WestCom Broadcast Services in Germany adopted the Octopus NRCS with Aveco automation, playout server and graphics systems to optimise workflows and increase agility for the future.
WestCom Broadcast Services, best known for producing the German news show SAT.1 NRW, has made a strategic investment to update its HD-based production infrastructure. The goal was to modernise the NRCS system and production automation to optimise workflows and respond to future demands with more flexibility.
Central to this project were two implementations – one is the Octopus 11 newsroom computer system [NRCS], and the other is the Aveco Redwood WHITE, which serves as a playout server and graphics system. Both were carried out with the support of LOGIC media solutions. The first live production with the new setup was successfully conducted on 6 December 2024.
Octopus NRCS - Story-Centric and Rundown Environments
The Octopus NRCS, equipped for the project with 25 user licences, gives SAT.1 NRW journalists a straightforward user interface and tools such as the Octopus Journalists App, allowing mobile access to the system by phones and devices – considered a key advantage for real-time, on-site news production.
Octopus presents a way to organize workflows, whether working in a story-centric or rundown environment, based on one workspace in an effective layout using colour coding for different assets. It includes a scripting space to accommodate MOS-heavy environments while allowing a flow of information for all system users.
Octopus mobile app
The interface and layout promote efficient content creation across various platforms while still staying in the Octopus main window. System folders are colour-coded and stories assigned accordingly, for navigation between content areas and through the planning rundown, active rundowns or archived rundowns, cloud-based or on-premises. All systems can be integrated into the one workspace. while still allowing local custom design elements.
Octopus integrates with more than 70 partner tools including teleprompters, MAM systems, playout, graphic and automation systems, AI engines and others, to support in-house workflows.
Playout Automation – with Options
Aveco ASTRA Studio production automation and the Redwood WHITE video playout engine give WestCom further opportunities to optimise their workflows and introduce more efficiency into SAT.1 NRW’s daily news production.
As an independent vendor of production automation, Aveco works with all industry manufacturers and gives users extreme flexibility. Its system supports multi-studio production automation, synchronising between the PCR and MCR by combining master control and news production automation. Both of these interface to the NRCS and to traffic systems. Aveco also supports the new MOS Web Control standard based on HTML5.
Once rundowns arrive via MOS to ASTRA Studio, shows are ready to air. Through the templates and optional parameters, stories are transformed into control events that manage the broadcast equipment. The director retains all options to either allow the rundown to flow with live elements, change the position or length of a story or trigger transitions. ASTRA Studio allows journalists to edit a story, even while it is airing - adding content, graphics, video clips and texts in their familiar NRCS environment.
Aveco ASTRA Studio
Graphics and Output
Based on Linux, Redwood WHITE integrates with the NRCS via plug-ins to result in continuous playout of video content, graphics and branding elements. It works as a platform for clip playout, multi-layer graphics insertion including DVE and other broadcast tools. Fast cue times and graphical output make it suitable for studio production, and its integrated channel playout capability, live inputs, branding, DVE and storage capacity support master control playout as well.
By automating ingest, media asset management, master control playout and studio operations, and by integrating Redwood WHITE into these workflows, ASTRA tools help lower costs and simplify workflows. Built around media asset management, they allow users to manage all content locally, from the desktop or from remote locations.
LOGIC media solutions managed the system implementation, conducted comprehensive training sessions, and continues to supply long-term support with a service package. “With Octopus and Aveco, we take advantage of these systems from our portfolio, tailored exactly to the demands of modern news production. We are delighted to support WestCom Broadcast Services on this step towards the future,” said Thomas Heyer of LOGIC.
Jerome Steiner, Deputy CTO at WestCom Broadcast Services GmbH, commented, “Our new infrastructure represents a technological set-up that will not only support us into the future but is also extremely flexible. The combination of Octopus and Aveco enables us to efficiently handle the daily challenges of news production while being well-prepared for future requirements.” www.logic.tv
