Introduction
About Children’s Minnesota Hospital
Children’s Minnesota Hospital is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States, providing specialized care to thousands of children and families every year.
Beyond delivering exceptional medical care, the hospital is committed to creating an environment where children can simply be kids. At the heart of that mission is Star Studio, Children’s Minnesota Hospital’s in-house television studio, broadcasting live programming to patients across its Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. From game shows and bingo to art sessions, community guests and interactive entertainment, Star Studio delivers more than seven hours of live television each week, alongside a dedicated 24/7 programming channel.
The challenge
Producing multiple hours of engaging live television every week requires a professional production workflow that is both reliable and flexible.
Each show combines multiple cameras, graphics, live callers, games and interactive segments, all while operating in an environment where there is no room for technical problems. The team wanted to elevate the production quality to match the television experiences children enjoy at home while maintaining a workflow simple enough for a small production team.
The solution
To modernize Star Studio, Children’s Minnesota Hospital implemented a Ross Video production ecosystem.
The new production studio centred around the Carbonite Ultra production switcher and XPression graphics system. Carbonite Ultra provides the reliability needed for live productions while giving the team the flexibility to manage complex multi-camera shows, layered productions and interactive game segments. Features such as UltraScenes allow operators to manage numerous video sources efficiently, making even the busiest productions easy to execute.
Using XPression, the team creates dynamic live graphics, animated game elements and frequently updated on-screen content that keeps every programme fresh and engaging.
The result
With Ross Video, Star Studio has raised the quality of its productions while creating more immersive experiences for young patients.
Children can participate live from their hospital rooms, call into programmes, appear on television, win prizes or even co-host segments. The enhanced production values create an experience that feels every bit as exciting as the television they watch at home.
More importantly, the technology helps fulfil Star Studio’s mission: providing moments of normalcy, fun and connection during a child’s hospital stay.
When the Star Studio team knocks on a patient’s door, they are not delivering medicine or treatment. They are delivering entertainment, laughter and an opportunity for children to simply be children.
For Children’s Minnesota Hospital, Ross Video isn’t just powering live television. It’s helping create unforgettable moments that make a difficult hospital experience a little brighter.
The products and services
