CCTV has also been busy upgrading its comms for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. China's National Broadcaster has selected Clear-Com to provide an intercom network that will eventually span its entire broadcast operation.
"After rigorous comparison testing, it was evident that Clear-Com's products have the advanced technology and innovative solutions that are required for a broadcast as complex and as important to our country as the Olympic Games," says Mr. Ding Wen-Hua, Chief Engineer at CCTV. "We were particularly impressed with the completely automatic and seamless switch-over from fibre to the backup high density, low latency VoIP link, which is unique to Clear-Com. We found that under the same conditions, other systems require a reboot, which can take over 60 seconds or involve a manual intervention like rerouting communication lines, and that can mean precious time during a broadcast."
Clear-Com's communication network will provide a link for CCTV between the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC), the hub of all broadcasting activities for the Olympic Games, and CCTV's new Television Culture Centre (TVCC), which will house administration along with news, broadcasting, studios and program production. The buildings are more than 20 km apart and will be networked using Clear-Com's fibre link technology with a redundant VoIP connection as an automatic failover backup to ensure continuous connectivity between IBC and TVCC.
CCTV has purchased an arsenal of communication equipment that will make up this network including two Eclipse Omega systems with 120 ports in total, which will form the heart of the network at the IBC and TVCC. An integrated digital wireless card, E-Que, will enable connectivity between FreeSpeak user beltpacks and headsets within the Eclipse matrix system, creating a true seamless environment for ultimate wired-free mobility and reliability over a wide area of operation. An additional six Eclipse PiCo units, each providing up to 36 full duplex/4-wirless ports, will be deployed throughout the arenas for electronic field production.
In addition to CCTV, 13 regional broadcasters have selected the Clear-Com's Eclipse products for use in 14 OB trucks including two belonging to China Beijing TV (BTV) as part of a robust and failsafe communication system designed for on-the-fly operation. These intercom systems will allow the individual broadcasters to communicate remotely with assurance and ease via I-Station intercom panels. The I-Stations will provide superior flexibility in a high-pressure environment with 32 pushbuttons, a gooseneck mic, headset connections as well as a loudspeaker with level control, four display key modules and keypad. Many of these broadcasters have opted to add FreeSpeak 10 beltpacks for their Olympic coverage to provide their presenters fully integrated communications whilst they are on the move throughout the broadcast centres and sporting stadiums.
"CCTV's requirements for the Olympics were as stringent and challenging as any state broadcasting organization we have ever competed to serve," says Matt Danilowicz, Managing Director of Clear-Com. "We are exceptionally proud to have been chosen to build the foundation of China's next-generation intercom infrastructure."
