Saudi Broadcasting Authority is upgrading the main news and talk show studio at Saudi One, adopting Grass Valley's 4K live production systems as the basis of the studio’s infrastructure.
Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) has a major project underway to fully upgrade the main news and talk show studio, known as Studio A, for the primary SBA channel Saudi One. This project aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the government’s wider economic, social and political plan to move the country forward into the next decades, by emphasising SBA’s commitment to innovative, high-quality media production.
Nevertheless, SBA's modernisation is also committed to preserving cultural heritage and social development, as much as promoting modern storytelling and meeting the evolving expectations of its audience, domestically and internationally.
Technically, the organisation’s initiative includes the integration of live production, TV broadcast studio and production control equipment from Grass Valley. The investment forms part of the extensive overhaul of Studio A carried out by Grass Valley’s partner in Saudi Arabia, First Gulf Company (FGC).
Inside Studio A
FGC noted that the studio was designed for flexibility and adaptability. Due to SBA’s interest in augmented and virtual reality, it incorporates elements such as high performance LED screens and lighting systems. The integration of the LED screen backdropand was an important aspect of the Studio A project's fabrication.
Grass Valley's 4K-ready systems including cameras, camera switching and video processing serve as the foundation of the studio’s infrastructure. SBA’s new LDX 98 cameras are 4K UHD/HD native single-speed units with 3X and 6X HD high frame rate capture, and HDR/WGC support as standard. HD 1080p/i is standard, and 4K UHD and the higher frame rates are available as perpetual or temporary upgrades.
SBA also acquired a K-Frame Kayenne 4 M/E switcher that they can configure with multi-format support including 1080p and 4K. It can adapt to supply up to 192 inputs, 96 outputs and nine M/Es with six keyers in every full M/E, and its control panel surface is made up of hot-swappable modules. The modular system bar on the panel includes up to six device control windows, switched preview, aux bus delegation and macro controls. Using the panel memory, the operators can also change the panel behaviour according to the demands of each show-segment.
SBA’s processors are Densité Frames running on hot-swappable modules. These are capable of processing 3G, HD, SD and analogue video simultaneously, plus AES and analogue audio. The frames include monitoring and backup with dual hot-swappable power supplies and fans. The frames are air-cooled and all modules, redundant power and fans are monitored to give status via GPI or the Ethernet port. The front panel has multi-colour LEDs for status reporting.
Key Partnership
“This partnership with Grass Valley is crucial for advancing our objectives of excellence and innovation. Grass Valley’s proactive support significantly impacts our progress, highlighting the importance of collaboration in achieving transformative milestones,” said Eng. Hatim Abounassf, Executive Vice President for Engineering Affairs at SBA.
“We are proud and committed to equip media organisations across the Middle East with modern equipment. Strengthening our partnership with the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and supporting their initiatives is key as they redefine the region's media landscape,” said Tim Banks, Chief Revenue Officer at Grass Valley. www.grassvalley.com
