WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Networks, the managed network services division of The Riedel Group, has named Gudrun Scharler as CEO.

Scharler succeeds Michael Martens, who has led the unit since 2012 and will remain to support a structured handover until the end of August, the company said.

Scharler is a veteran telecom and technology executive with experience as chief operating officer of the German cable company Unitymedia as well as in executive roles at Nets Group, E-Plus, Sunrise Communications and Télefonica Germany, Riedel said. She also held executive roles at Canyon Bicycles and P2 eBike GmbH.

“Michael has shaped Riedel Networks with exceptional commitment, entrepreneurial spirit, and a clear sense for what customers need,” Riedel Group Chief Operating Officer Frank Eischet said. “We are deeply grateful for everything he has achieved over the past 14 years. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Gudrun as the new CEO of Riedel Networks. With her strong leadership background in telecommunications, operations, and transformation, she is the right person to guide the company into its next phase of development.”

Riedel Networks provides connectivity and telecommunications services to the company’s media, sports and enterprise customers.

“Riedel Networks is a great company with a strong team, a clear customer focus, and significant potential for further development,” Scharler said. “I am very much looking forward to getting to know the team and working together to continue the company’s transformation while preserving the flexibility, speed, and collaborative spirit that make Riedel Networks special. I would also like to thank Michael for the open and structured handover and for the strong foundation he has built.”

Since Martens took the helm of Riedel Networks in 2012, the business has grown from 2.8 million euros in revenue and 12 employees to 24 million euros and 70 employees, it said.

“Riedel Networks has been a defining part of my professional journey, and I am proud of the company we have developed together,” Martens said. “Gudrun is taking over a company with strong momentum, and I look forward to supporting her as she leads Riedel Networks into its next chapter.”

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that it will be a sponsor of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, serving as the Official Connectivity Integration Provider and Official Partner for Team Scotland.

Riedel will deliver the complete end-to-end design, installation, and integration of a comprehensive connectivity and communications ecosystem that will ensure the entire games infrastructure is connected when the event returns to Glasgow from July 23-August 2, the company said.

As part of Riedel’s Managed Technology offering, the deployment provides a fully managed turnkey solution covering planning, implementation, and live operations.

"It’s a real honor to support Glasgow 2026 and contribute to an event of this magnitude that brings people and communities together through sport”, said Jan Sander, senior account manager multisport events, Riedel Communications. “As the Official Connectivity Integration Provider, we take the same approach to technology—bringing together networks, services, and workflows through our Managed Technology approach and DIVA+ for seamless and reliable operations across the Games."

As the Official Connectivity Integration Provider, Riedel will supply communication solutions to ensure reliable data transfer, seamless communication and spectator safety, aiming to reduce the event's environmental impact, the company said.

For the first time at the games, Riedel will implement its fully integrated data system, known as the Glasgow 2026 Games Integrated Network (GIN).

GIN is powered by Riedel’s DIVA+ solution, the company’s holistic media backbone designed to scale from smaller deployments to the most complex live events. DIVA+ unifies fiber-based infrastructure, wireless Easy5G extensions and centralized orchestration into a single IP-based network supporting communications, audiovisual signals and data transfer, Riedel said, simplifying complexity from planning through live operations. It meets all operational requirements, can be remotely controlled and adapted in real time, offers increased flexibility, and includes smart cable management that reduces environmental impact across the event, the company said.

As part of this approach, Riedel will provide a fully integrated communications solution across all competition venues and operational sites, combining intercom and radio communications into one unified system. This system is part of the Games' integrated communications strategy, seamlessly working with all partners to prioritize safety and operational efficiency.

Riedel will link the venues via its Wide Area Network (WAN), ensuring reliable transmission of live broadcast images from the venues to the Broadcast Operations Center, where rightsholders will access the feeds for global distribution. Within the venues, Riedel's Local Area Networks (Venue LANs) will deliver connectivity for all operational requirements, including reliable Wi-Fi.

As industry leaders, Riedel offers extensive global sporting experience and expertise with the Commonwealth Games, having provided radio communications networks for Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2014, as well as managing the venue intercom project for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Riedel Communications has named Marc Engroff as chief financial officer and will transition Frank Eischet to group chief operating officer under a strategic initiative to strengthen its operational management, the company said.

The restructuring follows Riedel Group CEO Thomas Riedel’s purchase of camera and lighting technology maker ARRI and is meant to bolster the management structure of Riedel Communications while enhancing coordination and governance at the Riedel Group, the company said.

In his new role as CFO, Engroff assumes responsibility for finance, control, M&A, global purchasing and IT, among other key corporate functions, Riedel said.

Eischet’s new priorities will include a greater focus on strategic alignment, operational scalability and the continued development of global structures, Riedel said. He will continue as a managing director of Riedel Communications.

“Frank has been instrumental in building the structures that have enabled Riedel’s growth over the years,” Thomas Riedel, Riedel Group CEO and founder of Riedel Communications, said. “With Marc, we are appointing a highly capable and trusted leader from our own ranks who combines strong financial expertise with a proven ability to translate data into strategic direction. This evolution strengthens Riedel Communications operationally while further developing our leadership at the Riedel Group level.”

Eischet joined Riedel in 2011 as chief financial officer and managing director, the company said. During his tenure, Riedel grew from a company with less than 50 million euros in revenue to one generating more than 250 million euros alongside significant international expansion, Riedel said.

Engroff joined Riedel in 2024, most recently as director, group controlling. Prior to Riedel, he held several finance leadership roles at Deutsche Telekom, a company he joined in 2008.

“I am very grateful for the trust that Thomas and Frank have placed in me,” Engroff said. “I take on this responsibility with humility, supported by my outstanding team, which has been with me along the way, and by many great colleagues across the organization. Looking ahead, I am excited to continue shaping Riedel’s development while ensuring we support its growth in a sustainable and resilient way.”

Added Eischet: “Riedel’s success has always been a team effort. I am proud of what we have achieved together over the past years and grateful to have been part of this journey. With Marc taking on the CFO role, we are strengthening our operational foundation even further. I look forward to focusing more on the broader development of the Riedel Group and driving the next phase of our growth.”

For more on Riedel, visit its website.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications announced that Argentina’s Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) has renewed and expanded its centralized video assistant referee (VAR) system for another five years.

Operated by Torneos and powered by Riedel’s SimplyLive technology, the system debuted in 2021 as Latin America’s first centralized VAR deployment and continues to set the standard for efficiency and scalability across one of the world’s top football federations.

Located at AFA’s state-of-the-art replay center near Buenos Aires, the system features five video operation rooms (VORs) and eight OB vans, enabling up to five simultaneous matches and supporting 12-14 games per weekend – around 400+ matches annually. This centralized approach reduces travel costs, improves working conditions for referees, and ensures consistent, high-quality officiating across Argentina’s vast geography.

“Riedel’s SimplyLive solution gives us flexibility, redundancy, and ease of use,” said Ramiro Prado, director of technology at Torneos. “Our referees appreciate the intuitive touch-screen interface, and the system’s ability to handle high-tier games with supermo cameras and additional feeds ensures we’re ready for any challenge.”

The system includes 15 SimplyLive 16-channel HD servers, configured for redundancy and scalability, with two additional servers added during the renewal to support larger matches that scale to more than 32 ingest channels for standard and high-frame-rate cameras.

It also incorporates Simplylive RefBox and replay capabilities for broadcast workflows. Each VOR and server room is fully redundant, ensuring uninterrupted operation during peak demand.

The solution supports NDI and SRT delivery methods for seamless integration with production workflows, while Riedel’s intercom technology provides clear, low-latency communication between referees, replay operators, and production teams.

The project adheres to FIFA certification requirements, which mandate rigorous testing and annual compliance checks to maintain operational standards. Referee training began with simulators (Mini8 units) before full deployment, ensuring a smooth transition and system reliability.

“This renewal by one of the world’s top football federations underscores the trust placed in our technology,” said Andrew Grant, Sales Manager Live Production, East, at Riedel Communications. “Together with SimplyLive, we’ve built a centralized VAR infrastructure that meets FIFA standards while delivering tangible benefits – from reduced travel costs and improved quality of life for referees to consistent, high-quality officiating across Argentina.”

See Riedel at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 19–22) at booth #C4908.

For more information on Riedel Communications, go to www.riedel.net.

WUPPERTAL & MUNICH, Germany—Thomas Riedel, founder and owner of Riedel Communications and the Riedel Group, has announced the acquisition of ARRI, a legendary Munich-based manufacturer of camera and lighting technology for motion pictures and live entertainment.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Rumors that the company might be up for sale have been circulating since last summer when Bloomberg reported a possible sale.

“My entrepreneurial path has been closely tied to ARRI for years,” said Thomas Riedel in a statement. “This acquisition represents the most significant personal milestone of my career so far. I have great respect for this exceptional brand, its outstanding products, and its strong team. At the same time, I see tremendous potential and am confident that, together, we can position ARRI for long-term stability and future success.”

Founded in 1917, ARRI has been family-owned ever since and has played a legendary role in the cinema production and professional film technology, having been recognized with 20 scientific and technical awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “For more than a century, ARRI has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, and the highest quality. This success story will now continue and remain in German ownership,” said Dr. Walter Stahl, Managing Director of ARRI GmbH and member of the founding family.

Thomas Riedel’s bid for the company was chosen in a competitive international process, ARRI reported. It is the largest acquisition of Riedel's career to date.

The Riedel Group is a globally recognized specialist in advanced audio, video, and data technology, delivering infrastructure solutions for many of the world’s most demanding broadcast, live event, and sports productions.

Through the acquisition of ARRI, Thomas Riedel said he plans to establish a close strategic alignment between ARRI and the Riedel Group, expanding its expertise across the entire production chain — from camera optics to distribution. ARRI’s ecosystem of camera, lighting, and systems technology perfectly complements the Riedel Group’s existing portfolio and opens up new technological and strategic market opportunities for both companies.

In announcing the deal, the two companies said that they aim to unlock new areas of growth, especially in live entertainment and sports. By combining their respective technologies, the companies plan to develop integrated solutions that open new creative and technical possibilities for customers. As the first joint milestone of this collaboration, ARRI will debut its camera technology at the Eurovision Song Contest, where Riedel serves as the technology provider and NEP oversees production.

Under the new ownership of Thomas Riedel, ARRI’s existing management team will continue to lead the company. The company will retain independent operations and remain headquartered in Munich.

“Thomas Riedel has built a first-generation family business and stands for entrepreneurial continuity and long-term thinking,” said Chris Richter, managing director of ARRI. “We look forward to working with a successful entrepreneur and to the resulting market opportunities and access — both in existing and new markets.”

“The Riedel Group brings highly complementary technologies and extensive expertise in live production to this partnership,” added David Bermbach, managing director of ARRI. “This strengthens our strategic direction as a ‘Trusted Technology Leader for the Next Generation of Media & Entertainment.’”

Named after its founders August Arnold and Robert Richter, ARRI was established in Munich, Germany, where the headquarters is still located today. Other subsidiaries are in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia.

The ARRI Group consists of the business units Camera Systems, Lighting, and Rental. More information is available at www.arri.com.

TV Tech: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2026 NAB Show?

Jan Eveleens: We’re going to see the industry continue moving toward software-based and cloud-ready solutions, whether that means on-prem deployments or public cloud. And of course, AI will be everywhere. A lot of what’s promoted as “AI-powered” will still be more hype than real substance, but there will be meaningful applications emerging, especially where automation can remove friction or simplify workflows.

TVT: What will be your most important product news?

JE: We’re bringing a lot of exciting new innovations across audio, video, and control. For the first time at NAB, we’re introducing hi human interface, a powerful, vendor-agnostic control system designed for both broadcast and AV environments.

We’re also expanding our Bolero wireless intercom family with Bolero Mini, a compact, lightweight option that delivers the same reliable performance that users expect.

On the video side, we’re unveiling a powerful, native, low-latency ST 2110 multiviewer as part of our successful MediorNet lineup. And for our SmartPanels, we’re showcasing an advanced and innovative commentary app built for our new DSP-1216HL Desktop SmartPanel.

TVT: How is your new product different from what’s available on the market?

JE: At Riedel, we put innovation and quality at the center of everything we build. Every product we bring to the market has been designed to be a bit “different”—for us, that means helping customers do their work better, faster, and more efficiently.

Multifunctionality is one of our hallmarks, and we match that with long-term durability. Robustness, reliability and longevity are our main priorities. Our goal is to give customers the type of technology that not only performs exceptionally well but also lowers total cost of ownership over the long run.

TVT: What is it about NAB Show that brings you back every year?

JE: Riedel has experienced tremendous growth in the Americas over the past few years, and we’re aiming even higher in the years ahead. NAB Show is where important conversations happen; it’s our chance to truly connect with customers, partners, and the broader industry. Showing up in a big way each year helps us support our growing footprint and stay close to the people who rely on our solutions.

At the 2026 NAB Show, Riedel Communications will be showing how modern productions can come together in ways that simplify infrastructures while strengthening performance, flexibility, and scalability.

From camera solutions and broadcast control systems to hybrid SDI-IP processing, wireless intercom, Private 5G, live production, and playout, attendees will see how Riedel delivers an integrated ecosystem designed to streamline workflows across the entire production chain, the company reported.

As part of that, visitors to booth #C4908 will experience major innovations across the MediorNet, Artist, Bolero, StageLink, SimplyLive, and Managed Technology portfolios — including the introduction of hi human interface and Bolero Mini to the U.S. market, as well as the unveiling of the new MediorNet HorizoN ST 2110 MultiViewer App, 1200 Series SmartPanel Commentary Control App, and StageLink NSA008-A Analog audio-to-IP Interface — all designed to reduce operational complexity while enhancing capability.

“NAB 2026 reinforces Riedel’s role as a leading intercom and video innovator in the Americas,” said Joyce Bente, president, Riedel Americas. “Customers aren’t just buying products anymore — they’re investing in platforms that are easy to deploy, scale, and evolve. By unifying control, networking, intercom, and live production, we’re helping them simplify today while building for tomorrow.”

