Hallbergmoos, July 01, 2009 - Switches from IT and telecommunications equipment supplier Black Box will be used for the new N1 and N2 news studios of Germany's ZDF Television Network. The studios, set up by Studio Hamburg MCI, are located in a building on the ZDF Broadcast Center site that has been specially built to house the corresponding control, equipment and auxiliary rooms as well.
Here, up to 22 TV broadcasts are produced daily, including all "heute" newscasts. The KVM matrix provided by Black Box comprises devices of the ServSwitch DTX series and is one of the biggest IP-based KVM installations in Europe. With this system, 169 servers and 70 user workstations can be controlled independently of each other to ensure maximum flexibility.
The KVM switching ability of the ServSwitch DTX HD KVM extender in use allows the spatial separation of the audio/video cutting stations from the corresponding media servers. Numerous computers in a standard IP network can thus be controlled regardless of distance,the transmission of the high-resolution video signals (1920 x 1200) is in real time.
Furthermore, USB support ensures that peripherals required, such as jogwheel or spacemouse, can be integrated without problems. Altogether, the installation at the ZDF consists of two DTX Controllers, 44 Single-Head Transmitters, 74 Dual-Head Receivers and 131 Dual-Head Transmitters.
"With our KVM extenders for the studio sector, work can be organized considerably more efficient and flexible", Axel Bürger, Managing Director of Black Box Deutschland GmbH, explains. Graphic designers, for example, have access to a pool of high-performance computers which they share. That way resources are used most efficiently, saving expenses on software licences, hardware and energy.
The same goes for sound studios, as well as audio and video cutting stations. "Especially during live broadcasts you must be able to completely rely on the devices in use. The joint project with our partner Studio Hamburg MCI at the ZDF shows that our products meet the highest requirements with regard to failure safety, user friendliness and flexibility."
Black Box (NASDAQ: BBOX) is one of the world's largest technical services company with focus on design, installation and maintenance of network infrastructure systems. From data communication and telecommunication services to on-site network installation, the company supports more than 175,000 clients in 141 countries with 192 regional offices.