Televisió de Catalunya relies on KAIROS for its 24-hour news channel 3/24

Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals - 3Cat modernizes its news channel 3/24 with the integration of IP technology and the Kairos system from Panasonic Connect.

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The engineering team at Televisió de Catalunya has recently completed an extensive modernization of its 24-hour news channel, 3/24, placing Panasonic's Kairos system at the core of the installation. This upgrade, managed by Unitecnic from Grup Mediapro after a competitive public tender, marks a pivotal shift to IP technology, enhancing operability and functionality while also meeting new high-definition (HD) regulatory requirements.

This project emerged to address two primary needs: replacing aging equipment, in use 24/7 for over 17 years, and upgrading to HD in compliance with national standards. The transition involved implementing SMPTE ST 2110 standards, a significant step forward for the channel, which has traditionally relied on SDI technology.

"The biggest challenge was the evolution of the product; we were looking for a technological collaboration that would enable joint development. Panasonic has responded quickly to the needs of Televisió de Catalunya, improving the productivity of the tools."

Operation of the 3/24 Channel and Transition to IP

The 3/24 channel operates in 30-minute segments, alternating between live and recorded broadcasts, managed by a small team. One of the key challenges involved simplifying the Kairos system’s interface for directors who may not have a technical background. A user-friendly control panel was developed, allowing directors to concentrate on production without navigating complex technicalities.

The versatility of Kairos shines in more intricate scenarios, such as election coverage, where multiple connections, virtual sets, graphics, and other elements are necessary. The system allows for scalability by adding an auxiliary panel for managing multiple windows and feeds, supporting the 3/24 channel as TV3's primary news source without disrupting other broadcasts.

"We needed to operate a 24-hour uninterrupted news production system, so we decided to install two Kairos servers to implement a complete backup system in SDI, where the transition between the IP system (on the main server) and the SDI system (the backup) would be seamless. This setup not only ensures redundancy in the transport of video and audio signals over IP according to the SMPTE 2022-7 standard, but also at the hardware level, guaranteeing continuity of the broadcast in the event of any unforeseen issues."

Design, Integration, and Training with Unitecnic

The implementation of the Kairos system has transformed the operation of the 3/24 channel, enabling more intuitive and efficient production. The integration, carried out by Unitecnic, which has extensive experience in projects with the 2110 standard, was not without challenges in terms of interoperability between different equipment and manufacturers, as the equipment had not been previously tested in 3/24’s specific production workflows.

"Kairos, being a native 2110 mixer, will bring great flexibility to the channel and allow CCMA to be future-ready, enabling work in 1080i, 1080p, and UHD without having to change anything beyond the configuration. It will also facilitate work with distributed production systems, making remote production easier, occupying less rack space, consuming less power, and thus reducing the ecological footprint."

Unitecnic successfully addressed various challenges, such as modifying and studying the pre-existing PTP distribution network to adapt the parameters of 2110-30 technology. Additionally, they proposed integrating the functionalities of all devices using protocols such as NMOS, Ember+, TSL, RestAPI, and SNMP, among others. The team also designed new control rooms with versatile workstations, optimizing the production workflow with a Broadcast Controller.

Xavier also highlights "the value of the teamwork created between the engineering teams at CCMA, Panasonic, and Unitecnic, to work together and execute the project in the most efficient way, solving all challenges and ensuring everything worked as intended, in a fantastic working environment."

Operation with Kairos

Enric Bernal, director at 3/24, emphasized Kairos' adaptability to the channel’s evolving demands, highlighting its unlimited source and window capabilities.

"The main Kairos panel provides us with versatility and operability for complex situations, but for simpler operations, we have opted to use a Skaarhoj panel. This smaller panel replicates the program/preview bus design of the main panel, with the same buttons, colors, and functions, significantly simplifying operation, improving production efficiency, and reducing the risk of errors during operation."

Being a software-based mixer, Kairos' Touch Control Panel application is another standout feature that adds versatility to the system, ensuring efficiency and security when remote operation is needed. Thanks to its integrated multiviewer, it allows for easy and continuous visualization of all sources, ensuring smooth selection and operation.

Enric also highlighted the robustness of Kairos, mentioning that "The real test for Kairos has been working with us, as 3/24 is a channel that broadcasts 24 hours a day, and so far, our experience has been fantastic due to its robustness and consistency, giving us the peace of mind and confidence needed to evolve our project."

Technological Advances for the Future

The collaboration with TV3 has resulted in a strong and mutually trusting relationship. Quick responses, product innovation, and a willingness to influence technological development have been key elements of this partnership. Marc Sanclimens explains, “The goal is for both Kairos servers to operate fully in IP, eliminating the need for SDI backup and providing a seamless experience for directors, regardless of the equipment they use.”

With this modernization, TV3 not only secures continuous, high-quality broadcasting for the 3/24 channel but also lays the groundwork for future technological advances, reaffirming its commitment to excellence and innovation in news production.

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