ESPN selected Riedel Communications’ Artist digital matrix intercom system for its new West Coast production facility located in the L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment complex. The system was integrated by TV Magic Inc. and includes a 584 port matrix, over 150 intercom control panels and trunked VoIP connections to a second Artist system located at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
“The key for us is that it fits the customer’s needs,” said Stephen Rosen, president of TV Magic. “Every aspect of the new facility uses cutting edge technology. Riedel is a very good fit into the project.”
The intercom matrix is distributed over eight mainframes connected via fiber forming a single nonblocking matrix. Control panels connect to the individual frames via CAT-5 cabling using broadcast quality AES3 digital audio. MADI client cards are used to interface directly from the Riedel system to the house audio infrastructure using the 64 channel MADI format. To facilitate the digital audio connections the Artist system is synced to the main audio infrastructure. VOIP-108 cards offer IP functionality directly from the matrix without the need for external interface equipment. Riedel’s Voice-over-IP solution already supports SIP-compatible connections and is prepared for an upcoming IP standardization from the AES.
In addition to the main system located in Los Angeles, the matrix is trunked to the second system located in Bristol, Conn. The Bristol Artist system is intelligently interfaced to the facility’s existing third-party intercom via the new Riedel Actor interface, providing seamless communication throughout the ESPN network.
ESPN also utilizes Riedel’s C3 digital beltpacks, which connect to the matrix intercom via C44 system interfaces. To augment the wired intercom, several wireless solutions are employed as well. Existing wireless beltpack systems are interfaced directly to the matrix and RiFace radio interfaces are installed to integrate professional two-way radios with the system.
