YLE uses ON-AIR Systems channel-in-a-box solution to cover analog switch off

Finnish broadcaster YLE has invested in two more playKast systems from ON-AIR Systems ahead of Finland’s analog switch off, and has since upgraded its existing playKast systems to the latest version with Matrox X.mio cards.

Finland switched off its analog signal at the end of 2007, and to prepare for this, YLE needed a solution that would support it in the move to digital. The playKast systems YLE upgraded are being used to deliver local TV news bulletins from seven studios. Led by project manager Jyrki Vaara, the YLE team, together with Mediatrade, designed a chroma key studio featuring remote-controlled cameras, multiple still stores and keyers into a single, easy to use package at the heart of which is ON-AIR’s playKast.

Each story, news anchor segment, camera position and background graphic is programmed into the system through scheduling software, and then playKast delivers commands to a router and vision mixer. The system also records the newscasts that are then transferred to YLE’s production center in Helsinki for national news.

For more information, visit www.on-air-systems.com.