TBN Taps TV Magic for HD Upgrade

04.10.2009

TV Magic has completed the HD upgrade of TV production and broadcast facilities in Dallas for Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television network. As part of TBN’s larger initiative to transition all of its production centers to HD, the Dallas project included the upgrade of TBN’s International Production Center and four connected sites from analog to HD operations.

The IPC is the heart of TBN’s Dallas production operations, and its machine and control rooms serve as the nerve center for three connected buildings: local TV station KDTX-TV, an area gymnasium that has been converted into a large studio space and a 3,500-seat church equipped with 11 camera positions. These studios are located as much as a quarter-mile from one another. The IPC also is linked to a two-acre outdoor production venue. Multiple triax runs and a wireless mic system connect all of these sites, which are used in combination to produce TBN network programming and a public affairs show for KDTX-TV.

Supporting HD production at the IPC are Thomson Grass Valley LDK 4000 mk II HD triax cameras with Canon lenses, a Kalypso HD production switcher and Jupiter and Concerto routers from Thomson Grass Valley, an Evertz MVP multi-image display, a monitor wall with Sony LCD screens, an Avid Deko 3000 HD CG, and a Solid State Logic C200 audio board. The Dallas project also uses Sennheiser wireless systems to connect the IPC and remote stages. One remote antenna serves all four sites, enabling real-time monitoring and remote control without requiring the transfer of receivers among studios.

“The upgrade of our Dallas production facilities represents a dramatic improvement in our production capabilities, enables more streamlined and efficient operations, and ultimately has allowed us to incorporate better show elements into our programming,” said Paul F. Crouch Jr., chief of staff at TBN. “We have worked closely with TV Magic to make the migration to HD, and the company’s thoughtful approach to each project has helped us to implement advanced technologies and workflows without disrupting regular production and broadcasts to viewers worldwide.”