As a broadcaster you've spent time and not inconsiderable money on creating and gathering the best content for your channel. Or as a playout centre or managed service facility, you've worked hard to win the confidence and trust of broadcasters who want you to manage the business of getting their hard-won content to air. This is perhaps the most crucial part of the broadcast business, the bit that really mustn't go wrong – getting the right content to air, on time and without technical hitches.
There are many systems to choose from, depending on your specific requirements - single or multi-channel playout, SD or HD, hardware or software-based, capable of producing rich graphics or simpler content. Whatever it is, it must be reliable with built-in back-up elements and redundancy for every eventuality – in short, you want the best. Once you've decided on your system, Fineline can create a payment plan that suits your budget now, and will be there when you expand as your business grows. Call and talk to us today about your transmission needs.
Examples
-
Investment is key at WRN Broadcast
Full service broadcasting solutions company WRN Broadcast has been a leader in its field for nearly twenty years. The company has recently made major investments in a new media centre as well as a recently opened Broadcast Data Centre and a media village that offers facilities and accommodation to media companies buying its services.
David Treadway, Managing Director, WRN Broadcast, comments, "We have seen considerable growth in our managed services business in the past eighteen months and have won a number of major client contracts. As a result, we've invested in a state of the art media centre in order to deliver the best available technology for our clients."
Some of the key components in the media centre are the Harmonic encoders and Evertz video routing and distribution units, all financed by Fineline. As an integral part of the WRN Broadcast facility this equipment has been used on two of the company's most recent projects: Top Up TV, and Zuku, the new multi-channel offering based in East Africa. Handling playout for both stations, including Zuku's HD channels,Treadway comments, "These are significant projects that put WRN Broadcast at the very forefront of the HD playout sector."
As well as investing in the latest technology WRN Broadcast cites its investment in people as a reason for its longevity and success; it has recently doubled the size of its ingest and MCR staff. "It's all about partnership between our staff and our clients. We work hard to understand their business and develop the most cost effective and technologically sound solutions," adds Treadway.
This partnership is one of the reasons that Treadway chose to work with Fineline, which came to his attention after reading a copy of Preview. "They responded quickly to our enquiry and worked with us to structure the best available options to suit our needs. We have developed an excellent working relationship with Fineline and look forward to that continuing."
Looking to the future, Treadway says, "We have set ourselves a challenging growth target for the year and are on course to exceed it, so it's all very exciting."
-
Input Video highlights the Champions League
Keeping your eye on the ball has a special meaning for David Wood and the Input-Video team. Since 1992 they have been responsible for the support programming of the UEFA Champions League, a competition watched by millions.
Within minutes of the final whistle on match nights Input Video produces 10 minute highlight broadcast packages of all eight games which are then simultaneously transmitted worldwide from their production centre.
Match nights demand skill, experience and technology. Only by using the very latest technology is it possible to capture those key moments – speed and quality being paramount.
Latest technology means investment and for Input Video that means Fineline. David comments: "Our skill is production and broadcasting and not trying to understand every nuance of the finance market. Fineline take that problem away, de-mystifying the tangle of tax and finance options. In the end we get a deal customised to our business that fits with our forward plans."
The company has been trading for over 20 years and offers production, post-production and transmission services. Fineline recently financed £180K of new transmission/studio equipment including Multi Format Monitors, LCD Scopes, Leitch Digital Routers and an Aston character generator.
Input-Video's reach expands beyond the Champions League as producers of the Chelsea TV channel for Chelsea Digital Media. The club subscription channel is broadcast in the UK on the Sky Digital platform and is also distributed internationally. Current projects at Input include operation of the big screens at Arsenal and Charlton plus production of the match day programming for Manchester City. Regular clients in the company's busy postproduction operations include Sky Sports, BBC Sport and ITV Sport. Sunset and Vine are currently post-producing a major Poker series at the facility.
David adds – "Our market is highly competitive and to stay ahead of the game we need the latest available kit. Our most recent investment has been the re-development of our Live Virtual Studio, currently home to ITV 1's "London Soccer Night". Fineline understand our business and the pressures of our market. This understanding short circuits the process and ensures we get the right finance package for us."
