TSL Products' FlashBoard Utilised In Production Hub

TSL Products has sold FlashBoard, its new technical information and display system, to China Sports Media (CSM) for its Beijing headquarters.

Sports broadcaster CSM holds the rights to China's top-flight football as well as other Chinese and Asian events. With a huge amount of coverage to manage, keeping track of what was happening in each studio became a challenge for staff and visitors as they moved around the production hub.

The solution was found in FlashBoard, which was formally launched at IBC2017 in September. The system creates multiple bespoke displays of workflow and production information and allows CSM to design tailored displays that are located outside each studio, in the control rooms and in other areas. Each display can include a free mix of live video, production information including clocks and timers, workflow details and operator instructions, tallies and cue lights, and branding.

The displays are driven in real time from a central hub. Design of each display is by a drag and drop interface using TSL's virtual panel design software. The ease of design means that each location can have its own layout of relevant information, tailored to the size of the screen on which it will be seen.

"We found that it was hard to keep track of what each studio was doing without referring to paper," explained Zhu Jianping, Technical Director at China Sports Media. "We spoke to a lot of broadcasters who were very supportive of TSL Products and their control and display systems. We were introduced to FlashBoard which was exactly what we were looking for. As well as providing all the information we need to be more effective, it is also an opportunity for us to reinforce our brand identity."

"This is exactly the sort of application that we designed FlashBoard to do," added Dan Bailey, Broadcast Control Product Manager at TSL Products. "China Sports Media needed to keep both staff and visitors informed: staff to be more efficient; visitors to understand the complexity of work at the facility, and the nature of live sports production. Because every single display can be tailored individually, FlashBoard allows the broadcast centre's operators to get the right information to the right place."

In the first phase of installation, CSM will install two control base stations to provide redundant control of 28 display systems, some of which will be outside the building. The installation is to take place this month.

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(JP/MH)