China’s first Native-IP UHD outside broadcast system features Grass Valley cameras, processing and control, leading to a transformative shift away from traditional baseband infrastructure.
Grass Valley GV Orbit
Guangdong Radio and Television (GRT), has taken delivery of the first NativeIP UHD outside broadcast system in China, a new OB truck engineered in partnership with Beijing Sailing Hightop Technology Development Co to help GRT make a transformative shift away from traditional baseband infrastructure. By adopting a fully IP-based architecture, GRT plans to increase flexibility, scalability and efficiency for live production. In particular, the new OB unit has been designed to enhance the broadcaster’s ability to produce and transmit upcoming sports and entertainment events in 4K UHD, and will serve as technical support for those large-scale events.
Equipped with Grass Valley’s LDX 135 and dLDX150 cameras and the Grass Valley K-Frame CXP switcher, the system supports 4K and 8K live production with HDR and WCG capabilities, while its distributed workflow enables real-time remote collaboration and future cloud deployment via GV Orbit SDN and Agile Media Processing Platform [AMPP]. Content delivery for multi-platform productions is supported through native landscape and portrait conversion.
Precise Orchestration
GV Orbit orchestrates each aspect of broadcast workflows within a single platform with the goal of simplifying operations across complex environments – in particular, those involving SDI, IP and hybrid components in the one system. It also centralises control and real-time monitoring to increase efficiency. With its flexible, interoperable approach, including support for both Grass Valley and third-party devices, it also means broadcasters can adapt and speed up workflows without stopping to upgrade.
Broadcasters can reconfigure set-ups in real-time through GV Orbit’s Dynamic Orchestration, adding or removing devices and making adjustments as production requirements change or emerge. Able to scale up with networks as they grow, GV Orbit is a useful choice for broadcast environments as workflows evolve into the future. Without factoring in downtime, resource use can be optimised and operations kept continuous, agile and cost-effective.
Because it was designed for IP management from end-to-end, GV Orbit eases the process of transitioning from SDI to IP as well. Users can orchestrate their IP streams precisely, automate chosen device configurations, and manage workflows for efficiency. Automation is built-in to help reduce repetitive tasks and avoid errors.
LDX 135
Videeo Capture and Processing
Alongside Sailing Hightop and GRT, the Grass Valley gear is helping broadcasters in China move toward more IP-based production environments and preparing for the next wave of UHD and 8K media creation. For instance, the CXP switcher’s flexible I/O options, supporting up to 80 inputs and 40 outputs, are configurable as all SDI, all IP or a combination – allowing direct integration into different production environments. Full raster processing for 2160p productions is available without resource loss, handling various frame operating modes (720p, 1080p and beyond), and HDR capabilities are accessed through a software license.
The LDX 100 Series cameras’ options are also made for direct integration into existing production workflows, and enable new workflow possibilities. Accommodating diverse production needs and transitioning between production standards, the cameras support multiple formats simultaneously – HDR, 4K and HD – and include 3D-LUT-based HDR-to-SDR conversion integrated into the camera head.
As NativeIP cameras that support SMPTE ST 2110 as well as AMWA NMOS standards, they don’t require separate base stations, but they are still backwards compatible for SDI connectivity using the earlier XCU base stations. To help with simple, scalable multiformat image capture and distribution, up to five JPEG XS encoders may be set up, substantially reducing bandwidth requirements.
CXP switcher
Setting a Standard
At the handover ceremony commemorating the delivery of GRT’s new vehicle, Sailing Hightop expressed appreciation to all project partners from GRT and Grass Valley, noting that collaboration across system design, integration and commissioning ensured the project was completed on time, on budget and to a high standard.
Alain Wang, Sales Director for China, Grass Valley also said, “This project shows what’s possible when innovation, collaboration and vision come together. We’re proud to support Guangdong Radio and Television and Sailing Hightop in delivering China’s first Native-IP UHD OB truck, a future-ready solution that sets the standard for 4K and 8K live production in the region.” www.grassvalley.com
