Megahertz builds CNN’s first European DSNG vehicle

Megahertz Broadcast Systems is building a new Digital Satellite News Gathering Vehicle for broadcaster CNN – the first of its kind to be based at a CNN Bureau outside the US.
The vehicle, which will be based at CNN’s Europe headquarters in London and will be used for newsgathering and programme production, is due to be delivered in December and will undertake its first projects in January after a period of staff training. As an investment for the future, the complete infrastructure will be installed for High Definition, including cabling, patch panels and router frame.
Andy Maun, International Field Engineering Manager for CNN London, says the decision to invest in the new vehicle was finalised after the July 7 terrorist bombings in London when the finite UK market provision for DSNG services was tested to the limit.
“Having our own resources reduces our dependence on third party supplies and helps improve lead time in providing breaking news contributions into CNN networks,” Maun said. “We have invested in this vehicle for combined SNG and production system mobility in urban areas. It will be based at our Bureau in London and will be used to support our entire newsgathering activities to provide facilities for live breaking news reports, multi-camera live productions for major news stories and planned events, and simultaneous multi-network contributions on three paths, with independent IP Satellite comms for up to 24 remote staff.”
As an independent systems integrator, Megahertz Broadcast Systems has experience in both ‘turnkey’ fixed projects and the design and construction of sophisticated Outside Broadcast vehicles. Over the years the company has built OBs for many of the world’s top broadcasters, including the BBC and Kuwait Television.
CNN’s new DSNG is based on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis and will be equipped with a 12kVA on-board generator. The uplink system will comprise four encoders in a 3+1 arrangement, redundant up-converters and 400W TWT amplifiers feeding a Gigasat 1.8m antenna via a variable phase combiner. Comprehensive baseband equipment will include video and audio mixers and routers. The vehicle will also be equipped with composite, digital and fibre inputs and outputs. Monitoring will be via a mixture of LCD and glass picture monitors.
Commenting on the decision to include High Definition infrastructure, Andy Maun added: “HD compliance is more important in the US than Europe right now, and we expect to be serving that requirement in the nearer term. Hence an upgrade path for the Video systems was specified to help reduce future re-fitting costs.”
(GB)