
(March 9, 2009 -- The Broadcast Pix Slate 5016 live video production system is helping ConocoPhillips create more compelling video, and do it more cost-effectively. ConocoPhillips is the third largest energy company in the United States. With headquarters in Houston and approximately 33,600 employees in 40 countries across the globe, effective and efficient communication is crucial to this major supplier of oil, natural gas, chemicals, and plastics.
CononcoPhillips Creative Services Video manager Larry Jones, who is based in Houston, and Paul MacFarlane, a producer/director based in Bartlesville, Okla., discovered Broadcast Pix at last year’s NAB Show. The company was planning to replace an aging analog system anchored by a Grass Valley 200 switcher. After watching a demo on the show floor, they decided to move forward with a Slate 5016, a 2 M/E switcher that includes a built-in Inscriber CG as well as clip store, graphic store, and multi-view monitoring.
“It seemed liked the best fit for us,” MacFarlane said. “It’s got everything inside it. You can sit down with one operator and do an entire show without any help.”
Systems integrator Digital Resources, based in Southlake, Tex., delivered the Slate 5016 in November 2008 as part of a larger studio infrastructure build out. MacFarlane said the Broadcast Pix switcher has not only improved the quality of the productions, but it saved ConocoPhillips thousands of dollars in additional equipment purchases.
The Creative Services Video department produces about 12 programs each month. While they are primarily delivered to branch locations over a private IP network, projects are also archived, distributed on tape and DVD, and accessible on the company’s Web site. Corporate videos for ConocoPhillips include training and information pieces that are shared across outlets all over the world, which helps reduce travel time and costs.
MacFarlane appreciates the Slate 5016’s ability to access clips from the company’s Final Cut Pro edit bays for use during shows. “It really took the burden out of the production, especially the pre-production,” he noted. MacFarlane also uses the switcher’s integrated audio control to manage a Yamaha 28-channel audio board during live production.
Currently, ConocoPhillips is shooting in SD using four Sony DSR-450 cameras. However, MacFarlane said the plan is to eventually move to HD production – and the company will be ready with Broadcast Pix. Not only is the Slate 5016 HD-ready, but it features AutoAspect, which allows the use of 16:9 and 4:3 content interchangeably (and without stretching video), and it is upgradeable to 3Gbps 1080p.
The five members of the Creative Services Video team have given a “thumbs up” to the Slate 5016. “It’s so easy to use,” MacFarlane said. “We’ve put it through its paces. It’s a wonderful system.”
MacFarlane also gave high marks to the Broadcast Pix technical support staff, which he said was really efficient. “They’re very easy to work with and very knowledgeable,” he added.
Editor’s Note: The following can be used as an Alternative Story Form (ASF), such as a pull quote or fact box:
On the first day its new Broadcast Pix Slate 5016 switcher was active, the ConocoPhillips Creative Services Video team produced three live shows without a single technical hiccup.
About Broadcast Pix Broadcast Pix is the leader in integrated live video production systems. Its Slate systems create compelling live video far more cost effectively than conventional control rooms. Every Slate includes a switcher, multi-view, CG, clip and graphic stores, and aspect and format conversion. Slate streamlines production workflow because it’s so well integrated together, and with systems that create clips and graphics. Slate saves 70% of the cost of buying a conventional control room, and then saves more on staffing, as even solo operators can create compelling video. Then Slate saves again when upgrading to 3G 1080p - the future HD standard. Broadcast Pix is based in Billerica, Massachusetts, with offices throughout North America and Europe. Customers include more than 1,000 leading broadcast, webcast, podcast, cable, entertainment, mobile, corporate, education, religious, and government studios in 70 countries. For more information, go to www.broadcastpix.com.
Broadcast Pix and Slate are trademarks of Broadcast Pix, Inc. Patented.
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Robin Hoffman
Pipeline Communications
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