These solutions and production advances include:

• Unified Control and Hybrid Video Infrastructure: hi human interface and MediorNet. At the heart of this story is control with the introduction of hi human interface — a powerful, browser-based, vendor-agnostic control system designed to bring clarity to complex broadcast and AV environments. Platform-independent and intuitive by design, hi enables operators to configure, control, and manage routers, multiviewers, mixers, and third-party SDN controllers through a single, unified workflow tool. Quick to deploy and easy to scale, it supports both baseband and IP infrastructures, integrating seamlessly into Riedel environments so operators can stay focused on production rather than individual components. This unified control approach is especially powerful in combination with MediorNet, Riedel’s hybrid SDI-IP media network. With its modular architecture and app-based concept, MediorNet continues to evolve alongside changing industry standards and production requirements, uniting decentralized baseband devices such as MediorNet MicroN UHD with the hybrid MediorNet HorizoN platform to enable flexible signal transport, routing, and processing across SDI and IP environments, forming a backbone that is both resilient and adaptable.
• At NAB 2026, Riedel will also unveil the new MediorNet HorizoN ST 2110 MultiViewer App. It expands native IP capabilities and reinforcing HorizoN’s role in modern ST 2110-based infrastructures. The company will also highlight its MediorNet FusioN ST 2110-to-Monitor Gateway bundles — compact IP edge-conversion solutions that bridge ST 2110 video, audio, and ancillary data directly to HDMI® and professional SDI monitors. This results in simplified display connectivity in IP-based environments, where complexity is reduced and workflows remain fluid.
• Smart Audio and Edge Connectivity: SAME and StageLink. Riedel will showcase SAME™ (Smart Audio and Mixing Engine), an advanced audio processing software suite built on COTS server cluster technology. Designed for scalable, automated workflows, SAME delivers powerful processing capabilities that adapt seamlessly to evolving production demands. In combination with Riedel’s expanding StageLink Network Stream Adapter (NSA) family, SAME enables a streamlined signal path from mic to ear. StageLink’s compact, rugged smart edge devices can be deployed throughout a venue or facility, capturing and distributing audio and intercom signals over standard IP networks. At NAB 2026, Riedel will launch the new StageLink NSA008-A, further expanding its decentralized IP audio I/O portfolio and supporting advanced workflows within Bolero and Artist environments.
• DSP-1216HL SmartPanel: Commentary Control App Premiere. One year after its debut, the DSP-1216HL SmartPanel returns to NAB with expanded functionality. Riedel will unveil the new Commentary Control App, joining the company’s existing Intercom, Control Panel, Audio Monitoring, and Linear Timecode Apps. With these five apps now available, the compact desktop SmartPanel delivers true multifunctionality in a space-saving form factor — ideal for broadcast control rooms, live events, OB vans, and theaters.
• SimplyLive: Flexible Video Production and Open Integration. Riedel will showcase the continued expansion of its SimplyLive product family, including the NAB debut of the new “Flex” licensing model, the RiView video review system, next-generation RiMotion replay bundles, and the Venue Gateway 1612 Advanced. Together, these innovations reinforce Riedel’s commitment to scalable, software-defined live production environments. With SimplyLive Connect, a REST-based API, and a new gRPC API, SimplyLive solutions integrate seamlessly into broader broadcast control systems. Unified monitoring and management combine with direct application access for third-party hardware and custom workflows — empowering teams to design infrastructures that fit their vision, not the other way around.
• Bolero Mini U.S. Premiere and Intercom Evolution. NAB 2026 marks the U.S. premiere of Bolero Mini, Riedel’s lightest and flattest wireless intercom beltpack to date. Weighing at just 165 grams (5.8 oz) and measuring 28 millimeters (1.1 in) thin, Bolero Mini delivers the full Bolero experience in a highly compact format suited to a wide range of live production applications. Bolero Mini incorporates advanced 5G filter technology, increasing resilience in congested RF environments by mitigating interference from high-output 5G cell towers. Riedel will also highlight ongoing enhancements across the Artist ecosystem and its classic Bolero line — continuing its evolution of seamless, reliable communication.
• Virtual SmartPanel and the Artist Ecosystem. The Virtual SmartPanel (VSP) extends the SmartPanel concept into a secure, platform-independent software solution for iOS and Android devices, tablets, and browsers. Fully integrated into the Artist ecosystem — including the Artist-1024 platform — VSP enables flexible, scalable communications for remote and hybrid productions. By introducing a virtual hybrid infrastructure that integrates seamlessly with Artist, Riedel advances its software-driven intercom strategy, supporting next-generation production environments where agility is as important as reliability.
• Managed Technology Expansion: RefSuite and Easy5G. Riedel will spotlight the expansion of its Managed Technology (MT) services across the Americas. This includes RefSuite, a comprehensive MT solution for professional sports that combines RefCam®, RefBox, RefComms, SidelineComms, and RefCloud into a unified ecosystem. When paired with Easy5G, Riedel’s private 5G network solution, RefSuite enables high-speed, secure transmission of RefCam video and remote RefBox workflows — transforming officiating, coaching, and broadcast operations.

As part of the broader Riedel Group portfolio, NAB visitors will also gain insight into complementary offerings such as APEX broadcast gimbals and V2Air drone orchestration solutions.

HUDSON, N.H.—Game Creek Video is a leading provider of mobile production facilities for major sports and entertainment broadcasts across the United States. Known for its state-of-the-art fleet and engineering expertise, the company supports high-profile events for networks such as Fox, CBS, ESPN and NBC. With a commitment to innovation, reliability and top-tier workflows, Game Creek builds and operates some of the most advanced remote production trucks in the industry.

We’re always looking for ways to modernize our fleet, and one of the most transformative steps we’ve taken has been deploying Riedel’s MediorNet FusioN gateways directly behind the monitors inside our trucks.

Frees Up Much-Needed Space
Previously, our monitoring designs were limited to 1080p by hybrid SDI workflows wrapped around centralized gateway racks that swallowed up valuable space and added weight. Those traditional systems also constrained how creatively we could lay out our control rooms.

When we evaluated Riedel’s FusioN platform, especially the compact FusioN 3B, the lightweight form factor immediately stood out. These devices are small enough to mount behind monitors yet powerful enough to manage the SDI-to-IP and IP-to-SDI conversions that drive our ST 2110 workflows. Balancing capability with mobility is essential, and these units offered the best of both worlds.

Placing these lightweight gateways at the edge completely changed how we build and wire our trucks. Instead of routing every monitor feed through large, centralized gateway conversion, we now mount a FusioN device directly behind each pair of screens.

This has two major advantages. First, removing large blocks of centralized hardware frees up significant space in our engineering racks. That reclaimed space gives us more flexibility in equipment layout and helps reduce overall truck weight. Since every pound affects transportation logistics and compliance, having conversion handled by lightweight devices rather than heavy racks is a major operational benefit.

Second, we drastically reduce the amount of cabling required, with no more long SDI runs snaking through the subfloor of the truck to feed every display. That reduction allows the FusioN 3B to deliver UHD to each monitor with only a six-foot run of 12G-SDI per display. This has a massive positive impact on the user-monitoring experience.

The day-to-day impact of this shift is obvious during live broadcasts. As we get into playoff runs toward the end of the football or basketball seasons, production often needs to scale up quickly, with operators requesting additional monitors or other out-of-the-box signal assignments. Because adding monitors now only requires a network link to an additional
FusioN converter, we can respond rapidly without major rework through a central point.

The monitor walls and operator workstations become far more dynamic and almost modular. The FusioN devices manage UHD and HDR conversion right at the monitor, eliminating multiple layers of processing that used to add latency and complexity. Handling conversion at the edge keeps the operator experience smooth.

Small Devices, Big Improvements
In our IP-native trucks, where ST 2110 forms the backbone of the system, this approach is incredibly valuable. The core IP fabric handles routing, but the FusioN devices allow us to drop back into SDI seamlessly whenever needed—whether we’re extending to a crowded courtside announcer table inside the venue or providing a world-class monitoring experience inside one of our mobile units. Leveraging NMOS, we can dynamically scale our broadcast infrastructure to suit the needs of our clients on any given day.

When I look at how our trucks operate today versus just a few years ago, the improvement is dramatic. By adopting these small, lightweight FusioN gateways, we’ve decentralized conversion, reduced cabling, saved space and built more flexible and responsive production environments.

What might seem like a subtle change has fundamentally redefined how we design monitor systems and control rooms. It’s a shift that improves reliability, adaptability, and day-to-day workflow and it pays off every time we roll into a new venue.

More information is available on Riedel’s website.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications is partnering with Haivision, a global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions. Through this partnership, selected Haivision products will be offered as part of Riedel’s Managed Technology services. By combining Haivision’s ultra-low-latency live video transmission systems with Riedel’s Easy5G Private 5G solution, customers will be able to source comprehensive wireless video solutions from a single provider – including planning, operation, and support delivered by Riedel’s Managed Technology team, the companies said.

“With Haivision, we are expanding our rental offerings with powerful and proven real-time video transmission systems that perfectly complement our Easy5G technology,” said Jaqueline Voss, Director Strategy and Innovations, Riedel Communications. “Bundled in a one-stop shop, this creates strong synergies and streamlined processes that dramatically reduce production efforts for our customers.”

The joint setup made its debut on Nov. 11 at German public broadcaster WDR’s live broadcast marking the start of the Cologne Carnival season. Two Easy5G base stations provided reliable coverage across the entire Heumarkt, one of Cologne’s largest public squares.

Two of WDR’s 10 cameras were equipped with Haivision’s 5G mobile video transmitters— one stationary wireless camera aimed at the audience, and one mobile unit used for live interviews and dynamic stage shots. The transmitters converted the SDI signals to IP and delivered them with stable, low-latency performance over the Easy5G Private 5G network to the Haivision StreamHub receivers in the OB truck.

“The deployment at Cologne Carnival was an excellent kickoff for our collaboration,” said Peter Maag, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Haivision. “Together with WDR, we were able to showcase the flexibility of combining our mobile video encoders with Riedel’s Easy5G solution—enabling exceptionally low latency and stable wireless camera workflows over a Private 5G network.”

“Easy5G also has the power to support additional applications on the same network,” Voss added. “In the future, production crews could use intercom functions via Virtual SmartPanels directly on their smartphones—over the same Easy5G network that is simultaneously carrying the wireless video streams.”

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has hired Ulrich Voigt as director, live production solutions, taking over the leadership of its SimplyLive business from Luc Doneux.

Doneux had been CEO of SimplyLive, acquired by Riedel in October of 2022, and will leave the post on Jan. 1, 2026, continuing as a consultant.

Voigt comes from Vizrt, where he was global head of product management and cloud transformation, responsible for the strategic direction of software-based broadcast graphics, automation and live-production solutions. He was also a member of Vizrt’s executive management team.

At Riedel, he’ll be tasked with further integrating the SimplyLive product family into its overall live video strategy and driving additional growth, the company said.

“I’m thrilled to join Riedel and take the SimplyLive business to new heights,” Voigt said. “I see great potential in combining SimplyLive’s innovative solutions for replay, review and integrated production with Riedel's comprehensive live video, audio and intercom ecosystem. My focus will be on delivering innovative, world-class live production and replay solutions, strengthening collaboration across teams and creating seamless experiences for our customers as we expand SimplyLive’s role within Riedel’s live-video offerings.”

Prior to Vizrt, Voigt was head of design at Qvest Media, leading the technical alignment of multisystem solutions for global consulting and system integrations projects, Riedel said. Earlier, he was senior lead IT architect, Media and Entertainment sector, at IBM Global Business Services.

“Ulrich brings extensive experience in live production and cloud business transformation, having led large, multidisciplinary teams and guided product strategy, design and deployment of innovative broadcast and cloud-based solutions,” said Jan Eveleens, CEO, product division at Riedel, to whom Voigt will report. “His background, leadership and strategic vision make him the ideal person to continue SimplyLive’s development and growth and strengthen its role in the Riedel live-video portfolio.”

Based in the Frankfurt area, Voigt holds a degree in engineering from the Darmstadt University of Technology.

LOS ANGELES—My company, State Media, specializes in Bolero system rentals and sales that are highly curated to the scripted film and TV, commercial, music video and documentary spaces.

For many years as a cinematographer working in scripted film, television and commercials, I worked in a niche of the entertainment industry dominated by walkies. Yet, I always found the most natural way of communicating with my department heads and sharing information, which is vital to the quality and efficiency of our work, was two-way communication.

Unfortunately, the systems we were using were limited to one, and at best two, party lines with uncomfortable headsets. Those headsets added wires to what they already wore between the walkies, which we still had to carry, and the Comtek receivers for program feed (the audio mix from the sound department, often referred to as “program audio” in other areas of production). I felt terrible having to make them wear these things and listen to lots of voices that they didn’t need to hear on a busy set.

First in North America
Thankfully, I learned about Riedel’s Bolero intercom system shortly after it came out, and I wound up becoming the first person in North American scripted film and TV to buy a system. Our community had no idea Riedel existed—and Bolero solved a number of problems we had with the systems we’d been using. With access to up to seven party lines on a belt pack, it meant that we could divide conversations up in smart ways to keep unnecessary voices out of people’s heads and share information easily when it was relevant.

For example, with a party line dedicated to the “A camera” crew, we can let the camera operator, first AC and dolly grip talk as much as they want, both in rehearsal and during a take if on the fly changes are needed to save the shot—all without anyone else having to listen to them and be distracted from their own work.

However, the biggest game-changer for my crew has been the ability to use lightweight, comfortable, wireless Bluetooth earpieces and the integration of walkie channels into Bolero. Our shoot days are usually at least 12 hours long, and any extra ounce, slight discomfort or extra wire adds up over time to the body.

In addition, the ability to integrate program feed, “voice of god” (a term for the director or AD speaking to the crew over a loudspeaker or intercom) and the ability to integrate the walkie channels into Bolero is a massive relief for the crew. Now they only have to carry one device that can deliver all of their communication needs and it’s completely wireless. My camera, grip and lighting crew heads love being on Bolero. We can’t work without it now.

Many Microinefficiencies
We purchased our first Bolero system purely for me and my crew to use, regardless of whether we would ever turn a profit. It was a tool that would allow us to do our jobs better. And then, by accident, it became a comms rental business in the pandemic.

Since then, as more and more people became aware of the power of the system in our cinema style of production, it’s become very commonplace. Producers who experience a crew on Bolero for the first time love it, too, because they quickly see how hundreds of microefficiencies accumulated throughout the day more than make up for the cost of the system’s rental. Directors love it because the most limiting thing for them is time and Bolero gives them more of that.

For more information, visit www.riedel.net/en/.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn.—Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) has announced that it worked with the U.S. Soccer Federation during the recent U.S. Men’s National Team friendly against Turkey.

The match was held at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.

“It was great collaborating with the U.S. Soccer Federation and Power Station Events for this match,” says Jim Van Winkle, general manager of Professional Wireless Systems. “Live sports always present unique challenges, and we take pride in delivering reliable wireless solutions that keep the entire production team connected from kickoff to final whistle.”

As the governing body for Major League Soccer and all U.S. soccer programs, the U.S. Soccer Federation brought together the production team for this high-profile event. For the match, PWS worked in close collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Event Production team and the technical director from Power Station Events to ensure seamless audio throughout the venue.

Broadcast live by TNT the match demanded top-tier coordination behind the scenes. The PWS on-site team, B2B and business development lead Joshua Lampf and operations coordinator Chris Budin, and a seasoned A1 engineer familiar with live sporting events, delivered reliable intercom and communication solutions tailored for the complex production space.

PWS deployed a strong and secure comms system featuring 15 Riedel Bolero beltpacks and eight antennas, including accessories along with Clear-Com headsets, ensuring crystal-clear communication across production zones.

For more information about Professional Wireless Systems, visit www.professionalwireless.com.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications today launched RefSuite for professional sports workflows.

RefSuite combines hardware, software, cloud services and 24/7 remote operations into one seamless ecosystem designed to transform refereeing, coaching and broadcast operations across live sports environments, the company said.

Developed in with referees and industry stakeholders, RefSuite brings together five tightly integrated modules: RefCam, RefBox, RefComms, CoachComms and RefCloud. From head-mounted referee cameras and FIFA Quality-certified Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems to Bolero S-based wireless comms and cloud-based media management, RefSuite enables coordination, performance and decision-making while delivering unseen/immersive broadcast perspectives, Riedel said.

“RefSuite is the culmination of years of field experience, product innovation and direct collaboration with the world’s leading sports organizations,” Riedel CEO, Managed Technology Lutz Rathmann said. “With each module already proven in high-profile deployments worldwide, RefSuite represents a decisive move away from fragmented solutions—delivering a cohesive, future-ready platform that empowers officiating, coaching and broadcast teams alike.”

RefSuite’s modular design ensures maximum scalability and flexibility. It can be deployed for elite-level tournaments, national leagues or at training grounds and can be adapted to each user’s requirements and scale.

RefCam delivers stabilized, broadcast-grade referee POV video, while the RefBox VAR review system offers intuitive, synchronous control of all video sources for instant analysis, playback and clip export. RefComms and CoachComms provide encrypted, low-latency referee and team communication, complemented by the RefCloud media cloud as a central hub for secure media storage, review, and collaboration, the company said.

The ecosystem can be extended with Riedel’s Easy5G Private 5G network solution, offering high-speed, secure data transmission for full-pitch RefCam video streaming or remote RefBox review workflows. Combined with optional centralized monitoring and support via Riedel’s Remote Operations Center (ROC), this Managed Technology offering is a turnkey solution.

“RefSuite represents our vision of seamless delivery—a unified technology and service model designed to meet the demanding needs of international federations, leagues, broadcasters and production partners,” Ridel Executive Director of Global Events Marc Schneider said.

RefSuite is available now through Riedel’s global Managed Technology service offering.

More information is available on the company’s website.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that London’s Royal Albert Hall has installed a new Bolero wireless intercom system. The deployment was made as part of the venue’s continued expansion and upgrade of in-house audio equipment and services.

Visiting productions at the Royal Albert Hall use the Bolero intercom system for behind-the-scenes communications during live shows.

“After renting communications systems from a different manufacturer, we chose Bolero for our permanent in-house wireless intercom,” said Ben Evans, audio operations manager at the Royal Albert Hall. “It’s a user-friendly system that gives our clients clear, reliable audio, and it integrates seamlessly with the gear most of them use. The fact that there’s no complex license management was also a significant factor in our decision, and the system's network-based flexibility was a key advantage over competitors’ point-to-point solutions.”

A 153-year-old London venue, the Royal Albert Hall is a highly flexible space with various stage configurations and performance locations. It hosts diverse events, such as rock/pop concerts, orchestral performances, spoken word performances, sports, ballets, ballroom dancing, book launches and poetry. Events rotate in and out quickly, so the venue requires a reliable, scalable communication system that can accommodate the high turnover.

