Saudi Broadcasting installed Grass Valley equipment for a major technology upgrade at its Makkah facility, while Arabsat adopted Playout X on AMPP to launch new cloud-based services.
K-Frame switchers
The site of a major technology upgrade for the broadcast facilities of Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) is the holy city of Makkah, also known as Mecca. Delivered in partnership with First Gulf Company (FGC), the new installation takes a significant step in modernising Saudi Broadcasting Authority’s live production capabilities. In particular, it supports round-the-clock online broadcasts from the Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram).
Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) is the Saudi state broadcasting body responsible for delivering news, cultural and entertainment programming to domestic and international audiences. Its facility at Makkah is a primary hub for live religious event coverage. This new installation is part of a long-term SBA project to upgrade its broadcasting capabilities with more robust, scalable, up-to-date systems to deliver a high standard of content via radio, television and digital platforms.
Scalable Infrastructure
After a period of detailed planning and coordination, Grass Valley systems and equipment were chosen for the project and were delivered in December 2024. Installation is currently underway by FGC. “SBA chose Grass Valley for its proven broadcast technology, reliability and ease of integration,” said Joe Chbat, Executive Vice President at FGC.
“The new infrastructure was designed for professional video switching, scalable infrastructure and efficient signal processing, which are critical for SBA’s current and future broadcasting needs. Grass Valley’s strong track record in the region, alongside its long-term support and competitive pricing, made it the best possible technical partner for a project at this level.”
SBA’s new system is based on 12G connectivity and supports significantly higher capacity and better performance for SBA’s increasing high-definition production activity. Focussed on maintaining high quality, it will also give their team the opportunity to continuously upgrade the infrastructure so that they can take advantage of new developments as they emerge.
SBA at Makkah
12G-SDI defines a transmission rate of 12 Gbit/s, and achieves eight times the bandwidth of normal HD-SDI. It can support SDI signals up to 4Kp60 resolution and higher bit rate, so it is also compatible with previous standards like HD/3G-SDI.
Switching and Processing
The installation includes the Kayenne K-Frame XP Standard 3ME System as SBA’s main switcher, with K-Frame XP ELITE Performance Suite software and a 12G License, and a Kayenne K-Frame XP Compact serves as a secondary switcher. A Masterpiece 12G-SDI Master Control Switcher delivers channel branding and master control across all of the broadcast standards, and a Sirius 850 Dual Frame (2x 34RU) handles signal routing.
The K-Frame video processing engine takes a software-based, modular approach to switcher frames making upgrades easier and operation more efficient. Workflows, configuration and set-up also become simpler. Functionality is added through straightforward software licenses. SBA’s XP Standard switcher is specialised to meet the challenges of 4K UHD/HD video processing and, by supporting both IP and SDI workflows, it simplifies the issue of dynamic UHD content for teams who need to create visuals accurately and efficiently.
Several Kaleido Modular Frames, configured through Densité, are installed for multiviewing. Designed for TV studios and OB trucks, these multiviewers are 4K- and IP-ready, and optimized to save space, power and weight, adding flexibility and scalability. The split input and output modular system also allows scalability on both sides, a further way to future-proof investments.
The Densité glue systems include audio and audio processing in 12G. Densité is Grass Valley’s modular processing system consisting of a range of frames and modules that ease multiformat operation across SDI and IP applications (holding these operations together like glue) focussed especially on scalability and efficiency. With an ability to manage and deliver content across multiple platforms and formats, SBA will be able to maintain performance in most production environments.
Kaleido modular frames on Densité
Another part of this installation is the XIP-3911 Application Platform, a video processor built for dynamic broadcast environments such as live production, news and various media workflows. Supporting HD, 4K UHD and HDR formats, it can also smoothly integrate SDI and IP applications, which will help SBA evolve to handle new broadcast demands in coming years.
Operational Continuity
The ability to modernise without overhauling their existing infrastructure will be critical to maintaining operational continuity. The XIP-3911 platform’s support for HDR and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) will also ensure that content meets high visual standards, enhancing the viewer experience.
“This project has been years in the making, and we’re proud to be a collaborative, enabling partner of SBA’s growth journey,” said Hany Bartella, VP of Sales for MEA at Grass Valley. “The deployment of the Kayenne switcher, Sirius 850 Router, and Densité processing at the Makkah facility enhances live production capabilities for a location of immense global significance. Grass Valley’s new solutions will modernize SBA’s infrastructure and enable it to fully realize its commitment to delivering world-class religious and cultural programming both now and into the future.”
Playout X – Arabsat and Grass Valley at CABSAT
This deployment is an example of Grass Valley’s growing presence in the Middle East region, and executives from the company are on hand at CABSAT 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre, 13-15 May, to demonstrate the products and solutions of the GV Media Universe.
Coinciding with the show, Arabsat, a global satellite operator and satellite services provider across the Arab world, has partnered with Grass Valley to launch a new line-up of cloud-based broadcast services.
Powered by the Grass Valley AMPP OS, the new Playout X platform is helping to simplify broadcast control and management when handling complex playout workflows. It combines Grass Valley’s existing playout systems with a more modern, scalable architecture with scope to work across OTT, FAST and traditional broadcast channels, aiming to meet the evolving needs of broadcasters across the Middle East and Africa.
Playout X channel control UI
This strategic collaboration, formalised at CABSAT 2024, marks a significant milestone in Arabsat’s digital transformation. Traditionally relying on on-premises infrastructure, Arabsat has stepped up its video distribution with a new cloud-based architecture aimed to give clients more flexibility, faster deployment and operational efficiency.
The Playout X suite comes in three different service levels. The TV Pinnacle Package is the premium playout option with multiple live sources with switching capabilities, custom graphics and subtitling, Dolby support and full operator assistance. The Advanced Package supplies essential live capabilities, native graphics and operator support, and the TV Starter Package entry-level tier is focused on core broadcast needs.
Staying Ahead
“At Arabsat, we are committed to staying ahead of industry demands and delivering modern media services to our customers,” said Eng. Alhamedi Alanezi, CEO & President of Arabsat. “By utilising Grass Valley AMPP, we’re launching a new series of agile, multitenant, cloud-based services that support our video customers’ growth and innovation across the region.”
The cloud-native AMPP platform was selected for its scalability, secure multitenancy features, and direct integration into Arabsat’s private cloud. The two companies worked together on the technical validation and have customised AMPP to meet Arabsat’s operational and security requirements, and result in high-quality broadcast delivery.
Arabsat will begin commercial rollout following CABSAT 2025. Jon Wilson, CEO at Grass Valley, noted that, like the SBA project, this collaboration with Arabsat is a major step forward for Grass Valley in the MENA region. www.grassvalley.com
