Sweden’s SVT readies new HD production, distribution infrastructure

In a move that is sure to be closely watched throughout the region, Swedish national public broadcaster Sveriges Television AB (SVT) has embarked on a comprehensive facility migration plan to deploy a file-based, HD production and distribution infrastructure. This massive, multi-million dollar project, the largest ever undertaken by SVT, will be completed by the end of 2012, with the first phase to be completed in December, 2011.

At the core of the project will be five Grass Valley Kayenne Video Production Center panels controlling three Kayenne frames operating in the switcher’s Suite Mode across the five control rooms. SVT operators will also use a new interface for Android wireless tablets to operate the switcher from a smaller, sixth control room that will not have a Kayenne panel. The switchers will also be integrated with a news automation system and a VSM system that will control all technical equipment in-house.

SVT has also contracted for 26 LDK 8000 Elite cameras with a 3G Fiber Transmission system—that will be remotely located and controlled utilizing dark fiber—to facilitate a cost-effective and highly flexible way of producing its programming. Grass Valley LDK remote camera control technology will be used to perform automated and manual shading of cameras via the IP based C2IP camera control protocol, remotely from each control room. The LDK Connect gateway will be used as an interface between the automation and camera control. All camera base stations will be located in-house while the cameras will be stationed in remotely located arenas or on location for breaking news events.

The upgrade will also include re-equipping five HD (1080i format) production studios and five control rooms that will be interconnected to enable centralized management of SVT’s news and general TV programming. The facility will eventually deploy a complete 3 Gb/s infrastructure.

“We’re undertaking a new way of thinking about producing live programming that will help us to create content much more efficiently and quickly,” says Anders Janocha, Head of Business Development, SVT. “After a long evaluating process Grass Valley stood out as the company that won the tender, and we are relying on Grass Valley’s engineering experience and the engineers at MCI Hamburg to help us achieve our goals.”

System integrator MCI Hamburg is working closely with Grass Valley system engineers to design the new infrastructure and put it into place.