The Royal Albert Hall’s in-house technical services—lighting, rigging, audio, communications—are a selling point for production companies and attract high-profile productions. In 2018, the venue formed an in-house audio team to improve the audience experience. The venue partnered with manufacturer d&b audiotechnik for a permanent PA system, with additional investments in sound desks, microphones, and monitors. Then came the communications system.

“We have a reputation as a trusted technical partner in the events industry,” Evans continued. “Working with Riedel — and having the Bolero comms system onboard — bolsters that reputation and helps us to generate revenue.”

Riedel said the Bolero provdes more channels, better infrastructure and better range, compatibility, and connectivity than the hall’s previous system. It also offers efficient configuration for a range of different events. Interoperability with other equipment means that it is ready to go should issues arise. For example, when a visiting production’s own wireless communications system failed midshow, the crew maintained continuity by switching to the Bolero system employed by the Royal Albert Hall.

The Bolero is used daily as a production communications and talkback system. Communication extends beyond traditional stage teams and show callers. A “shout system” allows front-of-house and monitor engineers to communicate. Separate communication rings simplify interaction for lighting/show callers, audio teams and production. The venue can increase the size of the system for complex productions by adding extra rings.

Likewise, when a large-scale event requires more than the 10 wireless packs already in permanent inventory, the venue can easily scale up by renting additional packs or antennas, it said. For example, the 2024 Olivier Awards needed 30 packs, plus additional Riedel Artist mainframes and panels. In that scenario, the in-house system interfaced with a large Artist setup serving 30-plus users across various site locations.

“The Royal Albert Hall’s technical services are a key part of its brand, and we’re grateful to play a role in the venue’s technical excellence and reliability,” Nacho Lee, program manager of global events at Riedel Communications, said. “The traveling productions that visit the hall can trust Bolero to work with whatever equipment they bring in, and its reliability allows teams to focus on events without worrying about communication failures.”

More information on Riedel Communications products is available at www.riedel.net.

LAS VEGAS—At the 2025 NAB Show, Riedel Communications has announced three separate deals with the University of Notre Dame, Game Creek Video and the Scotiabank Arena to supply them with a variety of technologies and solutions for sports production and OB trucks.

In one deal, Riedel announced that outside broadcast (OB) production company Game Creek Video has chosen Riedel’s advanced solutions for its newest OB trucks. The trucks, which are being built for two major U.S. broadcast/streaming entities to cover their largest sporting productions, involved two sets of interconnected A, B, and C units. Those trucks will use the same Riedel Artist intercom system as the broadcasters use in their fixed facilities, the companies said.

The trucks are equipped with the Riedel Artist ecosystem consisting of an Artist digital intercom matrix, SmartPanels and Riedel Bolero wireless beltpacks to enable high-fidelity communications during live productions, and the Riedel MediorNet FusioN stand-alone IP converters to streamline signal delivery.

"Our customers were eager for us to implement Riedel’s solution, and we always take their input seriously," said Pat Sullivan, president of Game Creek Video. "These trucks are built for the largest productions in the United States, and Riedel’s commitment to supporting us at that level was a major factor in our decision."

Eliminating the need for a large, centralized, video gateway solution, Game Creek is using the Riedel FusioN line of gateway products to deliver UHD outputs to local monitors throughout each of the three-truck systems.

In this setup, 80 small FusioN 3B devices sit behind all of the monitors in each three-truck system —driving two UHD displays. FusioN 3B takes SMPTE ST 2110 signals all the way out to the edge (to the monitors). Once the ST 2110 signals reach the monitors, FusioN 3B converts them to SDI. By using ST 2110 for signal exchange, Game Creek cut down on the number of interconnects and simplified signal-sharing between systems. Also, the lack of a centralized gateway meant Game Creek could reduce the amount of wire (and weight) inside the trucks.

Riedel reported that the Artist digital matrix intercom system is one of the most important components of the new trucks because its compact footprint has made it possible to go from a large, centralized intercom system down to a small 2-RU singular device.

Game Creek deployed one Artist-1024 node in each A unit, using 768 ports to support the entire three-truck system. This system connects with both legacy camera setups and ST 2110-capable CCUs, simplifying integration.

While currently only used for intercom, Riedel’s app-based SmartPanels go beyond intercom and the companies reported that Game Creek is exploring further uses for the Artist system in audio monitoring. Keith Martin, director of technology at Game Creek Video, explained that the goal was to push the boundaries of traditional mobile production, moving away from heavy, centralized systems to a more distributed, lightweight solution that fits into the smaller form factors required for today’s fast-paced, mobile production environments.

Game Creek has about 90 Riedel SmartPanel RSP-1232HL interfaces at operator stations inside the trucks, plus a few for field deployment to communicate with crew members throughout the venue. Game Creek has also added the Bolero wireless intercom system, giving operators inside the truck constant access to people out in the field and vice versa. The flagship trucks, built for major U.S. sports productions, will not only support high-profile broadcasts but also have the flexibility to cater to other events and customer needs.

In terms of Notre Dame, Riedel announced that the University has successfully implemented Riedel’s RefBox solution, part of the company’s SimplyLive Production Suite, to streamline the way referees review plays and make critical decisions during on-campus sports events, including lacrosse and soccer, with a view to expanding to baseball and softball in the future. The university's decision to adopt RefBox stemmed from the need for a flexible and easy-to-use replay system.

“Riedel’s RefBox has truly transformed our officiating process — it's the most intuitive replay system our officials have ever used. It has significantly enhanced our ability to manage referee reviews. The response from both our referees and game management team has been overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for RefBox’s user-friendly interface and impressive efficiency,” said Scott Rinehart, senior director at Notre Dame Studios. “What truly sets the RefBox apart is how it empowers our referees to conduct their own replay analysis independently. They don't need to communicate with a third party or rely on someone else's interpretation — it's just them and the views — while direct interaction allows officials to make decisions quickly and confidently, significantly enhancing the overall officiating experience and flow of games."

Beyond implementing RefBox to streamline officiating, Notre Dame has also explored using Riedel’s SimplyLive system for production purposes, leveraging its native NDI capabilities to stream and pull replays of club rugby matches and other events.

“The ability to deploy RefBox across multiple venues with minimal setup time has significantly enhanced our game day operations. We can literally roll it out, plug it in, and turn it on, and it’s ready to go, taking just 10 minutes to verify all inputs are correct, with all configurations handled server-side and no user setup required,” said Shawn DeWeerd, a video engineer at the University of Notre Dame. “The simplicity that the RefBox offers is a game-changer compared to our previous solution, which was cumbersome and too expensive to purchase multiple iterations for different locations. With RefBox, we can easily move it to wherever it's needed by connecting it directly to the campus network. And I've been able to walk people through the basics in just five minutes. If you can use an iPad, you can run SimplyLive.”

Finally, Riedel announced today that Scotiabank Arena has implemented Riedel MediorNet decentralized routing as part of an upgrade to the venue’s reimagination, with the help of system integrator Matrix Video Communications Corp. (MVCC).

MediorNet provides much-needed flexibility and reduces setup time when production teams switch from hockey mode to basketball mode in the arena, or one of hundreds of other events throughout the year. Similarly, the arena’s new Riedel intercom ecosystem, consisting of a Riedel Artist intercom system, Riedel Bolero Wireless Beltpacks, and Riedel SmartPanels, greatly simplifies communications, the arena reported.

Scotiabank Arena was built for NHL and NBA games, but it also hosts an average of 100 concerts and hundreds of other events annually. Regarded as one of the top arenas in North America, the venue is similar to a broadcast facility in that it has a central equipment and control room, and the production team uses broadcast methodologies. But instead of having a fixed studio, it can have many “studios” anywhere in the building. As such, the workflows, sources, and destinations are constantly changing. The arena’s operating team wanted to be able to place the router close to the action.

Besides the MediorNet MicroN UHD system, a Riedel Artist intercom system and Riedel Bolero wireless intercom were also installed in the arena, both of which provide clear communications while allowing frequent reconfiguration to accommodate ever-changing use cases. The Bolero wireless system offers exceptional quality and eliminates any background noise, providing clean, solid sound throughout the venue, as well as in ad-hoc areas where standalone operations are required.

Further information about Riedel and the company’s products is available at www.riedel.net.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications will feature its new StageLink family of smart edge devices, Smart Audio and Mixing Engine (SAME) and Virtual Smart Panel for live production and broadcast environments during the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The StageLink family of edge devices provides flexibility and high performance for IP-based audio and intercom workflows. Designed for broadcast, live production and studio environments, the compact, rugged I/O boxes streamline decentralized signal distribution over generic IP networks, thereby eliminating the complexities of traditional cabling and configuration, the company said.

The StageLink product line enables capture and distribution of signals seamlessly across networks, ensuring a smooth, reliable and cost-effective transition to IP-based workflows. By leveraging standard network cables instead of specialized infrastructure, StageLink devices create a decentralized, scalable system that integrates microphones, intercom, GPIO devices and other audio-enabled equipment, it said.

The company will also feature its SAME audio processing software suite for the first time at the NAB Show. The all-new audio processing software suite offers the automation and flexibility required to meet evolving demands of audio workflows. Based on the latest commercial off-the-shelf server cluster technology, SAME supports processing capabilities that scale effortlessly with production needs, it said.

The software suite offers more than 30 audio processing tools and mixers, ranging from automatic leveling and dynamic equalization to 5.1 upmixing, loudness meters and signal analyzers, it said.

Riedel also will highlight its new Virtual SmartPanel (VSP), a software solution that enables users to leverage their mobile devices for remote intercom connections. VSP enables a virtual hybrid infrastructure that seamlessly integrates with the Artists-1024 platform, the company said.

See Riedel Communications in 2025 NAB Show booth N1821.

More information is available on the company’s website.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has launched the StageLink family of smart edge devices designed for seamless network streaming. Unveiled at ISE 2025, the new networked I/O boxes are designed for broadcast, live production, and studio environments, streamlining decentralized signal distribution over generic IP networks, eliminating the complexities of traditional cabling and configuration, Riedel said.

The StageLink product line enables media professionals to seamlessly capture and distribute signals across their networks, ensuring a smooth, reliable, and cost-effective transition to IP-based workflows. The StageLink devices leverage standard network cables instead of specialized infrastructure, creating a decentralized, scalable system that integrates microphones, intercom, GPIO devices, and other audio-enabled equipment with unprecedented ease, according to the company.

"StageLink takes professional audio and intercom workflows to a new level by cutting out a lot of manual adjustment and cumbersome setup processes, while providing full remote management capabilities," said Roger Heiniger, Senior Product Manager at Riedel Communications. "With an impressive 151.7-dB(A) dynamic range, and advanced features like format agnostic inputs and outputs, automatic phantom power detection, or three DSP channels per universal input port, StageLink adapts effortlessly to any professional workflow, saving time, money, and engineers’ nerves."

The new StageLink lineup consists of six purpose-built devices, each tailored to specific workflow needs. The NSA-003A (Dual Partyline) enables seamless integration of third-party legacy 2-wire intercom systems into Riedel’s Artist and Bolero ecosystems. The NSA-004A (Quad In) and NSA-005A (Quad Out) offer four universal input and output ports, respectively, supporting both analog and digital audio connections.

Designed as an all-in-one interface for media workplaces, the NSA-006A (Workplace) features mic preamps, headphone outputs, and stereo speaker connectivity. The NSA-007A (Dual In/Out) serves as a broadcast-grade 2-in/2-out I/O box that also functions as a classic analog or digital 4-wire device for Artist and Bolero intercom systems. Completing the range, the NSA-010C (GPIO) is a network-based GPIO interface that operates in either integrated Artist/Bolero mode or standalone mode, enabling seamless third-party connections via NMOS IS-07.

"The StageLink family is so much more than audio and intercom interfaces—it represents a significant step towards fully networked production environments," said Phil Hey, Director Global Business Development at Riedel Communications. "By leveraging open IP standards and a truly unique feature set, StageLink is set to revolutionize workflows across multiple industries, from broadcast and live events to corporate AV. And this is just the beginning—upcoming StageLink devices will expand beyond audio and intercom, flexibly transporting an even broader range of signals over IP."

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced the acquisition of MECSware, a leading specialist in Private 5G technologies, and the launch of the private 5G network solution Easy5G.

Developed in collaboration with MECSware, Riedel said that Easy5G will revolutionize 5G usage in dynamic environments like live events, remote productions, and industrial facilities by offering unmatched flexibility, simplicity, and rapid deployment.

Established in 2015 by Dr. Torsten Musiol, MECSware develops and supplies easy-to-deploy and easy-to-operate 4G/5G system solutions for private networks. As part of the acquisition, MECSware will join the Riedel Group, but will remain an independent company.

“Private 5G networks were often impractical for dynamic or temporary applications like live events and remote productions due to their complexity and lack of flexibility,” said Thomas Riedel, founder and CEO of the Riedel Group. “In MECSware, we found the perfect partner to help us overcome these obstacles for our customers, and I am more than happy to welcome Torsten and his team to the Riedel family. The first fruits of our shared labor are nothing short of a breakthrough, as Easy5G’s debut delivers both the reliable, high-capacity upload connections and the flexibility required for media and event productions.”

Dr. Torsten Musiol, CEO, MECSware, added: “We are thrilled to be joining forces with Riedel, which will open up exciting new applications for our technologies all across the globe.”

Easy5G redefines private 5G deployment by combining Wi-Fi-like simplicity with the robustness of carrier-grade systems, the companies reported. With only a handful of setup parameters, the system can be operational in under 60 minutes, cutting deployment time by weeks compared to traditional networks. In addition, no specialized 5G expertise or dark fiber is needed; Easy5G can be managed by general IT personnel using a standard switch infrastructure.

Unlike public 5G services that often struggle during productions and events with high user density, Easy5G operates on dedicated network frequencies, ensuring superior reliability and performance. Its modular design pairs MECSware’s advanced Mobile Edge Cloud Server (MECS) with small-cell base stations, ensuring flexibility and scalability for a wide range of applications from wireless communication to live video transmission, Riedel explained.

“Our partnership with MECSware exemplifies how we harness cutting-edge technologies to enhance our ecosystem and deliver unmatched value to our customers,” said Jaqueline Voß, executive director, strategy and innovation, at Riedel Communications. “It not only bolsters our Managed Technology division but also paves the way for future product innovations – the possibilities for this technology are virtually endless.”

Easy5G’s integration capabilities seamlessly link to Riedel’s MediorNet and Artist ecosystems, adding a reliable wireless IP layer for audio, video, and data workflows.

Visitors to ISE 2025 in Barcelona can experience a live demonstration of Easy5G at the Riedel Communications booth #5A300.

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel’s MediorNet real-time network was successfully deployed by East Shore Sound to support Comedy Central's “The Daily Show” during its August coverage of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) from Chicago. The flexible MediorNet infrastructure streamlined operations, reduced setup time, and enabled efficient resource sharing across multiple locations.

“The Daily Show” faced tight setup times at Chicago’s Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture. The historic venue, built in 1911 for opera, dance, orchestral and dramatic productions, presented unique space considerations. MediorNet’s distributed routing capabilities allowed the show’s production team to overcome these challenges, with the MediorNet network providing access to content sources across dispersed locations within the facility, including basements, main studio floors and production offices on upper floors.

"The two most obvious benefits of MediorNet were reliability and flexibility,” Sean Kelley, technical manager for “The Daily Show’s” convention coverage in Chicago, said. “It turned out to be incredibly flexible and reliable. Due to the way the show is produced, we ended up using the MediorNet for the main transmission of the show throughout the week. It’s my new favorite toy!”

“The Daily Show” typically records shows at around 5 or 6 p.m. (ET) Monday through Thursday, with edits made primarily to adjust interviews for length before airing on Comedy Central at 11 p.m. (ET). On the convention’s final night, “The Daily Show” aired live, demonstrating the system's versatility.

The MediorNet deployment included one MediorNet Modular frame, nine MediorNet Compact Pro frames, one MetroN signal distribution platform, 10 software-enabled MicroN high-density signal interface nodes and 16 RCP2300 panels with the MediorNet Control App.

Pre-configuration of the routing panels enabled the team to seamlessly set up the system as soon as they arrived at the venue, allowing them to start at 95% toward completion and significantly reducing on-site setup time from several days to approximately one-and-a-half days. The system also facilitated 24/7 access to content for postproduction teams without requiring broadcast trucks and engineering crews to remain on-site overnight, leading to more-efficient scheduling, reduced overtime costs and improved quality of life for the engineers. The system's inherent redundancy also ensured uninterrupted signal flow, even in the event of link failures, by automatically rerouting signals through available bandwidth in the network.

