Autoscript has won an order from BBC World Service to provide systems and services for its new Persian television channel.
The free-to-air channel will launch in the new year with a production facility modelled on the one built for the BBC's Arabic television service, which went on air in March. The key difference is the specification for a dedicated Farsi speaking teleprompter to operate the Autoscript system which Autoscript are currently recruiting for.
Four TFT 17-inch on-air monitors have been supplied supplemented with the Windows-based +WinPlus+ prompting applications which works with all TrueType and Adobe fonts and with any language or character sets including Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Hindi and Farsi. For BBC Persian it links directly into AP ENPS text newsroom computer system and an IBIS play-out automation platform.
Autoscript is also providing additional operational support including a Farsi prompting specialist; a Autoscript RAT (receive and transmit) wireless scroll; and a wireless 'Opto' foot control that offers maximum precision for controlling scripts as part of the deal.
The Autoscript equipment will interface with a range of other equipment installed at the studio and playout facility at Broadcasting House. Among these are Omneon Spectrum Media Servers for ingest and playout and a DaletPlus News Suite media asset management system. The media produced will feed the TV channel as well as being repurposed for output on the Web and for radio broadcasts.
"Our experience of the Arabic development and review of proposals for Persian made Autoscript the right solution," explains Andy Cooper, Technology Stream Manager, Persian TV Project, Broadcast Technology Team. "It made sense to work with the same technology that had been proven previously. In terms of workflow though, it will be configured to meet the specific requirements of BBC Persian."
The new BBC Persian television service will initially broadcast eight hours daily and complements the BBC's existing Farsi radio and online output.
