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Trilogy Communications Selected for Sun News Network Relaunch

The Trilogy systems were supplied by BSE and included Commander Digital Matrix Intercom and Mercury IP Intercom

Trilogy Communications, a global provider of intercom systems and Master Reference Generators to the broadcast industry, today announced that Canada’s Sun News Network, has selected its Commander Digital Matrix intercom system and Mercury IP Intercom to deliver seamless communications around the networks studios across Canada as part of the television station’s nationwide relaunch.

The Trilogy systems were supplied by BSE (Broadcast Equipment and Systems Inc), and included Commander Digital Matrix Intercom and Mercury IP Intercom with standard Mercury Interface Units (MIU) as part of the networks communications upgrade. The installation of the Commander Intercom was an upgrade on Sun News Networks’ previously deployed Orator Intercom, to meet their growing demands for a large scale matrix to be installed in their upgraded Toronto facilities as a base for their expanding network. The familiarity of the Intercom and its Pathfinder Configuration software, combined with the flexibility and scalability the Commander offers, meant that Sun News Network was able to work alongside BSE and Trilogy to custom configure the complex set up on-site within a matter of days.

The intuitive Pathfinder software is an easy to use interface that allows any system parameter to be readily edited or modified,  meeting Sun News Networks desire for a system that is easily configurable by the engineering team when needing to adjust settings according to demand.  Additionally use of the Rapide software allows for non-intrusive real time configuration changes to the system.

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As a part of the Sun News Network relaunch they wanted the ability to have communication over IP to their other facilities across Canada in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. IFBs for news presenters in the regions can be changed at short notice by a software ‘patch’ panel in Toronto. Therefore, if Calgary is working with Toronto studio one at lunchtime, they will hear studio 1 programme and studio 1 Director. If they decide to do the next part of the broadcast out of studio 2, then the Toronto engineer will "patch" via the software accordingly.

The MIU’s IP audio channels are dynamically allocated to support two-way communications over an IP network, with multiple channels being used to conduct communications with any combination of other Mercury devices. Multiple MIUs can then be linked via IP to form larger integrated systems with the Commander Intercom. They have also benefited from Trilogy’s unique Patch Panel capabilities which enables them to reconfigure the software at either of the two Toronto studios to patch in audio live from the remote studios and work with them instantaneously to produce content in real-time at any time of the day to meet programme demands. IP audio channels are dynamically allocated to support two-way communications over an IP network.

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Joe Scrivo President & Managing Director at BSE, commented, comments: “This installation was a large scale project that needed to be delivered in a tight timescale and to very specific and changing requirements. Having previously deployed Trilogy equipment, Sun News Network wanted to utilise their previous investments but add additional capabilities and increase the scalability of their communications network. Working together, we installed the new Intercoms and reconfigured their existing audio equipment demonstrating the way in which Trilogy systems can maximise performance whilst minimising expenditure.”

Malcolm Reed, Training Manager at Trilogy Communications, added: “This was an exciting project to be a part of and required the Trilogy systems to be incredible flexible and easily reconfigured at a moment’s notice as the networks requirements changed. Much of the custom installation was done on site and working to a fast approaching deadline for completion. By adding audio over IP capabilities to the network, Sun News Network now has greater flexibility in their programming and is no longer constrained by not being able to instantaneously link and communicate with their studios across Canada.”

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BSE

BSE supplies hardware and software solutions to the Canadian Broadcast Industry. Currently BSE operates four offices across Canada as well as having a presence internationally. Our head office is in Toronto with regional offices in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Integration projects include various Canadian installations as well as numerous Summer and Winter Olympics, World Track and Field Events, Commonwealth Games, WWE for the armed forces in Iraq, World Poker, Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games and most recently the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi for the BBC to name just a few.