Pixel Power Clarity chosen for GMTV

Pixel Power has announced that GMTV, Europe’s biggest breakfast TV station, is utilising three Clarity systems with internal video clip and DVE options for its graphics needs.
Clarity is a family of powerful, multi-format, single and multi-channel graphics systems addressing the character generation, still/clip store and animated graphics requirements of television broadcasters and postproduction. Offered in combinations of standard and high definition formats, there are even Clarity models that can simulcast both standard and high definition from a single system.
Clarity was chosen by GMTV for a multitude of reasons. Being PC-based rather than proprietary allows GMTV to do much more in terms of integration into the overall system. Clarity adds more scope for the design with its capability of running third-party design tools. In addition, the speed and flexibility of the Clarity system is a definite plus, especially compared to the older systems it is replacing. Having KVMs over the structured (UTP) cabling was another reason for the purchase, as there is no need for dedicated cabling.
A key requirement was Clarity's ability to integrate with the Autocue QNews newsroom system, as it is a key production tool where the producer or journalist can add details of the CG they require while writing their script. At transmission GMTV studio PAs call up the CGs using QNews Automation Control Center, and thus free up the graphics staff for other tasks.
Clarity resides on GMTV's LAN and can therefore interface with GMTV's other systems, such as Quantel, iMAC, and their Library Picture Wire System. All the graphics can be transferred to the Clarity, saving an immense amount of time and effort.
Clarity's user-friendly interface and ease-of-use meant that both GMTV's broadcast and IT staff came quickly up to speed on the system when the systems were installed. Clarity's powerful feature set and ability to integrate with remote data sources like SMS and MMS offers GMTV a broad range of tools as it moves forward into the future.
Geoff Wright, Chief Engineer at GMTV, said: "We are particularly impressed with the speed and flexibility of Clarity, which allows us to get exciting graphics and animations to air quickly. It is an excellent creative tool!"
James Gilbert, Commercial Director of Pixel Power, said: "I am delighted that such a leading breakfast news provider has chosen to invest in Clarity. Their decision reflects not only the rich feature set and easy integration but also our long term commitment to developing the Clarity family further to meet the evolving needs of high profile broadcasters such as GMTV.”
(GB)