The MediorNet system supported both live and recorded production needs, facilitating not only distribution of a variety of video signals, but also timecode and blackburst signals, confidence monitor returns, connection of intercom panels, internet connectivity distribution, and transmission feed management. Another unique feature of the MediorNet system allowed for the display of source or destination names as overlays on video outputs. This capability greatly aided "The Daily Show" team in troubleshooting, reducing confusion and ensuring they were delivering the right signals to the right destinations — even before the truck arrived on site.

“Due to the road-produced content and show edits, we travel with a heavy post-production team,” Eric Zeller, “The Daily Show’s” lead technical supervisor, said. “MediorNet allowed us to establish a separate facility for post, that was not dependent on the TV truck. This freed up the truck engineers to focus on show needs and helped the show manage overtime.

“MediorNet made the load in far more efficient, effective and elegant as we were able to replace the heavier copper cable we have traditionally run throughout the venue with fiber. In some cases, fiber was run hundreds of feet, including up the sides of buildings and across rooftops, to reach necessary locations,” he added. “East Shore Sound not only delivered a great product with the MediorNet but also provided a dedicated team focused on the setup that could offload responsibility from the truck crew, further solidifying our success.”

Said East Shore Sound President Bill Saltzer: “MediorNet has been around for a lot of years and continues to prove that it's a viable and very reliable solution," said Bill Saltzer, President of East Shore Sound. "One of MediorNet's strongest features is its ability to reroute and create redundancy so that, even if something failed, nobody watching would notice. Overall, the ability to deliver a single piece of hardware to a room and have all signals available, preprogrammed before arriving on-site, was a key factor in choosing Riedel's solution.”

The production also used Riedel's Bolero wireless intercom system, deploying 56 beltpacks, 18 antennas, and one Artist-1024 frame. This provided rock-solid communications for all production personnel, from stage managers to audio technicians, across both convention venues, interfacing with the production truck's intercom system via MADI.

“The successful use of Riedel's MediorNet at the DNC convention demonstrates the system's versatility and its ability to streamline complex remote productions,” Patti Gunnell, VP of Key Accounts, West, at Riedel Communications, said. “We’re excited by the clever usage of MediorNet by East Shore Sound and are thrilled that the solution gave ‘The Daily Show’ the benefits of a network without the intricacies of IP. This deployment showcases how our technology can adapt to diverse environments while delivering significant operational efficiencies.”

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available here.

TV TECH: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2024 NAB Show New York?

RICK SEEGULL: Key technology trends will continue to focus on remote production, including REMI and cloud solutions, and other products and workflows that enhance efficiency for broadcasters and live productions. These efficiencies empower our customers to make informed decisions at their own pace. A notable example is the transition to IP with HorizoN, allowing our customers to integrate IP components into their systems gradually and when they feel comfortable.

TVT: What will be your most important product news?

SEEGULL: Coming off of IBC, one key announcement is the launch of VSP (Virtual SmartPanel), designed for large networks, news outlets and sports broadcasters that require flexibility in managing lots of live, dynamic events. VSP allows remote production teams to choose their devices—phone, tablet or computer—without being restricted to a single device, enabling seamless access whether they are in the office or on-site. Built on a server-based infrastructure, VSP incorporates standard IT security measures, including single sign on (SSO) OpenID Connect and identity providers like MyID, Okta, and Active Directory, ensuring secure communications during remote productions.

We are introducing the SAME (Smart Audio & Mixing Engine) platform, which is an ultra-low latency audio processing software that automates over 30 processing tools and network plug-ins, providing instant access to all active productions. By streamlining redundant and non-critical tasks, such as voiceover booths and downmixing 5.1 to stereo for headphone feeds, SAME allows audio engineers to focus on the creative aspects of mixing. We believe this innovation will revolutionalize the broadcast audio landscape with unparalleled workflow automation flexibility.

Additionally, the Simplylive Production Suite will demonstrate live switching and replay with multiple users. RiMotion and RiCapture will display their innovative workflows and flexible architecture that have made a significant impact in the industry.

MediorNet HorizoN, which we showed at NAB Show, is now shipping! This high-density processing conversion platform integrates SDI and IP workflows allowing customers to transition to IP at their own pace without being forced into changes they’re not ready for. They can gradually adopt IP as their needs evolve.

Finally, the long awaited integration of Bolero and PunQtum will be on display.

TVT: How is your new product different from what’s available on the market?

SEEGULL: The VSP was designed from the ground up, rather than taking something we had and forcing it into today’s types of workflows. VSP was designed from the start with security in mind, and is orchestrated for longevity, taking into consideration all of the security needs that are currently out there and continuously evolving. 

SAME is a completely new platform for us. SAME Audio Pilot allows one engineer to monitor multiple jobs at a single time. It isolates the creative processes from the monotonous and tedious routine functions, which can be automated and now just monitored. SAME consolidates all functions onto one screen, enabling one audio engineer to manage multiple shows at once.

TVT: What is it about NAB Show New York that brings you back every year? 

SEEGULL: NAB Show New York provides an excellent opportunity to connect with East Coast customers and those who couldn’t attend NAB Show or IBC. It allows us to reintroduce products showcased at those events in a more relaxed setting, giving us ample time to discuss details. Additionally, being held towards the end of the year, NAB Show New York enables us to engage with customers about their goals for the upcoming year, ensuring we’re well-prepared to support them.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications is reporting that The University of Texas Athletics (UT) has deployed a comprehensive Riedel solution to enable clear communications and streamlined production across its expansive sports facilities. 

The deployment was completed by systems integrator Diversified and the installation includes Riedel's Artist digital matrix intercom, Bolero wireless intercom, and Simplylive Production Suite, providing UT with a flexible, campuswide system that supports high-quality productions and replays with minimal crew.

"Our ability to bring production in-house and create professional content with Simplylive, Artist, and Bolero is massive for our program," said Daniel Dupoux, director, broadcasting and big screens at UT. "It's been crazy simple. Our students knew nothing about production coming in. We were able to put this in front of them, and they could take it and run with it. Within two shows, they're the ones teaching us."

UT Athletics' previous communication system struggled to provide adequate coverage in UT's large venues, particularly in the vast Moody Center arena and in the football stadium, Riedel reported. 

UT replaced this system with Riedel's Bolero and Artist systems, which immediately offered seamless, crystal-clear communication throughout the arena. In extending the Bolero system to its football stadium, UT created created an integrated communication network across its athletics facilities. The resulting Riedel solution allows UT staff and students to move between venues while maintaining connectivity, enabling efficient operations for multiple sports productions, Riedel said. 

"We needed a system that could reach everywhere within our venues and across the entire campus. Bolero and Artist provided that scalability and interconnectivity," said Matt Alvarado, head broadcast engineer at UT. "The clarity and ease of use of the Riedel systems have been game-changers for us, especially when working with student crews."

Additionally, as UT prepares to transition to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the university is working to elevate its production standards and deliver professional-grade sports coverage with student crews of varying experience levels. Riedel's Simplylive Production Suite enables just one or two operators to create professional-grade productions — complete with multiple camera angles and instant replay capabilities — without a traditional control room. This efficiency was critical for UT, and students are making full use of the system's resources to deliver top-tier sports coverage.

"Creating professional-quality shows requires a high-tech setup with multiple camera angles and replays. With Simplylive we are now able to deliver an exceptional production, including replays, without even needing a control room," Alvarado added. "The Simplylive replays look amazing — super professional — and it's a system that's user-friendly and easy for anyone to pick up."

"UT is home to one of the largest and most prominent collegiate athletic programs in the U.S., and UT Athletics' successful deployment of our technology underscores Riedel's ability to provide scalable, user-friendly solutions for any production environment," said Ben Gabrielson, regional sales manager, South Central U.S., at Riedel Communications. "Bolero, Artist, and the Simplylive Production Suite empower UT to create high-quality content efficiently and raise production value. We're thrilled to see the university embrace these technologies and elevate their sports coverage."

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

LAS VEGAS—As vice president of Live Events at 4Wall Entertainment, I’ve seen first hand the evolution of intercom systems in the broadcasting and streaming industry. At 4Wall, we specialize in providing cutting-edge solutions for live events, broadcast productions, and streaming services.

Our expertise lies in creating seamless, high-quality audio-visual experiences for a wide range of clients, from major TV networks to online content creators. Integral to our operations are the intercom systems that ensure clear and reliable communication among our team members.

One intercom product we rely on heavily is the Bolero wireless intercom by Riedel Communications. We chose Bolero based on its exceptional audio quality, flexibility, and robust performance in demanding environments. Although we considered several options, Bolero stood out due to its superior technology and practical integration capabilities.

Reliable Connectivity
We utilize Bolero for a variety of purposes, including live event coordination, on-set communication during broadcasts, and managing streaming productions. The ability to communicate seamlessly across different departments ensures that our productions run smoothly, without the hiccups that can occur with inferior systems.

One of the primary challenges Bolero addresses is the need for a reliable, high-quality wireless communication system that can perform well even in crowded RF environments. In live events and broadcast settings, interference can be a significant issue, but Bolero’s advanced RF robustness and flexibility in integration mitigate this problem effectively. This reliability allows our team to focus on delivering top-notch content without worrying about communication breakdowns.

Deploying Bolero is straightforward and efficient. Its decentralized architecture supports flexible deployments, accommodating various production sizes and setups, from small studio broadcasts to large live events. The use of 4-wire ties via NSA-02s is particularly useful for connecting Bolero with existing wired intercom systems, providing a unified and streamlined communication network. This was crucial as technicians had to monitor multiple broadcast program streams during rehearsals and the live event.

One operator, Carlos Ostero, had never used Bolero prior to a recent event. Despite his lack of experience with the system, he found it incredibly easy to program and set up. The intuitive user interface and straightforward configuration enabled Carlos to get the system running without any issues—a testament to Bolero’s user-friendly design.

Our favorite Bolero features include its intuitive user interface and the ease of integrating it with other systems. The beltpacks are lightweight and user-friendly, and have plenty of battery life, which is critical for long productions. Additionally, the ability to configure the system via a web browser provides us with the flexibility to make adjustments on the fly, ensuring optimal performance.

Advanced DECT
Unique features of Bolero that have impressed us include its patented Advanced DECT receiver technology—designed to reduce sensitivity to multipath reflections—and its ability to operate in standalone mode. This allows for a highly flexible and scalable deployment, making it an ideal solution for various production environments.

One feature that pleasantly surprised us is Bolero’s NFC beltpack registration. This allows for quick and easy registration of beltpacks, which is especially useful when managing a large number of units. This feature not only saves time but also ensures we get up and running quickly, even in fast-paced environments.

Having Bolero as a tool in our arsenal is significant because it elevates the quality of our productions. Clear and reliable communication is the backbone of any successful broadcast or live event and Bolero’s performance and reliability, combined with its seamless integration capabilities, give us the confidence to push the boundaries of what we can achieve, knowing that our communication system will support us every step of the way.

Bolero has proven to be an invaluable asset to 4Wall Entertainment—its advanced features, reliability, and ease of use make it the ideal choice for our diverse range of projects. As we continue to innovate and expand our services, we know that Bolero will play a crucial role in our success, enabling us to deliver exceptional audio-visual experiences to our clients and audiences. l

For more information visit https://www.riedel.net/en/.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—Riedel Communications has appointed Pino Barile to the newly created position of regional sales director of the Western United States, the company said today.

"I am delighted that Pino has decided to join the Riedel team," said Riedel Communications Americas president and CEO Joyce Bente. "His extensive industry experience and proven track record make him a great fit for our team.”

Barile will oversee the company’s western regional sales team and focus on expanding its market presence. Reporting to Kevin Collins, senior vice president of sales for North America, Barile will collaborate with eastern regional sales director Dave Caulwell and will work closely with key account sales managers, channel management and business development teams, the company said.

With more than 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry, Barile previously held significant roles at Vizrt and Matrox Video. As sales director for enterprise and sports at Vizrt, Barile played a pivotal role in driving sales growth and developing strategic partnerships across the AMECS region. At Matrox Video, where he spent nearly two decades, Barile was an account manager for the Western U.S. and Latin America, it said.

"I am thrilled to join Riedel Communications and embark on this new chapter in my career," Barile said. "Riedel's commitment to innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with my professional values. I look forward to working with the talented team at Riedel to drive strategic growth and deliver exceptional solutions to our clients.”

More information is available on the company’s website. 

Missed any of our product news this week? Here is our new weekly wrap-up of new products, services and deployments we published in our newsletter between June 10 and June 14. The stories are listed from the newest on Friday June 14, day by day back to our stories from Monday June 10.

TVMonaco Relies on Riedel’s Intercom Solutions

Riedel Communications has announced that TVMonaco, the first general-interest public television channel in Monaco, has selected Riedel's Artist intercom system and a suite of SmartPanels, along with the Bolero wireless intercom system, to ensure seamless communication across its broadcast operations.

Nielsen Selects LiveRamp for Big Data and Cross-Platform Measurement and Planning In Nielsen Ecosystem

Nielsen has announced that LiveRamp is now interoperable with Nielsen to power Big Data + Panel advanced audience planning and measurement in Nielsen ONE.

Omdia: OLED Materials Market Will Return to Growth in 2024

A new report from Omdia finds that the global market for OLED materials is poised for a rebound after experiencing a deficit in recent years.

ZTransform Delivers New Media facilities for Midco Arena

ZTransform recently delivered AV and media facilities to Augustana University’s highly anticipated Midco Arena. Despite challenging tie constraints, the facilities were delivered in time for launch of the Viking’s NCAA Division 1 program.

Tata Communications Inks Five-Year Host Broadcasting Services Deal with World Athletics

Tata Communications has announced it has concluded a global five-year deal with World Athletics to provide host broadcasting services covering World Athletics events, including the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025.

IMAX Brings the NBA Finals Live to Fans in Taiwan and Hong Kong

Basketball fans are being treated to live coverage of the NBA Finals on several IMAX screens in a demonstration of the company’s “IMAX Live Experience.” The games are being broadcast on the giant 59x79 foot screens in three IMAX theaters in Taiwan and one in Hong Kong.

Yahoo Launches New Data Partnership with VideoAmp

Yahoo Advertising has announced that the Yahoo DSP has become the first platform to integrate measurement and audience data from TV data and technology provider VideoAmp.

Fox Taps FreeWheel for Dynamic Ad Insertion in its College Football Coverage

Fox Corporation has announced an expanded deal with the ad tech platform FreeWheel that will expand Fox’s dynamic ad insertion capabilities and roll out new co-developed targeting technology. FreeWheel will also become Fox’s primary ad serving partner across the entire One Fox enterprise.

Capitol Broadcasting Selects Triveni Digital to Simplify NextGen TV Operations

Triveni Digital has announced that Capitol Broadcasting Company—the owner and operator of WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WILM-TV, and WNGT-TV in North Carolina—has selected Triveni Digital's award-winning Station Manager to simplify the operation and delivery of NextGen TV and ATSC 1.0 services.

DMC Production Reimagines Remote Race Workflow With Grass Valley AMPP

Scandinavian remote video production company DMC Production leveraged Grass Valley’s AMPP for live coverage of the 2024 RallyX to live stream the motorsports races and championship via YouTube.

Roku Unveils TV Streaming Ad Solution

Roku has announced Roku Exchange, a TV streaming-first advertising technology solution that connects ad inventory with advertiser demand.

Latest ATSC 3.0 ‘Plugfest’ Targets Transport, DRM, and More

The Sinclair Broadcast Group, along with the Pearl TV consortium, hosted yet another ATSC 3.0 device interoperability test at the ONE Media lab at SBG headquarters in the Baltimore suburb of Cockeysville, Md., June 3-7.

A Look Back at the 15th Anniversary of the Digital Transition

Fifteen years ago on June 12, the American system of TV broadcasting officially entered the all-digital age. Here is how TV Tech covered the milestone. 

DPA Microphones, Wisycom Join Forces to Expand U.S. Presence

DPA Microphones and Wisycom have announced a strategic alliance to work together to expand their operations in the U.S.

Clear-Com Gen-IC Virtual Intercom Ships

Clear-Com has begun shipping its Gen-IC Virtual Intercom, a new system combining the benefits of cloud production with the system reliability for which the company is known.

