Geevs-based server success in Norway's Loop-TV

In January 2003, four regional TV stations in Norway invested in new technology to start their own 24-hour Loop-TV broadcasts.
Built around the versatile broadcast server “Geevs” from British manufacturer Gee Broadcast Systems, these Loop-TV system solutions were designed by the Norwegian integrator Mediateket in co-operation with their local dealer, Video 4.
The Loop TV concept was originally developed in Belgium, but has been adapted to the requirements of the Norwegian TV stations. They produce 30 – 60 minutes of TV every day, and repeat this material with just small adjustments and updates throughout the day. This means that the viewers can see their program at any time of the day, whenever it suits them.
In February, Roy Hovdan, Managing Director of the TV Drammen Station, announced to the Dagens Næringsliv newspaper that “by January we already had a 36% growth in audience”. Another station, ABTV, reported three times more viewers than they had just before Christmas. Not to be outdone, TV Vestfold had an increase of viewers of 150%.
Migrating from traditionally tape-based production to NLE and network-based solutions has become easier and affordable. Central to Mediateket’s Loop-TV system design is the Geevs playout server, which runs automatically 24/7 without requiring any operational intervention.
All these regional stations have different NLE platforms, so thanks to a Mediaconverter developed by Mediateket, they can do file transfers transparently from DV material to the Geevs server for automated playout.
(SP)