Aston 3D boosts Setanta Sports graphics

Setanta Sports, Ireland’s premium sports broadcaster, is using Aston 3D to create and deliver its broadcast graphics. These include most of Setanta’s animated 3D graphics for sports openings, lower thirds, scores, bumpers and many more. Storm Broadcast, Brainstorm’s reseller for the UK and Ireland, played a key role from the initial discussions through to the installation and integration of Aston 3D in Setanta’s premises.

Setanta Sports was originally founded in 1992 to bring Irish sport to fans in a variety of countries and has since grown to have operations all around the world. Since 2004 the footprint has expanded and Setanta is widely available across Satellite, UPC and Eircom broadband.

Aston 3D is a wide ranging graphics suite where graphics and templates co-exist with the traditional CG pages, which can be renamed, previewed, called and edited to perform last-minute changes using Aston 3D extensive feature set, or with the Aston 3D optional dedicated keyboard. Aston 3D features an extensive range of solutions covering any designers’ need, from inexpensive 2D graphics template building packages up to the Aston Suite, a broad based bundle featuring 3D graphics creation, edit and playout of complete CG and graphics projects, plus an OnDemand application for enhanced on-air operation.

According to Mark Pilkington, Setanta’s Head of Transmissions and Operations, “Being Aston users for years, the upgrade to Aston 3D seemed obvious for Setanta, because of the new tools and features the new Aston 3D provides. Also, Brainstorm’s development team has been very open to listen to our requirements and further developed the product to provide a truly advanced solution for any kind of real-time 3D graphics”.

As with all other Brainstorm products, Aston 3D is fully compatible and imports a variety of standard 3D, movie and picture formats. Being MOS compatible and dual channel ready, the Aston 3D integrates with collaborative environments such as newsroom systems, video servers, NLEs and other third party applications to quickly and easily produce  graphics in a wide range of demanding requirements including fast turnaround news and sports environments, through to branding, finance, weather, elections, game shows and other graphics intense real-time on-air programmes.