Introducing Automation to TV2 East Denmark
Kasper Thor Larsen
Chief Engineer
TV2 East Denmark
TV2 East is a Public Service Regional Broadcaster located in Southeast Denmark. Broadcasting for 19 years, TV2 East produces 9 shows a day, covering 3 hours on 2 different channels. The primary daily programming is the regional evening news.
For the last decade, the Danish Government placed economic pressure on the station forcing personnel cuts on a regular basis until TV2 East reached a point of no flexibility. In a vulnerable position, they decided to invest in workflow and technology to reach the required economical goals.
In 2001, TV2 East became server-based with an Avid nonlinear editing solution, central storage and playout servers. Two years later, TV2 East became tapeless (file-based) with Ikegami disc-cameras, while also installing laptop editing facilities in their ENG trucks. Fast forward another few years, they began using VJ’s in a large scale for suitable productions. With all these improvements TV2 East was on stable ground. Unfortunately in 2004, TV2 East invested in what turned out to be an unreliable automation system that after eight months had to be shut down. It was now difficult to further enhance workflow.
In late 2008, TV2 East faced more challenges - replace their 10 year old DD35 production switcher, and as of November 2009, add an extra hour of air time a day to productions. This meant more investment into not only a new and reliable switcher, but also another automation system to handle the 30% increase in production time.
After investigating a variety of switchers, TV2 East decided on a Ross Video Vision Multi-Definition Production Switcher, but still faced the challenge of finding an automation system. With little confidence in automation, and staff fearing the loss of positions, TV2 East spent half a year researching a series of systems with a graphic user-interface rather than a text-based system. As a result of their research, three automated production systems emerged and in the end, Ross Video’s OverDrive Automated Production Control System came out on top as an affordable solution with a lot of potential. The concept of OverDrive controlling Vision which then controls all external devices, was one of the biggest selling points - not a common feature among other automated production systems. After this investment, the next challenge was planning the installation. TV2 East wanted to build a new gallery with multi-viewers to mirror the existing gallery. TV2 wanted two fully working production facilities in the same room, at the same time, all hooked up to a 96x96 Venus routing switcher. The actual installation of Ross’ Vision and OverDrive was simple and only took a few days, leaving more time for production staff training.
OverDrive has proven to be a reliable automation system for TV2 East. After 2 weeks of training, TV2 East went on air January 5th, 2010. The transition to OverDrive technology has been smooth for TV2 East, as the viewership is happy and the operating crew is learning new ways to bring even more entertaining programming to air.
“IBC 2008 was the first time I was introduced to Ross Video,” said Kasper Thor Larsen, Chief Engineer, TV2 East Denmark. “From the minute I was introduced, they were very convincing. I explained in detail what we needed, our fears and even gave them my ideas. They dedicated their full attention to me, understood my concerns, and worked with me to reach our goal.”
“Given our past experience with automation, the research process was extremely important,” he explained. “The production staff had lost confidence in automation, and were also afraid of losing their positions. For half a year, I saw every system I could get my hands on. I often brought staff with me for a second opinion, helping to build their trust in automation. I knew that if I couldn’t convince the staff of the benefits of automation, we had no chance for success.”
“In the end, three automation systems caught our attention, but after speaking with Ross Video again, and this time visiting a site in the Netherlands using OverDrive, I had no doubt that it was a superior system and also an economically interesting solution,” he continued. “Not only could OverDrive control our Ross Vision switcher and external devices, but Vision could also control the external devices directly. This was very appealing and quite unique.”
“TV2 East went on air January 5th with OverDrive,” he concluded. “Staff has full confidence in the automation system, we have reached our goal, and if everything goes as planned we will be able to automate more aspects of our broadcast, taking pressure off the production staff and adding more flexibility into our workflow.”
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