Pebble Provides Playout For SRF Facility

Pebble, the leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, has completed the development and implementation of the playout functionality for Swiss national broadcaster, SRF. The project involved collaboration with multiple vendors to achieve seamless workflows in the all-IP environment.

SRF has relocated to a purpose-built headquarters in Zurich. A key element of the project is to take advantage of next-generation workflows and operational practices by leveraging modern, standards-based technologies. The result is one of the largest media environments using interworking SMPTE ST 2110 equipment in Europe.

Central to the new facility is secure and highly resilient playout of the three premium channels in German-speaking Switzerland: SRF 1, SRF zwei and SRF info. The multiple variants of these channels, to meet the needs of different delivery platforms, are managed and played out using Pebble Integrated Channel software devices, under the control of the proven Pebble Automation.

Vital to the project was the integration of the playout system into the wider media and information flows across the IP networks. As content is required it is pulled from central storage servers into the Integrated Channel devices. To achieve this seamless integration, the whole environment using the NMOS protocol from AMWA as the interface.

As well as pre-recorded content, the Pebble system also routinely delivers live content, accepted directly into the Integrated Channel software appliances. Drawing on information from the scheduling system and elsewhere, Pebble Automation adds live graphics as required, by controlling VizRT graphics, running as plug-ins. Audio processing includes channel management, Dolby E and loudness monitoring and control.

"This has been a highly trustful collaboration between SRF and Pebble," said Martin Sauter, Project Manager at SRF. "Pebble understood the challenges we faced and sought to work with us closely every step of the way to achieve the common goal of a successful ST 2110 playout centre that fulfils our needs."

Sally Wallington, SVP Sales at Pebble added: "This has been a complex project, with not only requirements and workflows developing along the way, but the entire foundation of SMPTE ST 2110 and NMOS coalescing to give us the practical tools we need for seamless interworking. Thanks to the professionalism as well as the enthusiasm of the SRF engineering team, it was immensely satisfying for us. Everyone from Pebble who worked on it sees the new Zurich centre as a tremendous achievement and we are very proud to have played our part."

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