Gravity Media Acquires Custom Consoles Module-R Desks

Gravity Media has invested in Module-R desks for a newly completed multi-suite at its Production Centre in Chiswick.

The facility is an addition to the wide range of broadcast support resources that Gravity Media offers for coverage of major events such as live sport.

"Custom Consoles desks, particularly the Module-R series, were the natural choice for this project," said Nick Symes, Gravity Media's EMEA Director of Technology. "They have given very good service over the years and their excellent ergonomics make them popular with our operators. Their inherent modularity allows us to specify the technical features, dimensions and colour scheme we need without incurring the potentially huge cost of bespoke furniture. We also appreciate the after-sales support Custom Consoles provides if desks need maintenance or reconfiguration.

"The new suite cut its teeth during a busy week of European club football, beginning with the UEFA Champions League and culminating in a bumper Thursday with 32 UEFA Europa League matches coming into the facility. All matches were voiced for live and highlights programming, as well as edits made for digital platforms, before being delivered to rights-holding broadcasters around the world."

The project includes eight rectangular Module-R Lite desks. Designed specifically for use with latest-generation equipment, these have a space-efficient 950 mm front-to-back depth compared with the 1,200 mm of standard Module-R desks. Each multi-suite desk comprises five in-line bays and is configured for use by several operators and producers. A 3U equipment storage pod with a 45 degree sloping front panel is integrated at the desktop rear above each bay. Four monitors are attached to the rear of the desk via support arms.

Largest of the desks are two 4.2 metre wide eight-bay rectangular match-control units for use by a four-strong team. Each of the eight positions is fitted with a 3U equipment pod to the rear of the worktop, plus an operator-specific computer monitor display. These desks are housed an in adjacent suite and face towards two 3.4 metre wide MediaWall frames, each allowing user-configurable mounting of video display screens and monitor loudspeakers.

All 10 desks have graphite-finished Marmoleum worktop surfaces with black PVC edging, grey CDF side panels and extruded aluminium legs with silver anodised floor skids.

Custom Consoles' Module-R is designed to offer a high level of choice in terms of desk size, configuration and facilities. Unlike one-piece control room furniture, Module-R desks can be expanded or reconfigured at any time during their working life. Auxiliary pods of various sizes for broadcast industry standard 19 inch rack-mounting equipment can be specified at the time of installation or added later. Individual elements such as desktops can be replaced easily if required for operational or aesthetic reasons.

Customers can select from a wide range of options including single, double or triple width base units, 15, 30, 45 or 90 degree angled corner units, or curved desk sections to follow any radius. Control panels of practically any size and depth can be embedded into the desktop at any time. Space is provided for equipment, with easy front and rear access via removable front and rear cover panels. Power and signal cable routing is fully integrated within every Module-R desk via transverse ducts across each frame and vertical ducts through the supporting legs.

Module-R is fully IT-friendly. Brush-strip-protected slots running the entire width of each desktop allow easy connection of cables to and from IT accessories such as computer keyboards and tracking tools. Predrilled monitor mounts are included as standard along the rear of every Module-R frame so that customers can add, remove or relocate monitors to match changes in operating procedure during the desk's lifetime. The inherent modularity of Module-R desks makes relocation relatively easy if or when a control suite is relocated.

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