AEQ Intercom Powers Asharq TV's New OB Van

Asharq TV has begun building a new outside broadcast (OB) van and has selected AEQ systems to equip the unit.

The Arabic-language Saudi channel and news portal, founded in 2020 and part of SRMG, specialises in regional and global economic news.

Headquartered in Riyadh, Asharq TV operates from a hub in the Dubai International Financial Centre (UAE) and maintains a major office in Washington, D.C. It also runs studios in Cairo and Abu Dhabi, alongside a network of bureaux across key cities in the Arab world and internationally.

The new mobile unit's audio infrastructure is entirely based on AoIP using Dante for signal distribution. At its core are the AEQ XPEAK intercom system and AEQ OLYMPIA 3 commentator positions, which serve as central components of the workflow.

AEQ XPEAK uses virtual networking with an automatic global interconnection wizard to streamline setup, removing the usual complexity of creating virtual networks and configuring devices one by one. It allows hardware and software user panels to interconnect as though they were in the same production centre, whether on the same LAN or spread across multiple locations over the Internet.

No static IP, dynamic DNS or port forwarding is required. Each panel automatically adapts to its local network, enabling immediate operation in virtually any environment, including those with restrictive policies.

A typical XPEAK deployment can include several devices at a single site and additional units in remote or residential locations. On-site equipment only needs outbound Internet access to link to the cloud-based virtual network server, which handles bidirectional audio routing to and from remote panels.

The XPEAK family comprises rack-mount and desktop user panels, wired and wireless pouches, PC software licences, and a comprehensive interface unit to integrate with third-party devices and systems.

AEQ OLYMPIA 3 represents the latest generation of commentator positions, drawing on more than 40 years of the company’s experience at major sporting events worldwide. It can operate as a standalone unit or be integrated into a multi-channel AoIP network.

With Dante/AES67-compatible connectivity, OLYMPIA 3 integrates with AEQ intercom solutions and connects to an AoIP commentator system matrix. It scales from large multi-venue, multi-sport events to more modest setups.

By adopting AEQ technology for its new mobile unit, Asharq TV enhances its capacity to deliver real-time coverage of major events, combining the flexibility of AoIP with reliable, state-of-the-art intercom and commentary systems. The investment underscores the channel’s commitment to technological innovation and high production standards in news and sports.

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