Broadcast Pix Streamlines Live Production for DSF in Germany
 Billerica, Massachusetts (July 31, 2008) Broadcast Pix™, the company that redefined the production switcher as a live integrated production system, today announced that DSF Deutsches SportFernsehen, a sports broadcast network in Germany, is using its Slate™ 2100 switcher for live, high-quality production of its new sports news program, DSF Aktuell. The Slate 2100, installed by German systems integrators CAM computer aided magic GmbH and Videocation Fernseh-Systeme-GmbH, is the centerpiece of a new production studio built specifically to produce DSF Aktuell and future programs. The Slate 2100 replaces the network’s aging legacy production control technology at half the price of a conventional new system.
According to Manfred Eisele, Head of Production of DSF, the 15-minute nightly program requires two operators due to the rich graphical content and fast moving nature of the live show. One operator continually adds content via the Broadcast Pix touch panel and integrated clip server, while the main operator handles the live program switching. A typical program uses nearly 20 clips, all with introductory graphics that are seamlessly processed using the Slate 2100.
“The Broadcast Pix Slate 2100 provides our staff with the highly integrated automation in a single, compact platform we required to effectively produce our new sports program,” said Eisele. “At half the cost of a traditional production system, the Slate 2100 provides all the tools we need and seamlessly integrates with our Avid Liquid editing pool and DDR playout. The breakout box included with the system provides the additional inputs we need for our cameras and source equipment, creating a clear and uncluttered end-to-end production workflow.”
The Broadcast Pix Slate 2100 system integrates a production switcher, production control panel, Inscriber CG, transitional effects, chromakeyer, clip store, and multi-view monitoring, among other functions, in a single workstation-based system. The system can be operated with a production switcher-style control panel or by using a keyboard and mouse interface. The Slate 2100 also comes standard with the intelligent break-out-box (iBoB™) to accommodate secure video and audio I/O connections.
According to Thomas Lehmann, Managing Director of CAM GmbH, the staffing efficiencies afforded by the new system were also attractive to DSF. “The ability to run the entire program with two staff members is highly attractive, given the tightly integrated design of the new control room,” said Lehmann. “The Audio Follow Video capability of the Slate 2100 further benefits our operation by automating workflow and keeping everything smooth and efficient through controlled audio. An operator just needs to keep an eye on the host microphone levels from time to time while serving up content from the integrated DDR and graphics engine.
“The fast learning curve was an added bonus for the staff,” he continued. “They’re very happy with the system.”
Please see the following links for more information:
DSF Deutsches SportFernsehen: http://www.dsf.de
CAM computer aided magic GmbH: http://www.cam.de
Videocation Fernseh-Systeme-GmbH: http://www.videocation.de
About Broadcast Pix Broadcast Pix is the leader in combining technologies from the computer and live television equipment industries to create an innovative family of live video production systems. Broadcast Pix systems are a fraction of the cost of conventional live video production solutions, yet retain their fast action control and non-stop, on-air robustness. They can be run by a single operator instead of requiring a team. Customers include over 800 leading broadcasters (including CBS, NBC and ESPN), webcasters, cable stations, stadiums, corporate, education, religious and government studios in over 50 countries. Broadcast Pix is based at 3 Federal Street, Billerica, Massachusetts, with offices throughout North America and in Europe. See www.broadcastpix.com .
Broadcast Pix and Slate are trademarks of Broadcast Pix, Inc. Patents pending.
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Editor’s Note: Color product photographs are available upon request.
Robin Hoffman
Pipeline Communications
277 Valley Way
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 746-6970
cell: (917) 763-8069
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“The built-in features of the Slate 1000 stood head and shoulders above similarly priced switchers in a head-to-head comparison.”