ITN presenters go solo with BDL-Autoscript

ITN news presenters on the ITV News Channel and ITV News summaries now operate their own teleprompters with a BDL-Autoscript ControlNet for hand and foot controls.
ITN moved to a single wire BDL control system, as it needed a method of allowing any one of three studios to work with any one of three galleries. ControlNet was installed between the main three studios and the adjacent galleries with a control matrix between them.
Each Gallery has its own prompter and hand controller, allowing local script downloads and emergency control, while each studio floor has single wire controllers for prompter speed and control.
Remote switching of the matrix allows the foot and hand controllers to attach to an individual gallery prompter, reverse prompt video is then fed back through the matrix to the relevant floor.
By using the routing matrix and the ControlNet Solution, ITN has made substantial savings on prompt operator and equipment costs.
Paul Flook, Head of Engineering Broadcast, ITN, said: "The hand and foot control gives the presenter complete control of the teleprompter. The ability to switch the control signal in sympathy with the prompt video was a significant advantage. We are pleased at the way the system interacts with each studio and may continue to convert our other studios, although there are no immediate plans to do so."
Chris Lambert, Managing Director, BDL-Autoscript, said: "We have worked with ITN for many years and are pleased that this joint project has been successful. The fact that we can use standard coax cable and connections to distribute the speed control data meant we could use existing studio cabling and therefore keep installation effort to a minimum. The system has proved to be ideal for this type of set up, and, I think has streamlined the prompter operation with added flexibility."
The opto hand and foot digital controls are compatible with BDL's PCI Prompt card and Xbox USB, BDL's external box which provides a fully featured solution for laptop location prompting, including remote dial in.
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