Midi TV, which owns “etv,” South Africa’s only privately owned free-to-air terrestrial television channel, has turned to Harris Corporation for a new automation system at its Johannesburg studio complex. The new automation system will control two new transmission areas for new channels to be introduced this year.
“We use Harris automation in our Cape Town transmission centre, and etv’s existing channel has run on Harris automation since September 1999,” said Dave Stewart, technical director at Midi TV. “The features, stability and ease of use, together with technical support that we have received in the past, were the main factors in choosing Harris for the expansion of our Johannesburg operation.”
ETV has purchased the Harris ADC-100 automation system together with Harris’ Air Client 2.1(TM) toolsets, an intuitive device control package developed to enhance the mission-critical, play-to-air capabilities of both systems. ETV also will utilize the new Harris Production Client(TM) for its news department to control the recording of incoming satellite feeds into the news video server, as well as the play-out of edited clips during news bulletins.
Harris’ Air Client 2.1 provides broadcast operators with a dedicated interface to the device server that allows flexibility in on-air control to receive real-time updates and streamline basic functions. The ability to control devices in real-time is key to broadcasters who want to maximize flexibility. It also enables operators to import, edit and create transmission lists seconds before events air or as they air, as well as instantly refresh a pull list. Production Client controls play-out of live news programmes, and is designed to control up to three independent video switcher channels.
UK systems integration specialists Megahertz Broadcast Systems completed the design and integration of the new control centres at the Johannesburg studio complex. Identical in design, the two control centres use the Harris system to drive an Omneon video server for ingest and play-out of all programme titles, commercials and promotions.