dB Broadcast Completes Refurbishment Work For Broadcaster's Television Operation In Newcastle

dB Broadcast, the Cambridge-based systems integrator, recently completed a contract to refurbish the sound facilities at BBC Newcastle, as part of the corporation's regional television upgrade programme.
BBC Newcastle's Barrack Road facility is home to Look North, the broadcaster's regional television news service for the North East and Cumbria region.
dB Broadcast replaced the existing life-expired Calrec analogue audio console with a fully-assignable Calrec Zeta digital system. The mainframe and associated PSU's were installed in the Central Technical Area (CTA) to minimise noise and heat in the Sound Control Room (SCR).
dB replaced the ageing infrastructure between the SCR and CTA. Some existing outboard equipment such as spot effects and a digital audio playout system were retained, but dB supplied other equipment, including a new custom-designed technical furniture, new backfields and new distribution equipment, together with integration into existing talkback and router systems.
The television facility goes live to air seven days a week so dB provided a temporary sound control room whilst the refurbishment took place and the company worked closely with BBC Newcastle's engineering department to ensure a smooth transmission to the temporary facility.
The onsite installation took three weeks from start to finish and was handed over on time for the corporation's operators to undertake their training. The final changeover occurred during a weekend period with competition and full operation ready for the following Monday lunchtime.
Sales and Marketing Director Tom Swan said: "dB Broadcast achieved an onsite time of three weeks with careful planning and by prefabricating the system at the company's premises near Cambridge."
(KMcA)