Riedel Connects Fans With 'India's Got Talent'

Riedel Communications' STX-200 solution – for bringing Skype connectivity into the professional broadcast environment – has been used on reality show, India's Got Talent (IGT), broadcast on entertainment television channel ColorsTV.

The STX-200 altered how fans, host, judges and contestants could interact and engage with the show, enriching the live broadcast with reliable, high-quality Skype contributions, whether from across the production facility or from across India. For example, by using a desktop Skype client or a mobile device, fans are able to connect with the ColorsTV reality show via Skype-to-Skype calls, group video calls, and instant video messages.

With the Skype ID 'IGTonColors', viewers can also connect with one another and send questions to the show's judges and presenters. These users also gain access to exclusive 'IGT' contests, highlights from the show, bloopers, and exclusive interviews with show participants.

The Skype usage is also used along with Riedel's STX-200 to enable the creation of exclusive content and behind-the-scenes footage. An engineering team from Riedel integrated eight STX-200 units with the Skype TX Studio system at the IGT production facilities in Mumbai, along with the Riedel's MediorNet Compact real-time media network and Artist digital matrix intercom system. Working with Skype and these Riedel systems, show producers can add new and original fan-focused content to the broadcast while continually ensuring the quality of that feed.

Together, the STX-200, MediorNet Compact, and Artist systems enable transport of program video with embedded audio from the studio to the production switcher and on to the control room, as well as flexible routing of signals to individual Skype users using Surface tablets and other smart devices to facilitate Skype calls between viewers, contestants, and judges. With this solution, the host might call contestants via Skype to let them know that they will be heading to the next round of competition, or show producers might arrange for surprise calls by family and friends to contestants in the studio.

Working with the Skype TX interface, a single operator in the IGT Skype control room can monitor and control all eight STX-200 units. The operator can preview, and then monitor the quality of multiple calls, and if video quality levels drop below a set threshold, the STX-200 automatically reverts to a still image of the speaker. The STX-200 also prevents issues such as audio dropout and provides a clean feed of Skype calls, free from notifications, signals, advertisements, and pop-ups.

"Riedel systems are designed to excel in the live production environment, and the deployment of our STX-200, as well as our Artist and MediorNet systems, for 'IGT' has been another successful example of their reliability and ease of use," explained Lars Höhmann, product manager for MediorNet and Skype at Riedel Communications. "Our communications and networking solutions make it easy and affordable to bring the interactivity of the show to new heights."

Image: Equipment Rack at India's Got Talent.

www.riedel.net

(JP)