NVISA and ATSC to Deploy ATSC 3.0 Warning System at FEMA Facility

The NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance (NVISA) and the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) have announced a strategic partnership with Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (FEMA IPAWS) to establish an end-to-end NextGen TV broadcast system at the IPAWS Technical Support Services Facility (TSSF) near Washington, D.C.

IAB Tech Lab Releases Ad Creative ID Framework

In a notable development in the media industry' efforts to improve the efficiency and cross-platform measurement of CTV ad campaigns, the IAB Tech Lab has unveiled the Ad Creative ID Framework (ACIF).

JVC Hosts Live Demos Of New 40X Zoom PTZ and vMix Studio Switchers at InfoComm 2024

JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, will be highlighting its latest NDI and vMix solutions at InfoComm 2024 (Booth C5715) this week.

Blackmagic Design Announces First Commercial Camera and Editing System for Apple Vision Pro

Blackmagic Design has announced that it will be launching an end to end solution for producing cinematic Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro.

Ross Video Brings AV Solutions and a Live Studio Experience to InfoComm 2024

Ross Video will present the AVIXA TV Studio, a dynamic live corporate studio experience equipped with the latest Ross technology. 

Canon Announces PTZ Firmware Update

Canon will soon offer a firmware update for key models in its Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) line of cameras that will provide a variety of new features and improvements the CR-N700, CR-N500, CR-N300, CR-N100, CR-X300 PTZ cameras, RC-IP1000 controller, and the Remote Camera Control Application.

G&D North America Opens Houston Office

Professional keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) solutions manufacturer G&D North America has opened a new location here to provide consulting and support to customers in North and South America.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that TVMonaco, the first general-interest public television channel in Monaco, has selected Riedel's Artist intercom system and a suite of SmartPanels, along with the Bolero wireless intercom system, to ensure seamless communication across its broadcast operations. 

Officially launched on Sept. 1, 2023, by Prince Albert II of Monaco, and a new addition to the TV5MONDE network, TVMonaco is dedicated to delivering content centered around the environment, news, sports, and the art of living on the Riviera. 

"Riedel's state-of-the-art solutions not only met our immediate communication needs but also gave us confidence in our ability to launch a brand-new broadcast station on schedule and bring our programming to air successfully," said Sylvain Bottari, CTO at TVMonaco. "The company's commitment to excellence and its unparalleled support have been instrumental in ensuring a seamless launch for TVMonaco within a short time frame, and the intercom systems have performed flawlessly since day one."

The Artist-1024, SmartPanel, and Bolero systems are integral to TVMonaco's operations, supporting editorial and technical teams by facilitating communication between the control room, MCR, seven editing rooms, and maintenance cockpit. The Riedel intercom systems have proved especially useful for TVMonaco's sports magazine and TV news segments, which require intensive communication.

The production team also relies on the Riedel solutions to ensure connectivity with external partners. The system's compatibility with various audio formats, including Dante, Madi, and AES67, as well as its support for SMPTE ST 2110, provides TVMonaco with a future-proof solution.

An Artist-1024 intercom node, along with an array of Riedel SmartPanels (including the RSP-1232 HL, RSP-2318, and DSP-2312), and Bolero beltpacks, was delivered and taken live to support the channel's inaugural broadcast. The ergonomic design of the SmartPanels, the flexibility of Artist for daily studio operations, and the unparalleled performance of the Bolero wireless system were key factors in TVMonaco's decision to choose Riedel over other vendors. Riedel's Director software provides a user-friendly interface that accelerates the production workflow and enhances daily operations.

"I am delighted to see our partnership with TVMonaco come to fruition," said Philippe Delépine, Regional Sales Manager Southern Europe at Riedel. "Their selection of our wired and wireless intercom systems for this critical launch underscores the trust and confidence they have in our solutions. Moreover, this collaboration exemplifies Riedel's ongoing commitment to delivering reliable, intuitive communication solutions that empower broadcasters to excel in a competitive media landscape."

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

Riedel Communications has announced that the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT S.A.), Greece’s state-owned public broadcaster, has acquired Riedel's cutting-edge Simplylive Production Suite to expand its live production capabilities across a wide range of events. 

The software-driven solution was integrated into ERT’s OB vans by Riedel partner Bon Studio S.A. The deployment increased the broadcaster's capacity to work with more replay servers and, in turn, leverage more slow-motion cameras and sources to deliver the detailed coverage that fans expect of major live events today.

“Riedel’s Simplylive Production Suite not only meets our current production needs but also provides a scalable and future-proof platform for working with emerging broadcast standards,” said Mike Nugent, deputy general director of technology at ERT. “Our positive experience with Riedel's customer support, in collaboration with local partner Bon Studio, positioned Simplylive as a compelling solution. Riedel’s responsive and knowledgeable support teams also were instrumental in ensuring the smooth integration and operation within our OB trucks.”

ERT’s selection of the Riedel solution followed a comprehensive public tender process in which the broadcaster evaluated technology, functionality, expandability, and financial criteria. The Riedel-based proposal by Bon Studio emerged as the top choice.

“The success of this important project is a testament to the close collaboration we have with Riedel,” explained Nick Bofiliakis, CEO of Bon Studio. “By working together from the very beginning, we were able to fully understand ERT's specific needs and propose a solution that perfectly meets their requirements. It is a great example of Bon Studio's commitment to providing our clients with the best possible technology solutions, achieved through strong partnerships with industry leaders like Riedel.”

Two new V12 units enhance ERT’s ability to deliver high-quality live coverage of sports events, government functions, and entertainment events throughout Greece. Supporting super slow motion, providing a production network for seamless connection of additional replay servers, enabling multi-user operation, and ensuring Dante compatibility and support for 4K, the Riedel system gives ERT the functionality and flexibility essential to handling complex productions with fewer personnel and less equipment. The ease of setup and preset recall function give the broadcaster’s OB vans the versatility to meet the demands of any event.

“ERT is a leader in setting industry standards, particularly with its OB vans, and the company’s continued commitment to our live video production solutions reflects a high degree of confidence in the capabilities and reliability of our forward-looking technology,” said Harry Kapros, business director, live production, EMEA at Riedel. “Our Simplylive Production Suite empowers broadcasters like ERT to deliver captivating live content with unparalleled efficiency and quality. We look forward to supporting ERT as it continues to bring innovative and engaging live event coverage to audiences across Greece and beyond.”

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that Liberty University, which serves over 135,000 students, has deployed Riedel's Artist ecosystem to enable clear, reliable communications across the campus. 

The robust system supports a diverse range of productions at Liberty University, totaling around 180 sports broadcasts, 180 entertainment broadcasts, and approximately 1,700 campus events.

The university worked with systems integrator Digital Video Group (DVG) to deploy the solutions across its expansive 7,000-plus acre campus with over 7.5 million square feet of building space in Lynchburg, Virginia.

The deployment of the Artist ecosysem included Artist digital intercom matrix, Bolero wireless intercom, and SmartPanels with multiple applications, such as the Audio Monitoring App (AMA). 

"In the past, intercom was merely a functional necessity in our industry; however, Riedel has managed to make intercom an exciting, innovative, and essential component of Liberty University's workflow," said Alex Martin, CEO of Digital Video Group (DVG). "We are genuinely impressed by the company's commitment to consistent technology research, design innovation, responsiveness, and collaboration."

The comprehensive installation encompasses the Artist-1024 decentralized, scalable digital intercom network and a substantial number of 1200 Series SmartPanels (including 71 RSP-1232HL panels and nine RSP-1216HL panels). Additional components such as the Audio Monitoring App (AMA), 90 Emmy® Award-winning Bolero beltpacks, 20 charger bays, and 30 Bolero antennas have contributed to a state-of-the-art communication network, Riedel reported. 

This extensive IP-based deployment not only enables the team to support scheduled events across campus with ease while reducing maintenance time and costs but also to cover more areas of the campus and to support ad hoc events as they pop up. For instance, the use of IP transport enables the team to essentially plug and play beltpacks and SmartPanels, which can feature multiple applications, anywhere on the campus network. In addition, the SmartPanel Intercom App, Riedel's Audio Monitoring App (AMA) enables operators to listen to multiple audio feeds simultaneously on the panel to quickly identify any issues, Riedel said. 

All venue communications depend on Bolero beltpacks, which have greatly enhanced the clarity of communications among sports and events staff, including timeout coordinators, A2, tech managers, stage managers, wireless camera operators, and engineers. 

"The audio quality is definitely crystal clear like you're standing next to somebody," stated Louis James, senior remote support engineer at Liberty University. 

"My favorite thing about the AMA function is the ability to dim or duck channels in either direction, making audio monitoring more flexible and dynamic, and contributing to a more sophisticated and efficient workflow," said Mike Gerringer, chief technologist at Liberty University. "Riedel's integration of this function is elegant and impressive."

"Users, both in and outside the broadcast team, are delighted with the SmartPanels and Bolero units," continued James. "The build quality, especially on the Bolero end, and the audio quality improvements, particularly in speaker mode on the key panels, are remarkable. Riedel's innovative design, such as placing speaker ports on each side, ensures clarity and avoids the muffled sound experienced with other manufacturers. Bolero's durability is evident, as we haven't encountered any issues despite widespread use and varying levels of user experience."

Liberty University's decision to adopt Riedel's solutions stems from the institution's desire for a reliable and efficient communication system to support the wide array of events on its large campus. Having switched from another supplier just a year and a half ago, the university opted for Riedel due to the superior quality of the product and the outstanding service they received at NAB almost two years ago.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with DVG and contribute to the success of the production and broadcasts at Liberty University," said Dover Mundt, Regional Sales Manager, Mid-Atlantic, at Riedel. "The partnership with DVG has been exceptional, and we are excited to witness the positive impact our technology is having on Liberty University's events."

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

At the 2024 NAB Show, Riedel Communications has unveiled its expanded RiCapture ingest solutions line with the addition of RiCapture i8, i44, and i84. Complementing the RiCapture i4 platform, these additions provide increased channel density and/or UHD resolution, 8- and 10-bit support, and expanded internal SSD storage.

According to Riedel, the new RiCapture SSE interface for scheduling, streaming, and exporting offers a powerful and compact solution for multichannel HD/UHD ingest recording and integration to postproduction. The SSE control application lets users select between high-resolution DNxHD/R, H.264, or a combination of the two, and also includes audio-mapping and down-mix audio-listening capabilities. 

This allows RiCapture to record media locally, on removable storage, on network-attached storage, or to live-streaming destinations. The system can be expanded to a network of multiple servers for higher-density recording and unlimited destinations with control from a single SSE interface, the company reported. 

RiCapture’s i4 and i8 provide four or eight HD HDR input channels respectively, while the i44 and i84 each support four UHD channels with HDR capability in addition to their HD HDR channel capacities. On the audio side, all RiCapture products are capable of 16 channels of embedded audio per channel, as well as 64 Dante or AES67 channels.

In all configurations, RiCapture offers high-quality recording in DNxHD or DNxHR along with H.264 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 encoding to local storage. The local recording storage platform offers continuous loop recording for the captured content, with options to stream it manually or with a scheduler, or to clip and export files as needed from the available local storage to numerous streaming destinations, the company said. 

There are three software add-ons available in the RiCapture product line. The first is the VDR panel, a web-based UI with expanded multichannel control for clip playback, program delays, monitor wall playback and other scenarios. The second is the RiView application, which is a multiviewer UI that includes audio down-mix monitoring for synchronized review of record feeds for review, clipping, and export to multiple destinations. And the third is the XDCAM add-on, which provides the tapeless XDCAM format for HD video acquisition and storage.

"As a complete suite for multichannel ingest recording capture and transfer to postproduction, RiCapture caters to a wide range of markets — from sports, concerts, and theaters to motion picture applications," said Bernard Stas, Riedel Communication’s product manager for live video production. "Accommodating UHD resolutions and a variety of formats, such as 23.98 fps and 29.97 fps, the newly expanded RiCapture family sets the bar for high-quality ingest solutions at an exceptionally competitive price."

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that Lamar University, one of the fastest growing universities in Texas, has upped its game with the addition of Riedel's cutting-edge communication solutions for use in its stadium control room and a newly designed 24-foot broadcast trailer from Allied Broadcast Group. 

Equipped with an Artist-1024 digital matrix intercom, 10 Bolero wireless beltpacks, and eight RSP-1216 SmartPanels, in both the control room and the mobile unit, Lamar University is now able to use one system for multiple teams across different venues, enabling it to cover various events from sporting activities to commencement ceremonies, both efficiently and reliably, Riedel reported. 

"The flexibility of the system is what amazed me," said Scott Price, associate director of broadcast and AV, Lamar University. "When I tried out the headset, it was rock solid without a hiccup or dropout, and the clarity was incredible! I had no problem hearing what was said — even in a crowded, noisy venue. Bolero is physically sturdier, more reliable, and audibly clearer than other systems I've tried. The unmatched clarity, range, durability, and scalability of the Bolero wireless intercom, along with the flexibility of Artist and the SmartPanels, made Riedel the clear choice for us."

Previously, the university faced the challenge of coordinating multiple teams and volunteers across different venues. Now, with just three antennas, they can cover the entire campus. Paired with the new control room and mobile unit, which are both using Riedel's integrated solutions, Lamar can now cover additional events campus-wide, providing a unified communication platform with far fewer pieces of equipment required, streamlining operations for camera operators, engineering teams, marketing professionals, athletic directors, and students involved in the production. For instance, Price and his team can ensure constant and clear communication with camera operators, even beyond the endzone and into the building. In addition, they can color balance the cameras without interfering with the producer, Riedel reported. 

The mobile unit, designed and built by Allied Broadcast Group, contains a mirror image of the control room's Artist, Bolero, and SmartPanels, providing a familiar set of tools and cost-effective flexibility for the production teams.

Instead of trenching fiber across the campus to reach distant venues, Lamar University can now deploy the mobile unit to cover additional campus sporting events such as volleyball, baseball, and eventually tennis. Students can get valuable real-world experience in both a control room and mobile truck environment, learning broadcast on state-of-the-art professional equipment, the companies said. 

"We are excited to support the next generation of professionals in learning our products — in both Lamar's new control room and the mobile unit from Allied Broadcast. This deployment is significant for both Riedel and the industry as it demonstrates the versatility of Artist and Bolero solutions in educational settings as well as mobile units," said Ben Gabrielson, regional sales manager, Southwest, Riedel Communications. "We are thrilled to be involved with Lamar University and look forward to seeing how this collaboration will enhance their events as well as their students' education."

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that Miyagi Television Broadcasting, a key broadcaster in the Tohoku area in Japan's Miyagi Prefecture, has chosen Riedel's products to create an a new communication ecosystem. 

As part of the upgrade, Miyagi Television Broadcasting selected Riedel's Artist and Bolero systems provide the balance of functionality, performance, and cost required by the broadcasting giant, as well as ease of use and simple maintenance, Riedel reported. 

"While it's different from conventional systems in some respects, Riedel's innovative intercom concept has been enthusiastically embraced by our team and has consistently delivered stable performance since its implementation," said Hino Takazumi, technology promotion department, general affairs bureau, Miyagi Television Broadcasting. "We are glad we made this decision and excited about the future possibilities it opens up for us. As we look ahead, we are confident that Riedel will continue to be our trusted partner."

Along with an Artist-1024 node and an RSP-1232HL SmartPanel, the broadcaster's new communication ecosystem includes 15 RSP-1216HL SmartPanels, four Bolero active antennas, and 10 Bolero six-key wireless intercom beltpacks. Though Miyagi Television Broadcasting originally intended to perform a simple update to its production sub-intercom, the broadcaster discovered that the antennas could be positioned to serve as a sub-intercom for the entire program, including news sub-intercoms. With beltpacks distributed throughout office spaces and studios, the broadcaster also uses the Riedel system for various mission-critical functions, including communication between subs and studio staff, PGM exchanges, studio commentaries, and inter-room communication.

This integration of the intercom system with both production and news sub-intercoms has resulted in great cost savings for Miyagi Television Broadcasting. On top of realizing excellent sound quality with its Riedel systems, the broadcaster also benefited from its ability to assign 16 buttons to a single talk panel, adjust headset amplifier levels for specific terminals, and use the Director application to better visualize the workflow and manage equipment loans for its key stations. 

Notably, during a 2022 election special, an expert panel was pulled into an unused studio to create a simple subchannel for online distribution. Enabling information-sharing with terrestrial subs, this model strengthened the broadcaster's ability to swiftly disseminate critical information, the companies said. 

