C4 standardises on Pro-Bel playout and automation

Pro-Bel have announced that broadcaster Channel 4 have ordered a replacement playout system for their London-based technical facility.
The broadcaster have ordered two powerful MAPP media management systems partnered with the same number of Compass playout automation units. They have also purchased two TX 420 mixers for the front end of the system.
These systems, which can handle basic single channel playout to complex multichannel services, have been acquired by Channel 4 as a replacement for existing playout technology. This is part of an ongoing upgrade of Channel 4's main facilities.
The Pro-Bel technology will be integrated with existing servers and cart machines and will also control caption generation, subtitling and opt-out switching facilities. The reason for acquiring two systems is that the second will be used for backup, training and for software testing. Both systems will be integrated with existing Pro-Bel automation, which is used for the six streams of commercials that are fed into the Channel 4 feed for regionalisation purposes, and is also used for FilmFour and E4 playout. The order also includes an application for dual channel caching to server for the FilmFour channels.
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