RNZ is moving its editorial systems toward more story-centric news production, acquiring a new system based on Dalet software and services, as it expands into a multimedia outlet.
Radio New Zealand (RNZ) is New Zealand’s public-service radio broadcaster. Responsible for the independent news and current-affairs network RNZ National and classical music and jazz network, RNZ Concert, the organisation plays a central role in New Zealand public broadcasting.
Over the past several years, RNZ has aimed to transform from a radio broadcaster to a multimedia outlet, increasing its production of digital content in audio, video and written forms. It delivers its news and current affairs programming and a range of diverse programs and podcasts, on-air and online.
Recently, marking its 100th year of operation, RNZ has taken steps to move its editorial systems into more story-centric news production, acquiring a new system based on Dalet software and services. In particular, the RNZ teams will be sharing resources and collaborating on stories through the Dalet Pyramid platform of integrated news applications that includes tools for planning, story editing and approvals, wire feeds, contact management, publishing, rundown management and archiving.
Furthermore, RNZ staff will be able to use Dalet Pyramid’s audio editing and management functionality to capture, edit and publish audio anytime and from anywhere. The intention is to give RNZ’s staff the time and opportunity to deliver relevant, quality content to audiences more effectively.
Integrated AI Tools
Users can access practical, integrated AI through Dalet Media Cortex, which carries out speech recognition, language translation, automated metadata tagging and other tasks. Incorporating AI to use with Pyramid can automate caption translations, graphics insertion, voiceovers and similar workflows.
Furthermore, flexible, configurable ingest tools mean users can upload and ingest content efficiently from anywhere, share it with the entire newsroom and contribute finished assets for review and playout. All live feed recordings, from any sources – on-premises and/or in the cloud – may be centralised, with support for growing files. Content can be ingested against a story whether in the newsroom or in the field, on low bandwidth services.
At the playout end, news stories may be broadcast, directly from the studio to one or different channels simultaneously. Dalet Pyramid may also be integrated with a playout system and shared directly, manually or automatically to digital outlets including social media, OTT and content management systems.
Hybrid Cloud and On-Premises Infrastructure
“One of the systems we had been relying on dates back to 1999,” remarked RNZ Chief News Officer Mark Stevens. “Our dedicated RNZ team have worked wonders with these outdated tools, finding creative work-arounds wherever possible. However, we owe it to today’s storytellers to supply them with modern, efficient tools allowing them to concentrate on stories.”
Dalet was chosen to deliver the new system after a six-month tender process with almost 200 specific requirements, including RNZ’s role as a lifeline utility – an organisation supplying essential infrastructure services to the community – needing a hybrid cloud and on-premises set-up. This ensures that RNZ can remain on air to deliver news broadcasts during any civil defense emergencies.
“We are pleased to collaborate with RNZ to modernise their editorial workflows, increasing efficiency and flexibility through automated, AI-centred media workflows,” said Ren Middleton, VP of Sales APAC at Dalet. RNZ will transition to the new system in 2025, and Dalet is now working with the broadcaster on a comprehensive staff training program. www.dalet.com