"Miyagi Television Broadcasting's integration of our intercom systems perfectly demonstrates how Artist and Bolero bring flexibility, unwavering performance, and improved cost efficiency to modern production environments," said Vincent Lambert, general manager Japan and South Korea at Riedel Communications. "We are delighted to witness their enthusiastic adoption of our communication solutions, and we look forward to the future possibilities this relationship will unlock."

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

LONDON—Shakespeare’s Globe has deployed Riedel’s Bolero intercom system for communications at its Globe Theatre and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Riedel said.

The Bolero intercom system addresses the need to roam and deliver excellent audio quality—the two main communications challenges facing these live theaters. The addition of Bolero brings a new level of efficiency, clarity and collaboration to the venues for stage management, rehearsals and show running, it said.

"The range and clarity of Riedel's Bolero intercom system have significantly enhanced our communication capabilities, transforming the way we manage our performances," said Charli Hurford, senior technician at Shakespeare's Globe.

"The technology's seamless roaming and plug-and-play functionality have eliminated the need for troubleshooting, resulting in more efficient technical rehearsals and smoother show running. This system has proven to be an essential tool for our stage management teams, enabling us to provide unparalleled support and deliver outstanding performances."

Bolero has made it possible for Shakespeare’s Globe to streamline its workflow, creating efficiencies and better resource use. With the improvement in the range and clarity of communication across both venues, the performing arts venue simultaneously reduced the required number of antennas from nine to three, it said.

The reduced need for troubleshooting has eliminated downtime and waiting periods, enabling seamless technical rehearsals. Adopting Bolero also has produced cost savings by eliminating the need for a standby technician during technical rehearsals, it said. 

During the venue's winter season, the interconnectivity between the Globe Theatre and the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse played a vital role in the production of "The Winter's Tale," which spanned both venues. Additionally, the system's reliability has played an important role in large filmed events, the company said.

Shakespeare's Globe chose Riedel's Bolero intercom system based on its successful track record in other show environments, its alignment with industry standards among major theatrical counterparts and the support provided by the Riedel team, it said. 

Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theater, first built in 1599.

More information is available on the company’s website.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has expanded the company's range of live video production solutions with the release of RiMotion R10. 

The RiMotion replay series is part of Riedel's family of software-based products for multicamera production and was integrated into its portfolio after the acquisition of Simplylive.

"When we say that we offer 'replay for everybody,' we really mean it," said Gregory Macchia, vice president business development, live production, Riedel. "Why should budget-conscious productions in colleges, stadia, or houses of worship have to sacrifice on producing a great live production with lower quality replays? The RiMotion line brings the top-level replay experience to all levels of productions without breaking the bank. Today, we expand that offering with the R10, which packs our highest channel density in our compact 1RU server, and will revolutionize the replay market at this level."

Riedel's RiMotion solutions combine extensive replay capabilities, including super-slow-motion (SSM) camera support, with an innovative, user-friendly interface. Its modern design concentrates all features in a clear and convenient touchscreen interface that even new users can learn to operate in minutes. The RiMotion package also includes a conventional hardware-based remote controller panel for operators who wish to combine the remote controller and touchscreen interface.

The new R10 expands on Riedel's RiMotion replay series, which offers affordable replay packages without compromising on quality and capability. The R10 will be added to the existing R6, R8, and R12 bundles providing six to 12 HD channels, and the R84 with up to four UHD and eight HD 10-bit HDR channels. RiMotion R10 supports 10 video channels, offering up to eight multi-format camera inputs — including SDI, SRT, and NDI — plus two outputs in a powerful and compact 1RU server. As with all RiMotion systems, the server can be combined with mini-PCs to create a simple, cost-effective solution for remote productions — allowing operators to be anywhere.

Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications and Studio Automated will collaborate on an artificial intelligence-assisted video production solution for sports producers and leagues to produce live broadcasts remotely with a minimum of personnel and lower operating costs, Riedel said this week.

Studio Automated has developed a proprietary technology based on AI and machine learning (ML) and pioneered automated video production for live sports. The company’s technology has been used to cover more than 100,000 sports matches around the world since its founding in 2020.

"Through decades in live production, Riedel has established itself as an innovative leader whose world-class hardware and software solutions are used by major sports and media production companies across the globe," said Paul Valk, founder and director of Studio Automated. "This exciting new partnership with Riedel is a validation of our software-first approach to developing the best AI for live sports production, which we believe — along with an open API — empowers our partners to deliver unparalleled products for broadcasters and media rights holders. The maturity of our AI model enables us to serve clients that seek to automate production in the higher end of sports broadcasting, and we're thrilled to work with Riedel in creating new products for this market."

Highlighting the synergy between the companies’ strengths, Luc Doneux, director of live production at Riedel Communications, praised Studio Automated’s ability to create innovative products for the sports market.

“Their unrivaled expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, combined with our deep sports broadcast knowhow, is sure to yield great results. I am positive that this collaboration will herald a new era of affordable sports productions," said Doneux.

More information is available on the Riedel Communications and Studio Automated websites.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced that Costa Nikols has joined the company as vice president of sales enablement for the global team. 

In his new role, Nikols will design, develop, and institute sales enablement programs to build the foundational and technical knowledge for the global sales team. Continuing to work with strategic leaders and customers across the industry, Nikols will ensure Riedel delivers solutions and platforms that enable its customers to be successful, while improving the customer journey by providing a more fluid and informed sales engagement, the company said in announcing the appointment. 

"We are thrilled to have Costa take the reins of our global sales enablement initiatives, which consist of connecting people to the information they need. Costa brings an impressive and quite extensive background of experience successfully guiding both colleagues and customers through several huge technological disruptions," said Daniel Url, CCO Product Division at Riedel. "As Riedel continues to grow and evolve, Costa will ensure the customer journey through the sales process is smooth and successful for both the team and the customers."

Known in the industry as a consistent, dependable technical resource, Nikols had served as vice president of global sales enablement at Grass Valley, where he helped guide the company through its transition from a hardware-based to a software-enabled brand. 

For over 20 years, Nikols held various leadership positions at Grass Valley and its acquisitions, including senior product manager at Snell & Wilcox and sales engineering group manager at Miranda Technologies. In these roles, Nikols discovered his passion and talent for helping guide both colleagues and customers through technological changes, whether it's architecting a solution, connecting people to information or through first-hand experience, Riedel noted. 

"Joining Riedel Communications has been a wonderful experience. I was instantly welcomed and felt like I was contributing right away. Being with a company that values technical innovation, customer experience, and the prosperity of its employees is like being in a little patch of heaven," said Nikols. "Now working for an industry leader in wireless communication and intercom solutions, my experience lends itself well with the company's strategic technologies vision, and I also love that I am learning new things from people that are passionate about what they do."

Nikols will be based in Montreal and report directly to Daniel Url. Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net. 

The Television Academy has announced the recipients of the 75th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards honoring an individual, company or organization for developments in broadcast technology. The award ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

"Advancements in technology are a fundamental part of television production and greatly contribute to the elevation of the storytelling process," said Frank Scherma, chair of the Television Academy. "We are honored to recognize these distinguished and talented engineers, scientists and technologists who are at the forefront of pioneering fundamental advancements in television and storytelling."

"The Engineering, Science & Technology Emmys have always recognized domestic ingenuity as well as major innovators from around the world," said committee co-chair Barry Zegel.

"Half of this year's recipients are headquartered outside of North America," added Co-Chair Wendy Aylsworth, "and it's exciting to see how they are changing the television industry."

The Academy said that the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors a living individual whose ongoing contributions have significantly affected the state of television technology and engineering, will be given to Birney Dayton. 

Television technology pioneer, Birney Dayton, was one of the founders as well as CEO and CTO of NVISION, which he ran for 20 years. With the goal of building products to support and drive the development of high-definition television, NVISION has been lauded for their innovative products in digital audio, HDTV routing and other broadcast facility products. Prior to NVISION, Dayton was vice president of engineering for Grass Valley Group leading the development of digital products that streamlined the routing of digital signals through production and operations centers. An innovator in bringing fiber optics to the world of television, he built the first fiber-optic transmission system for over-the-air television, used for the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Olympics. In the late 1980s, Dayton chaired the systems analysis working party of the ACATS (Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service), which tested and selected the best-of-breed technologies to establish the digital television distribution standard that continues to operate throughout North America. In addition, he helped develop the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) analog and digital component video standards, was co-chair of the SMPTE high-definition electronic-production working group and was awarded the SMPTE Progress Medal for his numerous industry-changing digital audio products and technologies. Dayton has authored numerous industry papers and currently holds 15 patents.

This year's Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award, which honors an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have significantly impacted television technology and engineering, will be given to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

The National Association of Broadcasters is the voice for the nation's radio and television broadcasters. As the premier trade association for broadcasters, NAB advances the interests of their members in federal government, industry and public affairs; improves the quality and profitability of broadcasting; encourages content and technology innovation; and spotlights the important and unique ways stations serve their communities.

The Academy also announced that this year’s Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards will be given to: 

• Recipients: Chris Deighton, Richard Mead, Adrian Jeakins, Evangelos Apostolopoulos for the Brompton Technology Tessera SX40 LED video processor. Brompton Technology's Tessera SX40 LED (light-emitting diode) video processor has been a key enabler of the revolution in using LED screens for virtual production. To make LED screen-based virtual production even possible requires high-quality, artifact-free processing. The SX40 has become a significant ingredient in a winning recipe utilized in virtual production studios worldwide. Software upgrades have further improved performance and optimized virtual production workflows, ensuring the greatest possible flexibility for the creative team while delivering the gold standard for color accuracy and on-camera visual performance.
• Recipients: Steve Rosenbluth, Thomas E. Burgess, Konstantin Smola, Glen Winchester for the Concept Overdrive Motion System. Concept Overdrive is a valuable tool for virtual production and augmented reality and has become a professional standard for the control of machines and animatronics in television production worldwide. With an acclaimed user interface, the system implements a streaming motion network, real-time constraints and maximally digital motion control, which make it ideal for interfacing with the real world in modern production environments.
• Recipient: International Telecommunications Union – Radiocommunications – Study Group 6 for the Standardization of High Dynamic Range Television (HDR-TV). Since its first publication in July 2016, Recommendation ITU-R BT.2100 "image-parameter values for high-dynamic range television for use in production and international program exchange," more simply known as HDR-TV, has impacted the entire television industry, from cameras, post-production (especially in color processing), delivery though traditional broadcasting OTT (over-the-top) streaming services, and both professional and consumer display/television products. BT.2100 provided the critically important international specifications that have enabled HDR to become widely practiced and enjoyed by consumers.
• Recipients: Raymond Drewry and Jim Helman for the Entertainment Identifier Registry (EIDR). Created by the technical staff at MovieLabs, the Entertainment Identifier Registry (EIDR) unifies the commercial film and television industry around one standardized content ID, one infrastructure for creating and sharing the ID, and one nested data model for describing the relationships between abstract titles, specific edits of each title and their packagings for distribution. EIDR has provided the mission-critical infrastructure that has enabled the explosion in digital distribution of film and television content to an increasing set of consumer devices over the last 10 years.
• Recipient: David Eubank for the pCAM Pro. pCAM Pro is a mobile software application developed for Apple's iOS devices that offers a comprehensive suite of 26 cinematography tools designed for television and film professionals. These tools include calculations to guide decisions on designing camera shots, set design and construction, selecting lenses and camera sensor formats, achieving proper exposure and color balance, creating flicker-free lighting and lighting designs, and functional eye-light and lighting effects, among others. Most notably, it allows for accurate pre-visualization of specific lens and camera pairings, making it an invaluable tool for set crews.
• Recipients: Thomas Riedel, Jake Dodson, Wolfgang Fritz, Jiou-Pahn Lee for the Riedel BOLERO Wireless Intercom. Riedel Bolero's ADR (Advanced DECT Receiver) wireless intercom solution with multi-diversity and anti-reflection technology, delivers greater RF (radio frequency) robustness than ever seen before in the industry. In addition, it offers Touch 'n Go NFC (near-field communication) belt-pack registration and versatile operation as a wireless belt pack, a wireless key panel, or (an industry first) a walkie talkie. It also features bluetooth compatibility for phone connections. It successfully provides clear communications in venues that had previously been difficult or impossible to cover due to physical venue design or competing DECT (digital enhanced cordless telecommunications) systems.
• Recipients: Jeffrey Gray, Russell Hocken, Barrett Phillips, Greg Smokler for the SmallHD Monitor Platform. SmallHD's rugged and daylight-viewable production monitors have become a staple on every production set, from scripted dramas to live broadcasts. SmallHD's hardware platform features an entirely custom electronic architecture that allows for continuous expansion of features and connectivity as well as enabling the unique industry-leading PageOS 5 monitoring software system. From the compact on-camera Smart 5 and Smart 7 series to the 4K production monitor line, SmallHD has created a unified and cohesive series of monitors that allow for accurate and consistent viewing and color reproduction across different cameras and applications, ensuring a consistent creative vision from set to final output.
• Recipients: Meir Shashoua, Yaniv Alon, Shai Fishman for the Waves Clarity Vx Pro. Clarity Vx Pro is a revolutionary noise-reduction plugin that uses the cutting-edge and powerful Neural Networks engine developed by Waves to separate dialogue from ambience at the highest quality without artifacts and in real time, which sets a new standard in post-production. Addressing today's post-production needs, Clarity Vx Pro allows for real-time processing and vastly speeds up and enhances the workflow of dialogue editing and mixing. Clarity works in most DAWs (digital audio workstations) to create immediate, clean results without having to render, bounce, duplicate or consolidate tracks. It allows editors and mixers to listen to the dialog processing as part of the whole mix in context.

The Engineering, Science & Technology Emmys are made possible by Television Academy sponsors Drybar, Franciacorta, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, People and United Airlines.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—To handle its ongoing growth across the Americas, Riedel Communications has expanded its Americas sales team with the appointment of Todd Gardner as channel manager, North America, and James Skupien and Ben Gabrielson in regional sales manager roles. 

Gardner joins the company with years of channel management experience, and he will take the helm from Dave Caulwell, who has managed and grown the channel — along with the Riedel RED program — in North America for years. Caulwell will move up into a new position as regional sales director, East.

"We are fortunate to have someone as experienced as Todd taking the reins of the channel program so that I may confidently move on to manage the eastern region sales team," stated Caulwell, "Our Riedel RED program is growing, and I am certain that Todd will continue to build momentum around our vigorous program. He has a tremendous track record, and I am thrilled to have him on our team."

Prior to joining Riedel, Gardner worked for more than 20 years at Grass Valley, where he held various roles including account manager, channel manager, and finally director of channel sales. He managed internal teams covering proposals, customer service, and fulfillment for high-profile customers and partners. During this time, he received several awards for his sales efforts.

"I am looking forward to taking over the reins from Dave and excited, and even a little anxious, to be starting with a new company after so many years with Grass Valley," stated Gardner "Riedel is an energized company with great culture, innovative technology, and a bright future. I am thrilled to be part of the team."

As Caulwell takes on the responsibility of managing the team of eastern regional sales managers, the western region picked up two new territory managers. Skupien, based in Chicago, will serve as regional sales manager, North Central, and Gabrielson, based in Arizona, will serve as regional sales manager, South Central.

Skupien is a well-known sales manager with a solid breadth of knowledge, having worked at many companies in the industry including BTS, Dell, Grass Valley, AWS Elemental, AVI, Bitcentral, and, most recently, Vizrt.

Gabrielson hails from the internet and streaming side of the business, having worked at Stretch Internet and LiveU as director of business development and sales manager for sports, respectively. Prior to joining Riedel, he worked at Evertz, where he was a sales manager for sports on the West Coast.

"I am thrilled to add these three new powerhouse employees, making our strong team even stronger. Todd's track record, Jim's experience and connections, and Ben's expertise within a different area of the business adds breadth and knowledge the whole team can benefit from," stated Rich Zabel, vice president of sales, North America. "We've spent a lot of time searching for the right people to fill these positions and I am extremely happy with the team we are building"

More information about Riedel and its products can be found here. 

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has appointed Marcus Wheelwright as vice president of customer success for the Americas, the company said this week.

Wheelwright will be responsible for managing customer success operations for the region and increasing satisfaction by building frictionless customer experiences with Riedel—from demos and training to delivery and post-sales support, it said.

"We are excited to have Marcus take the helm of our customer success operations in the Americas. With his extensive and impressive background in customer success at other leading global companies, Marcus offers a wealth of knowledge and experience and is a fantastic fit for this role," said Joyce Bente, president and CEO of the Riedel Americas. "As Riedel continues to grow in the Americas, Marcus will ensure the customer journey is smooth and successful."

