Mediaworks’ TV3 First in New Zealand to Automate News Production with Grass Valley Ignite HD System

The comprehensive file-based system is tightly integrated with TV3’s ENPS newsroom system and successfully went on air in mid September. The system provides the TV3 staff a high degree of production control and efficiency while significantly improving the news and current affairs channel’s on-air look.

The terrestrial TV network operates a busy news department, which will make daily use of the Ignite HD system, to produce more than nine hours of original news programming per week. The Ignite system is designed for live production automation applications, where a single operator can run an entire multi-camera production. More than 100 systems have been sold worldwide to date.

TV3 staff currently uses several Grass Valley EDIUS® workstations and numerous Grass Valley K2 media servers to handle all SD and HD program playout, in addition to Avid AirSpeed servers running under Ignite control.

"As we have seen in North America and elsewhere, the Grass Valley Ignite HD system is helping more broadcasters around the world make their operations more efficient and get more value out of their existing resources," said Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President of Grass Valley. Mediaworks' TV3 is just the latest in an ever growing list of broadcasters who have incorporated the Ignite system into their facility to take advantage of the workflow and financial benefits it brings."

The Grass Valley Ignite HD system can be ordered with one to four M/Es, up to 32 control ports, and is completely scalable from 24 to 96 video inputs and 24 to 96 audio inputs, The control room system offers an integrated Grass Valley Kayak™ HD video switcher, audio mixer, that simplifies production and allows a single operator to run an entire newscast. An optional video panel is available for those broadcasters who want to employ a manually operated system. As well, customers with an existing Kalypso™ or Kayenne™ Video Production Center can also add production automation with Ignite Konnect.

About Mediaworks

MediaWorks NZ consists of TV, Radio and Interactive. MediaWorks TV encompasses the national stations TV3 and C4, while MediaWorks Radio operates out of 23 markets and consists of the nationwide brands MORE FM, RadioLIVE, Solid Gold, The Edge, The Breeze, The Rock, LiveSPORT and Kiwi FM, as well as regional stations Mai FM in Auckland, Northland and Rotorua, Times FM in Orewa, Radio Dunedin, Coromandel FM, and George FM. MediaWorks Interactive is the new media division of MediaWorks that looks after 18 websites and a mobile network.

About Grass Valley

With a rich history serving the broadcast and professional video industries, the Grass Valley name is synonymous with innovation, leadership, and performance. With a full range of products and services supporting many of the world's most high-profile television events, Grass Valley offers the most comprehensive portfolio of flexible and cost-effective digital technologies and systems available. Customers deploying Grass Valley solutions include most of the world's leading broadcast and teleproduction facilities, independent video professionals, as well as emerging content creators and distributors providing broadband, telecommunications, and transmission services. When you’re watching news, sports, or entertainment programming, whether on a TV, the Web, or a mobile phone, you’re watching Grass Valley at work.