Two New OB Trucks for France 3 with RTS Systems

High-tech interior: France 3’s new OB truck Challenger Toulouse

France 3 is the second largest public television channel in France. Part of the France Télévisions group, it is a network made up of thirteen regional stations dotted throughout France. It offers both national and regional programming, including news, entertainment and cultural programs. In the summer of 2013, in the interests of remaining competitive, the channel invested in two new, ultra-modern, outside broadcast vehicles: Challenger Strasbourg and Challenger Toulouse – two identical trucks with state-of-the-art equipment on board.

The core of the intercom system in each case is an ADAM-M Mid-Size Modular Matrix Intercom from RTS offering 96 analogue, 32 MADI and 16 IP ports. Supporting up to 256 ports in all, ADAM-M is one of the flagships of the RTS matrix range. Equipped with redundant power supplies and controllers, the additional MCII-e controller permits the simultaneous operation of up to 32 parallel AZEdit clients via Ethernet and/or RS-485.

High-tech on tour: France 3’s OB truck Challenger Strasbourg was presented at IBC - On board: KP-32-CLD color-display keypanels

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A total of 30 color-display keypanels of type KP-32-CLD and KP-12-CLD are used in each of the vehicles. Two RTS TIF-2000A single-line digital telephone interfaces, an SIP-ISDN telephone interface and two VKP virtual keypanels round off the installation in each of the rolling control rooms. These systems, which are perfectly attuned to one another, offer the broadcasting teams outstanding production comfort and a wide variety of options: external telephone conversations, for example, can be integrated into the communications system.

The identical OB trucks Toulouse and Strasbourg feature intercom equipment from RTS

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After the first sorties of the two trucks, which measure 4.30 x 15.80 meters fully extended, the engineers on board are full of praise for the installation. “I am extremely satisfied with the system,” says Gregory Chevallier, Audio Engineer on board Challenger Strasbourg. “It is reliable, robust and at the same time intuitive to operate.” Dominique Guyot, Challenger Toulouse’s Audio Engineer, is particularly taken with the IP connection. “When we arrive at the outside broadcast location, all we need to do is plug it in and, straight away, the connection is established. It works instantaneously. That saves us time – and spares everyone’s nerves into the bargain!”