Before joining the company, Wheelwright was the manager of support engineering at AWS Elemental. There, he built and led a technical team of subject matter experts focused on internal and external training, knowledge content and tooling. 

Prior to AWS Elemental, Wheelwright had a 20-year career at Grass Valley where he held various support positions, including senior technical support engineer, manager of customer service, director of global quality and other positions, culminating in becoming vice president of services and support for the Americas.

"It's an exciting time for me to be joining Riedel, and uniting with my former teammate, Craig Thompson, as the company's customer success department grows globally," said Wheelwright.

"Riedel comes with a strong set of services already, and I am looking forward to extending that portfolio and helping Riedel realize its vision of customer-centric operations."

Wheelwright will be based on the West Coast and report directly to Thompson, executive director of customer success.

More information is available on the company’s website.

INGLEWOOD, Calif.—The NFL Media headquarters—a state-of-the-art IP media broadcast production center that opened less than a year and a half ago—leverages one of the world’s largest Dante audio networks in the world with some 18,000 Dante connections as well as connections to 31 direct fiber audio locations at SoFi Stadium here and six local direct fiber audio locations.

The ultramodern IP-based 4K and HDR-capable facility, home to NFL Network, NFL.com, NFL RedZone, the NFL app and other departments, is also connected to all 30 NFL stadiums via 10-Gbps interfaces and all 32 NFL practice facilities. 

Currently the facility, which employs more than 1,000 people, houses five main stages supported by numerous production control rooms, audio control rooms and workstations, has a post-production operation with 18 high-end edit rooms, two audio-sweetening suites and 90 VDI thin-client desktop editors accessible from anywhere in the facility or remotely, said Bruce Goldfeder, NFL Media vice president of broadcast engineering.

At the moment, NFL Media produces 1080p60 broadcasts with Dolby 5.1 audio, but the facility’s infrastructure can support 4K60 with Dolby Atmos 7.2.4 audio and is capable of scaling to future formats, including 8K and HDR.

To bring all of this together, the facility relies on nearly 18,000 Dante audio network connections, 16,000 MADI connections and more than 2,000 Riedel intercom channels. The Dante audio-over-IP platform enables audio and control data to be transported via standard 1GB Ethernet networks. More than 3,500 products from 500 manufacturers support Dante, which replaces point-to-point analog and digital connections with software-based routing, making it possible to send audio channels anywhere on the network.

For audio production, the various NFL Media studios are equipped with a mix of 11 System T Dante-enabled broadcast production audio consoles from Solid State Logic.  

“This is one of the largest, if not the largest, Dante installations in the world, and the NFL team picked SSL in part because we offer the most Dante-integrated broadcast production consoles available,” said Phil Wagner, senior vice president at Solid State Logic. “The Dante ecosystem is huge, and it continues to grow because Dante is incredibly solid, flexible and secure.”

The facility also uses Dante Domain Manager to secure audio networks and allow for seamless expansion of Dante systems over any network infrastructure. DDM is a complete network management software that enables user authentication, role-based security and audit capabilities for Dante networks.

“The Dante network and tools like Dante Domain Manager make it easy for us to quickly and easily reconfigure our audio workflows to bring together the equipment and people needed for any production,” said Goldfeder. “We needed a solid infrastructure for the productions we’re creating today, and we need to know that the system we have in place can grow with us and accommodate our future needs. Dante offers that level of scalability and flexibility.”

More information is available on the Audinate and Solid State Logic websites.

PARIS—French telecommunications and broadcast infrastructure operator TDF Group has deployed Riedel’s MediorNet MuoN technology here as part of a new multi-client media-over-IP network for its operational and service workflows.

Compact MuoN SFPs are enabling the migration from legacy SDI formats, using SMPTE ST 2110 standard to process uncompressed signals, Riedel said.

"Squeezing the horsepower of a cutting-edge FPGA into the compact size of an SFP is no easy feat, and it certainly drew us to Riedel for this ambitious project," said Daniel Rodriguez, head of media innovation programs at TDF. "In addition, the company's MediorNet MuoN technology supports our strategy of progressively migrating from legacy SDI to IP, at the market's pace, with minimal risk thanks to its hybrid nature."

Riedel's SFP-based MediorNet MuoN IP gateways provide multiple interfaces for bridging SDI signals into IP. With a small form factor (SFP+, SFP28), the 3G/HD capable MuoN A SFPs, used by TDF for its HD requirements, can be installed inside a standard 10GE/25GE IP switch, the company said.

The software-defined modules are available with a range of different input and output configurations, including BNC, fiber or HDMI, and can be configured to run encapsulation, such as SMPTE ST 2110 and ST 2022-6, it said.

TDF's media-over-IP network also includes MuoN B Series SFPs, which are used with Riedel's VirtU 32 aggregator for high-end UHD video processing. With up to two UHD channels per SFP, the granularity of Riedel's MediorNet MuoN technology allows TDF to scale its network as needed while decreasing the risks associated with hardware failures, the company said.

Riedel's MuoN technology supports the RESTful API, which made it simple for TDF to tailor the system to its unique needs, it said.

More information is available on the company’s website.

The events of the past two and a half years have demonstrated the importance of reliable and flexible communications among media production professionals. And like the television industry, the world of professional intercoms is advancing forward with IP and now, the cloud, and with it the promise of a robust and expanding environment for remote production. In this month’s ebook, TV Tech looks at the evolution of media comms and what we can expect to see in the future as media companies adapt to changing requirements.

Download this free ebook here. 

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel Communications has announced it has acquired Belgium-based SDNsquare, a provider of Software-Defined Network (SDN) solutions for IP-based media installations. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition expands Riedel’s competence team in real-time IP network orchestration and SDN control, it said. 

SDNsquare has led several IP-based projects and deployments for customers at major sporting events, including the Tokyo Games, Roland-Garros (French Open) and European Athletics Munich, Riedel said. 

"SDNsquare is a recognized innovator when it comes to Software-Defined Network orchestration in media," said Rik Hoerée, CEO Product Division at Riedel. "We are very excited to welcome the SDNsquare team to the Riedel family, integrate their technology into our future products and grow its capabilities to help make IP simple for our customers."

The acquisition ensures “continuity and further development” of SDNsquare’s core technology, said company CEO Henry Alexander, adding that its team will be integrated into Riedel’s R&D and customer success team and continue to work from their offices in Ghent, Belgium.

"This acquisition underlines our commitment to continue investing in technology as a driver for future innovations and growth," said Thomas Riedel, CEO, and founder of Riedel Group.

More information is available on the Riedel website.

Broadcasting is still behind IT when it comes to cloud adoption but there are parts of media and entertainment—playout and post-production in particular—that have embraced the virtual platform as a way of decentralizing and streamlining operations. The same, however, cannot be said for intercoms, an area that still has high demands in terms of real-time connectivity and is mostly holding on to its established hardware-based methods.

As with so many things in life and work, the pandemic changed the view of many on this point. Among them were several broadcast organizations, says Martin Dyster, vice president of business development for TV at Telos Alliance. "During the last 18 months or so we've found that broadcasters are increasingly looking at cloud and virtual intercom solutions in order to provide an effective means to communicate as they develop new broadcast production workflows," he says.

A 'Waiting Market'
To meet this emerging requirement, Telos introduced the Infinity Virtual Intercom Platform (VIP) in 2020, which, Dyster says, found a "waiting market." VIP can work entirely in the cloud when fully deployed on a VPC (virtual private cloud) platform. This has proved to be a major turnabout for the intercom market, which, despite wireless connections and mobile apps, continues to rely on hardware infrastructures. Because of this, Dyster feels there will continue to be resistance from other manufacturers because working in the cloud does not align with their core businesses.

"You can see a similar reaction within the audio mixing console market where the brands that have led the field in large, medium and small format mixers for decades have not embraced virtualization," he says. "In both the intercom and mixing technology sectors, it seems the door has been left wide open for more agile and forward-thinking companies to bring new products to market that fulfill the needs of broadcasters who are embracing cloud production. I cannot believe it will be long before at least one of the hardware brand leaders in each sector breaks rank and shows their hand."

Telos' Infinity and the Unity system—which is set up online through a web portal and supports a single group of users sharing six party-line channels—are the main intercoms to be fully hosted in the cloud. Among those still adhering to established hardware methodologies for intercom is Pliant Technologies. "Intercom has always been a communications technology for collaborative working group in real time," says vice president of global sales Gary Rosen. "The cloud is really best used [for] non-real time storage and retrieval. It's not really suited for this application."

Live Production Demands
The main objection to using the cloud from traditional, hardware-oriented intercom developers is the potential for a complete loss of communications if something does not work properly.

"When everything is down, the intercom still needs to work," comments Nico Lewis, senior sales manager for EMEA at RTS Intercoms. "Consider a live television show: A camera fails or a microphone fails and the audio operator can't hear the guest. ‘No problem, we'll just tell the technical director to take another camera and the audio operator will ask the stage manager to get a spare microphone to the talent.’ 

“But—'What do you mean, no one can communicate these simple instructions?'” Lewis asks rhetorically. “Intercom is the critical component and therefore we wait [in using the] cloud till the last moment. Or maybe do not do it and keep it connected in our established way using OMNEO [RTS' media networking system]."

Lewis does concede that "the future will tell," about cloud adoption for comms, however Clear-Com sees the eventual move to cloud as unavoidable.

"We have been watching the deployment of new cloud-based production tools with interest and feel that adding comms to these workflows is inevitable," says Kris Koch, business development director for broadcast networks and media production for the company. "The urgent nature of comms, [however], and the need for it to be always available, especially when nothing else is, creates a challenge. It becomes critical to not only deliver the features our customers need through the cloud but also to provide reliability and redundancy so broadcasters can operate independently in times of emergency or technical problems."

At Riedel UK, sales manager Nacho Lee observes that the cloud will "probably" become part of intercom but not yet. "There are still concerns [over] reliability and security," he says. "Most of our clients in education, theater and even broadcast still tend to have an isolated intercom island, separate to their IT network, [which is] mainly for independent control as well as safety reasons."

Gustavo Robles, sales director at AEQ, agrees that there is a lot of talk in the comms market about cloud, saying it is "the future," with the company already working on new units and systems. "Until now we [have been using] VPN [virtual private network] and a dedicated hardware central matrix but the idea is to move far from this and offer the same specifications but totally virtual," he explains.

All or Nothing
In terms of reliability in the cloud, Dyster acknowledges that losing connection to a virtual platform would "leave you without intercom," but adds that if a production was using a wider cloud system, its problems would be bigger than just communications.

"Equally, if you are using remote intercom panels with a matrix-based system and relying on the internet to connect them, losing that connection would also take your comms out," he adds. "AWS provides redundant solutions that safeguard against the former event but, like anything, there could be exceptions where you are vulnerable and AWS has certainly had the odd 'blip.'"

The answer to whether or not the cloud does become part of intercom systems—or the entire infrastructure—could lie in recent history. There was some resistance to audio over IP (AoIP) as the basis for comms but now that is well established. Matrices and traditional party lines have not gone away yet but AoIP, particularly in uncompressed form, is being widely used for intercom, with Dante, AES67 and SMPTE ST 2110-30 providing the backbone for many installations. If the cloud follows a similar route, then its wider-scale adoption seems more likely.

LAS VEGAS—Sound is part of the many different aspects of broadcasting that will be featured at the 2022 NAB Show. Two elements in particular—immersive/personalized audio and intercoms—will attract a lot of attention in Las Vegas.

A trend that is still in its relatively early days is immersive and object-based audio (OBA). Both of these, which come under the general heading of “next generation audio” (NGA), have been discussed and promoted as “the next big thing” to hit broadcast television for at least the last decade. 

Dolby Atmos
This year will mark a decade since the first film in Dolby Atmos—Disney’s “Brave”—was released in cinemas, according to Mathias Bendull, vice president, Living Room, for Dolby Laboratories. “It’s incredible to see the progress we’ve made and the growing excitement from consumers and the industry demanding immersive sound experiences brought to life by spatial audio,” he said.

Today the world’s top streaming services—Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, and many others—deliver their most-watched movies and streaming shows in Dolby Atmos (and Dolby Vision) and Dolby Atmos devices are widely available across various price points and form factors from home theater systems to smartphones and TVs, Bendull said. 

With Samsung’s recent announcement that it would support Dolby Atmos in its upcoming Micro LED and Neo QLED TV, this means all major global TV manufacturers are now delivering TVs with Dolby Atmos, according to Bendull, who added that a majority of these TVs in North America also support ATSC 3.0 tuners, which will provide consumers access to NextGen TV delivered via Dolby AC-4.

“Consumer interest in Dolby Audio technologies, such as Dolby AC-4 and Voice+, has also shaped how broadcasters promote the benefits of NextGen  TV,” Bendull said. “This includes the recent NextGen TV holiday campaign, which aired commercials in participating ATSC 3.0 markets promoting the features of Dolby Audio, such as improved dialog audibility enabled by Voice + and consistent loudness.” 

Dolby is also teaming up with Pearl TV to amplify these messages at the NAB Show and through consumer education and retail point of sales initiatives,” he added.

Personalization & Immersive
On the horizon, the benefits of personalized audio features like home and away commentators, multiple language support, and audio description for 5.1 and Dolby Atmos are being explored by key industry players jointly with Dolby.

There is the view, from institutions such as Fraunhofer IIS—the main developer of MPEG-H 3D Audio—that the personalization aspect of NGA is the more compelling and necessary feature, rather than immersive sound. Christian Struck, senior product manager for audio production for Lawo, comments that the current trend appears to be creating presentations—in other words, “audio stems”—that can be used for different applications whose volume levels are set by viewers at home.

“A stem-based approach means that more channels and busses are needed than for a 5.1 setup,” Struck explains. “This means the ability to set channel levels for a variety of presentations becomes paramount and a flexible array of monitoring options is required.” 

On the subject of immersive audio, Struck describes it as “the perfect complement to 4K picture quality” and says it is being increasingly demanded by rights holders. “The main features for audio consoles in an immersive workflow, such as high channel counts and the bussing, monitoring and mixing infrastructure to support them, will become available in 2022.”

In terms of greater capacity on mixing consoles, at this year’s NAB Show, Lawo will be showing a 48-fader version of the mc²36 at the booth in the Central Hall. Other introductions include a software version for the mc² range, the A_UHD Ultra-High Density IP audio engine and new software features for the V_matrix routing, processing and multiviewing platform.

While sport and drama have fully embraced immersive audio—for future-proofing post-production if not for transmission at this time—there are areas that do not appear immediately well-suited to the technology.

“Our ‘bread and butter’ is TV news and it will be some time before that sector gets into the immersive environment,” comments Phil Owens, senior sales engineer at Wheatstone. Of personalization he adds, “There are a lot of levels to that. You can pick and choose different channels for things like second languages. But that’s not really immersive audio.”

At its booth in the North Hall, Wheatstone will launch Tekton 32, its latest audio over IP (AoIP) console for TV. The networked console is based on the company’s WheatNet-IP protocol that is aimed at smaller, local TV stations, which are either installing automated production systems or downsizing staff. It has 64 channels, which are layered, and motorized faders that can be controlled by the producer or director through the automation system.

Also on the subject of IP, a highlight at Calrec's booth will be a demo in which three independent consoles will be operated from a fully redundant pair of ImPulse cores; a 48 dual fader Apollo console, a 40 fader Artemis console and a headless console running Calrec Assist on a PC. The ImPulse DSP features native SMPTE 2110 connectivity and is compatible with the Calrec Assist web interface as well as Calrec’s Apollo and Artemis consoles to provide a simple upgrade path for existing Calrec customers moving to an IP domain.

It also provides 3D immersive path widths and panning for next-generation audio with height and 3D pan controls, flexible panning and downmixing built-in.

AoIP for Comms
IP is now firmly established in most areas of broadcast audio, from mixing to networking to distribution and contribution links. Another area that is now exploiting the full potential of AoIP is communications. 

The major intercom manufacturers—Clear-Com, Riedel and RTS—each has its own take on the technology, while other, smaller developers, or those entering this market more recently, have put their own spin on comms through IP. These include Green-GO, Glensound, Sonifex and AEQ, all of which will be exhibiting at the show.

Clear-Com, which will be exhibiting in the Central Hall, began investing in IP technology during the mid-2000s. Product Manager Kari Eythorsson explains that this was primarily to add remote connectivity for large comms systems in an efficient way. This, of course, proved beneficial during the height of the pandemic when production teams were either operating remotely within a broadcast center or working from home.

