N24 New Broadcast Centre Berlin

In mid-April 2008, the N24 news channel awarded Studio Hamburg Media Consult International (MCI) GmbH the contract to provide broadcast equipment for their new premises on Potsdamer Square in Berlin. TV and online content shall be produced simultaneously and combined.

Two ultramodern control rooms, internally referred to as CAE (computer-aided editing), have been built. Special mention should be made to the fact that the broadcast and IT components are fully integrated. This means that programmes can be created almost automatically via presets and templates for all system settings.

Moreover, since all the components have been integrated to the greatest extent possible, maintenance work could be carried out with optimum ease. For example, the multi-viewing systems are a modular component of the central Harris/Leitch routing switcher. The VSM (Virtual Studio Manager) controller enables all broadcast systems to be automated and controlled centrally. All server systems can be operated from the central administrator position via a KVM matrix switch (Octet). A central monitoring and control system (ND Satcom) was also planned for all satellite downlinks and switching capabilities. MOSArt was used as an automation system for playouts.

In addition to supplying the studio equipment, MCI was involved in integrating the Sony Sonaps Content system together with the other IT systems and provided the interfaces required. MCI’s workshops were supplying equipment for the large “real set” of N24’s Main Set.

MCI’s planning engineers were working very closely with N24’s Technical Planning Department to ensure that the tight deadline is met. Work began on assembling the components as early as June, after just two months of planning.