TSL completes second ITV news upgrade with Tyne Tees

TSL, a leading international independent broadcast systems integrator and manufacturer, has completed the second news production centre design and installation upgrade for the ITV network in the UK.
Tyne Tees, the contractor for the north east region of the UK ITV network covering some 1.2 million homes, has now moved into the Watermark building in Gateshead where the new facilities are housed. These include two four-camera studios, three edit suites and a central apparatus room. These have all been constructed from the ground up.
In addition to the Watermark facilities, there is a second bureau in the region situated at the Belasis Technology Park in Billingham. This is connected via a data network and uses file sharing to compile and edit news stories that are then transmitted from the Watermark facility. Technologically, the franchise follows the blueprint laid down by ITV in conjunction with TSL when designing the Meridian franchise last year though there are some small detail alterations. At the core of the production system is Avid’s UNITY disc storage coupled with associated Adrenaline and Newscutter technology.
“With TSL we have consolidated the Tyne Tees site from very large old premises - where a large number of disparate activities took place - to the core franchise commitments which are news and regional output. There is also a commercial deaf signing service called Signpost in the new facilities. TSL was involved with this too,” explains Paul Stevenson, Controller of News Systems and Projects for the ITV News Group.
Tyne Tees is now able to streamline its news production and provide significantly increased efficiencies right across the production process.
“TSL has been very good. We have enormous confidence in them, and have largely been able let them get on with their work without any concerns that they will deliver the goods. The company adds enormous value,” concludes Stevenson.
Russell Grute Head of Sales at TSL adds, “It’s been a busy year for us at TSL in news, with our work for ITV and CNBC keeping us at the forefront of the latest broadcast news technology developments. In all our current news projects we are now seeing very tight integration between all the key sub systems and the use of the MOS protocol to very successfully improve the daily workflow.”
TSL, www.televisionsystems.ltd.uk
(SP)