theibcdaily www.ibc.org The official newspaper of IBC Saturday 08.09.2012
Public broadcaster GPB goes tapeless
Avid By Carolyn Giardina
Avid worked together with Sony — the general contractor — to complete a €4.7 million all-digital workflow installation for Georgian Public Broadcaster. The deal, representing close to $1 million for Avid, resulted in an infrastructure that will service the broadcaster’s three TV channels — First Channel, First Caucasian and Second Channel — and will help to bring its news and current affairs coverage in line with the fast turnaround requirements of high definition broadcasting. Avid Professional Services consulted with Sony and Georgian Public Broadcaster to design a workflow, manage the installation, and provide onsite training and support. The workflow comprises AirSpeed ingest servers; Media Composer editing software; ISIS 5000 shared storage;
Interplay Media Asset Manager; iNEWS Command; and Avid Motion Graphics for on-air graphics and channel branding. It replaces existing analogue linear editing systems and receivers.
Since 2005, Georgian Public Broadcaster has undergone significant changes. Having moved into a purpose-built parliamentary building that includes a fully functional TV station and two studios in the city of Kutaisi, the broadcaster has ambitions to grow its second channel which currently reaches 65% of the Georgian population. Said George Baratashvili, head of technical development at Georgian Public Broadcaster: “Having an Avid tapeless workflow at the backbone of our organisation means we’ll be faster to air with breaking news stories. In addition, our assets will be efficiently managed with Interplay Media Asset Manager, enabling us to better manage and distribute our media assets.” 7.J20
By Chris Forrester Recording star will.i.am was met by a sea of flashlights and camera-phones at IBC, and charmed fans – and conference delegates – with his broadcasting savvy.
From left: George Baratashvili, head of technical department, Georgian Public Broadcaster, with Avid’s Tom Cordiner and Sony’s Dmitry Bunevich
Asked by host Johan Jervøe, (VP/Sales & Marketing Group and Partner Marketing at Intel Corp) what he felt about broadcasting and technology, the musician said the world needed more innovation, not less. “Connectivity is a fact of life. Whether it was early phonographs, and the radio, to gramophones, to music players, they were all linked,” said will.i.am. “Now it’s Twitter and Google and Facebook – and Intel, of course! It is all about engaging with people.” Will.i.am has been working with Intel for some two years on a series of projects related to Ultrabook computers, but also advised broadcasters and the industry in general that difficult as it was their focus ought not to be just about money. “What if Google or Twitter were initially only about money? I am not sure they might have had the same success.”
Inside
Workflow Case Studies Today’s programme of free presentations held in the Workflow Solutions Village Page 10
Olympics: Technology An expert panel looks at some of the technology used in this year’s games Page 12
The Connected World Today sees an extensive programme of sessions on multiscreen challenges and opportunities
Page 14 The Fundamental
Value of Hybrid TV Peter MacAvock examines the difference between Hybrid TV, Connected TV and Catch-up TV
Page 16
Exhibitor A-Z Listing Complete with floor plans for all 14 halls and Outside Exhibition area Page 59