Ross Video Presents openTruck for IBC2014

Also on show on the Hitachi stand 11.D39 is the new OBLite, designed and built by Gearhouse Broadcast’s Systems Integration division. The new OBLite is a high-spec, compact, energy efficient, affordable and flexible fully HD OB trailer designed using Ross Video’s openTruck blueprint, ensuring increased efficiency, video quality, and the ability to quickly reconfigure the trailer for different events.

The openTruck initiative is designed to maximize physical space, minimize risk and deliver a healthy return on investment.

The openTruck blue-print uses powerful, compact, best-in-class broadcast systems from Ross Video that are designed to seamlessly integrate with other leading technology vendors. This ensures that systems built using the openTruck design will consistently deliver faultlessly efficient production workflows, uncompromising video quality, and rapid reconfiguration from event to event.

“Since its launch at NAB 2014, openTruckTM has generated considerable interest across the US and in bringing it to IBC, we’re confident that the initiative will also be well-received in Europe,” says Nigel Spratling, Marketing Product Manager at Ross Video.  “Unlike the US, production techniques do vary across Europe and indeed from broadcaster to broadcaster, so it was essential for us to work with systems integrators who understand this market. We feel that both Broadcast Networks and Gearhouse Broadcast, with their track-records of designing and building quality live production OB units, are the ideal partners to help us demonstrate the flexibility, simplicity and power of openTruckTM within the European context.“

The vehicle is based on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis. It features a powerful Ross production workflow including sophisticated graphics using Ross XPression 3D motion graphics, with a feature-rich Carbonite Vision Mixer and openGearTM infrastructure integrated within a Ross DashBoard control and monitoring framework.  DashBoard supports complete native control of multiple vendors, enabling users to quickly build unique, tailored custom control software panels to make complex operations simple.  The production system is completed with all other essential equipment from openTruck partners.

openTruck’s bigger crew capacity—twice the number of positions normally found in a vehicle of this size—enables broadcasters to condense the high end production power of a large truck within a much smaller vehicle, creating huge opportunities in regional sports, lower tier sporting events and the live-event market.

The tight integration of cost-efficient and high-performing equipment means a lower overall production cost. By delivering reliable and ready access production models, as well as maintaining high-quality production values, sophisticated graphics packages and consistency of final product, openTruck ensures a healthy return on investment. 

All openTruck owners and operators will be listed on the openTruck website, which will be a helpful resource for people looking for outside broadcast services. 

The vehicle will be available to tour on the Ross Video stand 9.C10.  The Gearhouse OBLite trailer version will also be available to tour on Hitachi stand 11.D39. For sales enquiries and to arrange a tour, please contact Andy Newham – anewham@rossvideo.com

About Broadcast Networks
Broadcast Networks is a UK-based Systems Integrator with over 25 years’ of experience in delivering solutions to clients the world over, including national broadcasters and global media organisations. From live production systems and OB vehicles, studios and broadcast infrastructure, satellite uplinks to multiplatform content distribution, the company offers totally integrated and innovative solutions. With a highly experienced and knowledgeable team of solution architects and project managers, a flexible approach and a real commitment to customer service, Broadcast Networks works closely with organisations to meet their business and operational objectives and to deliver game-changing ideas.

About Gearhouse Broadcast
Gearhouse Broadcast is a market leader in the field of broadcast services. Specialising in broadcast equipment rental, equipment sales, project solutions and systems integration, and operating globally from offices in the UK, US, Australia, India and Qatar, the company has a proven track record in delivering major world sports and entertainment events. Gearhouse Broadcast’s Project Solutions Division can meet the most complex, mission critical project requirements locally or on location anywhere in the world. Its people draw on a broad spectrum of experience, and offer the latest technology equipment for hire or as part of an overall project solution.

About Ross Video
Passionate about live production, Ross Video designs, manufactures and delivers dependable technology and services that power exceptional live video productions seen by billions of viewers around the world every day. Ross Video’s goal is to make it easy for customers to create compelling news, weather and sports broadcasts, engaging material for sports stadium screens, legislative assemblies, entertainment shows and rock concerts, and inspiring content for houses of worship. 

Relentlessly innovating, Ross Video delivers the world’s widest range of products and services for augmented reality and virtual sets, mobile live-event solutions, real-time motion graphics, robotic camera systems, social-media management, production switchers, routers, infrastructure products, video servers, newsroom systems, terminal equipment and more.

Ross products and services are designed to offer the best system integration and unmatched customer choice by both working together seamlessly and integrating tightly with third-party solutions. Ross Video has offices around the world, and provides outstanding, free-for-life telephone support staffed by technical experts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—even for products bought on eBay. Ross employees are authorized to rent helicopters when necessary.