“In TV and film production, there was a need to build bubbles for people to work within,” Eythorsson says. “It was possible to reduce the number of people in a bubble [by connecting] with simple wireless systems.” He adds that the AES67 interoperability standard has allowed for expansion of IP systems, while virtual intercoms were facilitated through linking key panels, computers or smartphones over Wi-Fi, LTE or 5G connections.

Riedel also saw IP and remote communications become more in demand because of COVID-19, with the creation of hybrid environments.

 “Due to remote and virtual productions, as well as hybrid workflows, the IP connected intercom is becoming a new normal or a new requirement in projects and applications,” comments U.K. Sales Manager Nacho Lee. Despite the growing ubiquity of IP intercoms, Lee adds that more established technologies, such as matrices, still have a place in comms setups.

Audio may be a smaller percentage of the companies at exhibitions like the NAB Show but it is certainly making an impact with technologies that are significantly changing both the way people work in broadcasting and what TV services can offer their viewers. 

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Studio Berlin, a German mobile production facilities provider, has deployed the Riedel Communications MediorNet MicroN UHD media distribution and processing in its new Ü10 UHD/HDR OB van system.

The OB van system is a unique two-vehicle design that makes it possible for production crews to maintain social distancing. The design, which positions 10 equipment racks in one vehicle and is tethered to the production van via fiber optic cable, enables Studio Berlin to spread out the working environment in the OB van control room.

To save space, Riedel’s MediorNet MicroN UHD system is split between the two vehicles, making it possible to accommodate up to 26 workstations and 24 UHD cameras while maintaining maximum distance.

The van design leverages 38 Riedel MicroN UHD modules for decentralized signal routing. Eight MicroN UHD modules are used as stage boxes, while others have been configured as multiviewers using the MicroN UHD MultiViewer app, the company said.

"For the unique design of the Ü10 —where space is at a premium to meet social distancing requirements— a decentralized router was a must," said Matthias Alexandru, technical manager at Studio Berlin. "While centralized solutions feature large, fixed designs with intensive cooling requirements, the distributed architecture of Riedel's MediorNet MicroN UHD allows us to start small and scale the system with additional modules as needed. Furthermore, it enables production teams to collect and distribute all stage box signals directly from where they originate. With centralized solutions, this process requires additional hardware that adds weight, reduces flexibility, and increases costs."

MicroN UHD is the latest generation of Riedel's MediorNet MicroN family of modular, high-density signal interfaces, bringing more bandwidth, more I/O, higher resolutions and more processing power to the MediorNet platform, the company said.

More information is available on the company’s website.

LOS ANGELES—David Perkins has been named manager of service and support for Riedel Americas, the company said today.

In this role, Perkins will oversee Riedel’s internal technical support and service teams. He will focus on enhancing the processes and practices used to service customers and continue ongoing training related to evolving technical service requirements, the company said.

“David has impressive experience across all aspects of service and support, and virtually all of it within technical departments and organizations," said Joyce Bente, president and CEO North America, Riedel. "He has a long history in IT, with a wealth of knowledge around software-based solutions for the media industry. As Riedel continues its growth in markets across North America, David will play a vital role in ensuring we're ready and able to continue providing stellar service and support."

Before joining Riedel, Perkins was director of client services for Bitcentral. During his eight years with Bitcentral, he undertook strategic analysis, training and projects across the department. He worked with sales, development and product managers to drive effectiveness of various teams, the company said.

"My primary aim is to bolster the global customer support desk and ensure the business remains customer-centric," said Perkins. "I will also help build out the customer success function in all of Riedel's key global markets, each with revenue responsibilities, success planning for customers, focused accountability for the customer, and account ownership."

Perkins will be based in Riedel’s Los Angeles office and report to Bente.

More information is available on the company’s website.

LONDON—The 2021 Wimbledon Championships marked the biggest deployment to date on tournament grounds of Riedel signal transport, processing and intercom technology, the company announced today.

The All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) installed a fixed signal routing and communications network based on Riedel’s MediorNet real-time signal transport and processing technology and Artist digital matrix intercom mainframe.

AELTC has relied on Riedel for more than 10 years and expanded its Riedel infrastructure for this year’s tournament, Riedel said.

For Wimbledon 2021, held June 28-July 11 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the MediorNet/Artist solution facilitated remote audio mixing to support communications between review officials and umpires, statisticians, safety, security, audio and production teams as well as video feeds to aid the audio team with press feed distribution and remote operation of all courts, it said.

While the basic network remains in place year-round at AELTC, Riedel Managed Technology was brought in to supply the additional panels, nodes and other gear necessary to support tournament play at 18 different courts over the 14 days of Wimbledon.

"Wimbledon is steeped in tradition, but we're certainly not standing still. We're always looking to stay on the edge of technology and apply the latest innovations to make the Championships the best they can possibly be," said AELTC audio and communications specialist James Henry “Brew” Breward.

"We know we can count on Riedel equipment to provide seamless, reliable communications with fantastic sound quality when it really matters, such as when resolving debatable review calls," he added. "And with all of the additional equipment that comes in quickly for the Championships, we absolutely depend on Riedel's Managed Technology division to help us meet our tight timeframes.”

The permanent Riedel installation at AELTC consists of an Artist-64 intercom node and a handful of 2300 SmartPanels. Prior to the tournament, the Riedel Managed Technology division expanded the fixed infrastructure with an array of additional Artist and MediorNet equipment, including MediorNet MicroN high-density media distribution network devices, around 120 intercom panels, and Bolero, offering coverage over much of the grounds, the company said.

With their ability to be deployed in unlimited configurations, the modular MicroNs came in handy particularly in the AELTC master control room where the signals from the 18 courts, big screen production and countless local mixes come together, it said.

Additional MicroNs configured with the Riedel MultiViewer App were located in the Center Court PA rack room. This enabled the production crew in master control to mix audio signals from up to 36 SDI broadcast and MADI feeds from Artist, house audio, OB comms 4-wires, and program feeds.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—A leading French provider of outside broadcasting (OB) facilities and production services, Amp Visual TV, has chosen Riedel to provide signal routing and processing as well as communications technologies for its new Millenium 3 and Millenium 4 live UHD production vehicles. 

The vehicles use Riedel MediorNet real-time network to drive 14-camera (10 4K capable) productions for both trucks. 

Riedel's Artist digital matrix intercom and Bolero wireless intercom provide reliable, flexible, and seamless crew communications.

Specializing in live television production, Amp Visual TV boasts one of Europe's largest fleets of OB vehicles, 44 in total. It also operates 29 studios in Paris — eight with fixed control rooms. 

Riedel has previously worked with Amp Visual TV on launch of its flagship Millenium Signature 12, a 44-camera (22 4K capable) van driven by a massive MediorNet signal transport infrastructure. Fortified by its success, this unit was swiftly followed by the Millenium 6 OB-van project, also based on Riedel technology.

François Valadoux, CTO of Amp Visual TV noted that “we had an outstanding experience working with Riedel on Millenium Signature 12, the first OB van in Europe that was fully based on MediorNet video routing and processing technology. Not only has MediorNet been a huge success on our Millenium Signature 12 and Millenium 6 OB-vans, it also drives live coverage on our DSNG vehicles and has been instrumental in live broadcasts of our 24 Hours of Le Mans series. Therefore, it was logical to turn again to Riedel to provide a fully decentralized and future-proof hybrid infrastructure for Millenium 3 and 4."

The modular and networked DNA of MediorNet makes OB vans, fly-away control rooms, and stage boxes fully interconnectable, enabling combined mobile units to address bigger productions while ensuring they can each operate effectively in standalone mode for smaller jobs, the companies reported. 

Millenium 3 and 4 are each designed for daily UHD video productions while also having the ability to expand for bigger productions by simply merging with any other systems from Amp Visual TV’s fleet with Riedel technology on board. 

The combined Millenium 3 and 4 units provided coverage for the last UEFA Champions League match in Paris early in March.

Valadoux added that “MediorNet is at the heart of our philosophy of providing a fleet of OB units that can be easily shared, combined, and redispatched on the fly based on our daily production requirements. In particular, the latest MediorNet MicroN UHD modular devices play a key role with their amazing 48-port video density — with rack space savings that are always welcome in mobile applications — together with 400G bandwidth horsepower for creating virtually limitless mesh topology scenarios."

In addition to MediorNet, Millenium 3 and 4 boast an IP communications infrastructure based on Riedel's top-of-the-line Artist-1024 digital matrix intercom paired with Bolero — which Amp Visual TV recently named as the wireless intercom standard for its entire operation. The communications system also includes a mix of Riedel's IP-based intelligent user interfaces of the 1200 and 2300 SmartPanel Series.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—To ensure that the crew of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Expanse” has reliable multichannel communications, the show’s director of photography Jeremy Benning opted to go with Riedel’s Bolero wireless intercom platform.

Prior to the addition of Bolero, individual teams on “The Expanse” crew had their own communications methods. Bolero offers a single, unified system that helps to remove miscommunications and potential delays.

Bolero is a DECT-based intercom that operates in the license-free 1.9 GHz frequency range. There are 26 beltpacks and four antennas on the set of “The Expanse.” On the set, the audio feed from the sound mixer is patched in to allow all connected departments to listen to actors’ dialog when needed. The crew also uses it to deliver announcements to the entire crew.

Bolero is also used to communicate with actors when they are in their prop space helmets. In addition, three walkie-talkie channels are patched into the Bolero system, enabling the keys to communicate with the rest of the crew.

"The ability to communicate instantly, clearly, and effectively is a critical requirement to keep any film or episodic series on schedule. We knew we needed more efficient, zero-compromise comms capabilities in today's new world, and after extensive testing and comparison with other leading systems, Bolero was hands-down the best tool for what we needed," Benning commented. "Not only does Bolero have excellent audio quality and an ultra-low noise floor, it's also super-easy to control the entire system through the intuitive user interface."

For more information, visit www.riedel.net.  

LONDON—Developers of professional intercom systems have made much of the fact that while modern technology has helped enable remote operations and working from home, much of that technology was already available prior to the pandemic.

Social distancing has forced broadcasters to accelerate their adoption of these technologies but with no indication as to how long the new ways of working will be in place, systems have been adapted and upgraded to offer features that were not immediately necessary a year ago.

Some companies have even developed brand new products during this time, although these are not all comms-oriented. Riedel Communications responded to the need for social distancing with its DisTag distance monitor. This alerts the person wearing or carrying it if someone gets too close through haptic (a two-stage vibration alarm), visual (a two-stage LED signal) or acoustic (a two-stage sound signal) methods.

In addition to DisTag, Riedel has “made a lot of improvements” to its core comms products according to Intercom Product Manager Felix Kolls. Some of these concern the user interface more than connectivity and are targeting non-technical, creative staff working from home. The 1200 Series SmartPanel now offers touchscreens that support icons and an eight-character main label plus 16-character sub-label per key, so that each function can be identified and explained.

VoIP (voice over IP) has come into its own and is being used in conjunction with Virtual Intercom Panels for working from home, Kolls said. “This allows a regular computer or mobile device to function as an intercom end-point,” he explains. “The integration of panels or audio into an intercom system via long-distance connections is key for today’s distributed productions.”

Catering to nontechnical users was also the impetus behind the design of Pliant Technologies’ new MicroCom full-duplex range, which allows multiple people to be on a system without the need for a technician onsite setting it up, configuring it or operating, according to Gary Rosen, vice president of global sales for Pliant.

In general, Rosen adds, having more wireless intercoms “can be extremely helpful,” not just through connecting people without physical constraints but also in maintaining social distancing. “Before COVID restrictions, you could walk up to someone and whisper to them,” he says. “Intercom enables you to stay 30-feet away and still whisper to them.”

THEY’RE ALSO MULTITASKERS

AEQ has combined several products from its different technology areas—intercom, communications and networking—to expand coverage over different platforms and connectivity formats. In addition to intercom systems, which are designed with KROMA Telecom, AEQ also develops codecs to provide connections over either ISDN, standard telephone lines (PSTN) or IP. It also produces call-in/conferencing management technology and from this range the Systel-IP platform is being integrated with the Conexia intercom to provide more options for broadcasters.

AEQ Sales Director Gustavo Robles explains that integration can be through SIP (session initiation protocol) or the Phoenix codec. “We can also offer Dante, RAVENNA and AES67 for audio over IP,” he said. “Also included are SMPTE ST 2110 interfaces, while our remote links can run over standard Ethernet or VPNs [virtual private networks] with intercom panels in different locations.”

John Kowalski, director of broadcast and network sales at Clear-Com, agrees that SIP enhances connectivity, particularly for field reporters or for those working from home. “SIP and VoIP are technologies we were supporting in 2019 and which increased in business applications, including being used to come in and out of intercoms, during 2020,” he says. “IP connectivity to mobile devices as well between studios is something else we are seeing.”

Kowalski added that the need to improve connectivity for remote production existed prior to 2020 and was addressed by ClearCom through its LQ Series of AoIP interfaces. These have been adopted for working from home and also work with the Agent-IC mobile app, which allows iOS and Android devices such as smartphones and tablets to become mobile user panels.

IP IS CRUCIAL

IP functionality has been able to adapt to the needs of working from home natively, said Martin Dyster, vice president of business development at Telos Alliance, but it needs to be more user friendly for less technically inclined staff.

“We realized at the outset of the pandemic that the configuration was not going to be simple for all users, so we made some fundamental changes that made the Infinity IP intercom as close to ‘plug and play’ as possible,” he said.

A more general trend brought about by the pandemic, Dyster notes, is the acceleration of TV studios migrating to cloud-based workflows. This is, in turn, pushing intercoms towards having some of its core functions located in third-party facilities.

“This new way of working in TV has taught us that the need for scalable, reliable and secure off-premises products and services will continue to grow, with broadcasters becoming increasingly adept at these workflows,” he says. “We have accelerated our own transition to cloud-based products based on this demand and also adapted some of our hardware technology to facilitate work-from-home or remote use.”

RTS has provided new features for its VLink software-based intercom that include cloud service redundancy, recording, encryption, video capture/streaming, enhanced control panels and standalone capabilities.

“We have also improved our long-distance studio interconnection technology—RTS Trunking—which is now able to support volume control,” says Angelo Piga, global product manager for RTS Partyline. “This is a real game-changer because it allows users to adjust listen volumes for remote point-to-point and partyline assignments as if they were local assignments.”

Away from technology, hygiene and cleanliness continue to be serious considerations in controlling the spread of the virus. Piga agrees that sharing equipment, particularly headsets and microphones, is still a concern for customers.

“We have helped by giving instructions on how to keep things like that clean,” he says. “We’ve also seen a significant increase in headsets and microphone orders.” Rosen adds that sales of replacement foam mic covers and ear pads have increased, while noting that the days of having a “bin of headsets” and “just grabbing one are behind us.”

Whether workflows and working practices will go back to anything approaching how they were pre-pandemic is still uncertain. As John Kowalski of Clear-Com says, any changes going through 2021 and into 2022 are likely to be “more subtle than abrupt.” The only constant will be the continuing need for communications and connectivity.

WUPPERTAL, Germany—Riedel has taken to the sea by providing a technical infrastructure for 360-degree coverage of the 36th America’s Cup sailing event, currently underway off the coast of New Zealand.

Riedel is providing its camera solutions, new audio technologies and sensor technology embedded into its America Cup infrastructure. This is supported by an on-site team of 30, managing all audio, video, communications, tracking and data transmission systems, including signals from on-board cameras, chase boats and helicopters.

In addition to Riedel technology, the company is also relying on gear from its solution providers, like Pidso antennas and radar systems over Igtimi’s GPS tracking technology. Riedel also integrated services and technologies from other technology partners into the production infrastructure, including the likes of iXblue, Sennheiser and Lawo.

Remote support from Riedel is being provided from its Remote Operations Center in Wuppertal, Germany. The ROC serves as the monitoring and engineering hub through which operators can remotely access the entire system setup in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Decades of experience in the most demanding production environments now culminate in this very special project with very special challenges,” said Thomas Riedel, CEO and founder, Riedel Communications. “Together with our partner suppliers, all of whom represent the global standard in their fields, our team has created a seamless production infrastructure that is enabling circle-o to take its live coverage to thrilling new levels. Their stunning coverage opens up entirely new perspectives on sailing and perfectly illustrates the great impact technology can have on entertainment formats and the tangibility of sporting events."

For more information, visit www.riedel.net.