ATG Broadcast equips new playout facility for TV4 Sweden

TV4 Sweden has chosen ATG Broadcast, one of Europe's leading broadcast systems integrators, to equip a new multichannel playout area.
The country's leading commercial television broadcaster, TV4 Sweden transmits five channels: TV4, TV4+, TV400, TV4 Film and TV4 Fakta. Four of the channels are transmitted from TV4's headquarters in Stockholm. TV4 also operates Sweden's largest network of local television stations.
The contract is the third placed with ATG Broadcast by TV4 Sweden in recent years. It covers the relocation of TV4, TV4 Plus, TV400 and TV4 Film to a new multichannel playout area. Three control desks are being installed, each desk being capable of handling any of the channels. A single operator can control up to ten channels from one desk, depending on the complexity of the channel configuration.
Per Atterving, Consultant Engineer at TV4 Sweden, explained: "The project has proved very straightforward, being a development of existing ATG Broadcast installations. Onsite work began in October and the first of the four channels, TV4 Film, went to air from the new facility on December 6. TV Plus followed mid-January and control of the main TV4 channel and TV400 is due to relocate shortly. The new playout area is much more space-efficient than the previous facilities. Each control desk incorporates an Evertz multiviewer feeding a horizontal row of three Sony 16:9 LCD picture monitors located above three 19 inch PC control screens. Pebble Beach automation replaces an ageing Abit system and Omnibus Colossus."
ATG Broadcast Sales Director Alan Pimm added: "We first began working with TV4 Sweden in 2002, creating a studio and control room which were open to public view behind a glass wall adjacent to the main reception area. Our objective then, as now, was to combine technical innovation with operational simplicity and absolute on-air reliability. The system was designed to accommodate additional channels which followed in 2004 with the commencement of TV4 Film. The new playout area covered by this latest contract has space enough to accommodate five desks, enabling future expansion to ten channels."
(GB)