Belgian national broadcaster RTBF uses SGT´s VEDA solution for its new multi-channel playout system

February 16, 2010

Source: SGT

SGT and Video Promotion, SGT´s systems integration partner for Belgium and the Netherlands, announce that the Belgian national broadcaster RTBF (Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française) uses SGT´s VEDA solution for its new multi-broadcasting control room system.

RTBF´s objective was to overhaul its media distribution system, to build a new, multi-playout control room solution digitalizing all media, and permitting strong interaction with the new postproduction control room. T

he requirements for the new system were as follows:

· Guarantee optimized media management and efficient content delivery
· Ensure high-security playout, and consequently maximum systems availability
· Increase the flexibility and the reactivity of the system

“Our control room solution no longer responded to our needs in terms of scalability, reactivity and reliability,” said Patrick Moulin, project manager, multi-diffusion at RTBF. “Therefore, we started to look for a system offering the performance, the flexibility and the creativity to grow our system without running any risks in terms of systems availability or security”.

The new multi-broadcasting system at RTBF went on-air in September 2009. With VEDA, RTBF now has a powerful, reliable and scalable solution that runs complex systems using a lot of equipment and protocols.
The system integrates various VEDA components offering functionalities from Media Management, to prepare the playout, to Automation for media transmission and interfacing with external systems.

“Our big strengths in this project derive from our broad experience in the automation of TV channels facing big constraints in terms of security and scalability, and from our capacity to personalize and integrate solutions in the specific context and environment of the client”, said François Chiche, Vice President Sales and Marketing at SGT. “The RTBF project was a highly ambitious one requiring powerful tools, new technologies and an in-depth IT-broadcasting expertise. We successfully faced this challenge thanks to a great team work between client, software vendor and systems integrator.”

Flexibility and reactivity

As VEDA integrates the distribution and media asset management systems in one unique database, information exchange between the distribution and previous processes are facilitated, such as the receipt of files or synchronized and last-minute ingests.

Securing the playout

For broadcasters, such as RTBF, it is vital to ensure the continuity of playout. Consequently, the security of the system was one of the key requirements. RTBF, Video Promotion and SGT built a system´s architecture based on an active/active security cluster for 16 channels (8x2). Each channel should have a channel backup (a main channel and a synchronized back-up channel) to ensure highest availability of the system.

Scalability and adaptability

Other requirements were scalability and adaptability allowing new channels or further functionalities to be added at any time. “Thanks to our expertise and specific know-how in dealing with highly complex and challenging projects, we successfully helped RTBF to benefit from a most modern, reliable and scalable playout solution“, said Michel Loiseau, Manager at Video Promotion. “As their privileged systems integrator and equipment provider we demonstrated our ability to adapt to various situations and respond to specific customer requirements in a very customized and personalized way.”

Submit a Company

Submit News

Submit a Job

Submit an Event