SIC streamlines regional news production with Sony Networked Live
Sony and media networking subsidiary Nevion have delivered an IP-based solution that transforms the efficiency of a Portuguese broadcaster’s regional news production.
- The broadcaster needed cost-effective solution to remotely produce live content from regional studios in Porto at central facilities in Lisbon
- IP video/audio transport over WAN between sites using Nevion Virtuoso software-defined media nodes
- Acquisition in Porto studios using Sony HDC-P31 remotely operated PoV cameras
- Efficient regional news production from central facilities, without need for costly local production resources
We have been working with Sony for several years, so the company and its subsidiary Nevion were the obvious choice to deliver this critical solution for us.
José Lopes, Director of Operations and Technologies
SIC
Linking production sites to reduce costs
Portuguese TV network and media company SIC offers viewing audiences a range of satellite, cable and free-to-air terrestrial channels. In order to expand its regional news facilities in Porto while keeping costs down and increasing competitiveness, SIC sought a way to optimize equipment use and production workflows. For this the company turned to Sony, which had previously delivered the migration to IP of its main production facilities in the Portuguese capital Lisbon in 2019.
Delivered with local partner Dec.Imagem Sistemas de Vídeo, the solution designed by Sony and Nevion is based on elements of Sony’s Networked Live ecosystem of solutions, products, services and partners. Combining on-site and cloud processing, Networked Live transforms production logistics, enabling people and production resources to be connected and shared regardless of location.
Reducing the need for OB trucks, on site production hardware and staffing requirements, the networked solution allows SIC to produce high-quality regional news more cost effectively.
Broadcast quality content from Porto to Lisbon
Live since September 2022, the IP-based solution allows SIC to produce content captured in Porto at its principal Lisbon facilities 270 km (170 miles) distant. Acquisition in Porto is handled by Sony’s HDC-P31 PoV (Point of View) system cameras. Small, light and offering superb Full HD image quality, the HDC-P31 is ideal for a wide range of broadcast applications where a compact, remotely operated camera is required. Studio cameras are operated remotely in Lisbon, using the broadcaster’s familiar studio infrastructure and camera control workflows featuring Sony’s RCP-3500 remote control panel.
The transport of video and audio from Porto to Lisbon is handled by Nevion Virtuoso software-defined media nodes. Signals originating in Porto are carried as IP transport streams over a wide area network (WAN), with JPEG 2000 video encoding and SMPTE ST 2022-7 protection. Return feeds are transmitted from Lisbon back to Porto over the same infrastructure.
Delivering critical solutions
“We have been working with Sony for several years, so the company and its subsidiary Nevion were the obvious choice to deliver this critical solution for us,” says José Lopes, Director of Operations and Technologies at SIC. “For our remote studios in Porto we chose the HDC-P31 PoV camera because it’s small and lightweight, yet maintains the signal processing capabilities and quality of Sony broadcast cameras.
“For media transport between Porto and Lisbon, we were convinced that Nevion’s Virtuoso offered the performance and reliability that we needed,” confirms José. “Given the tight deadlines we were working against, the impressive track record of both companies in project delivery was also important to us.”
“Increasing production capabilities can be a complex and risky exercise, especially when wider area connectivity is involved,” adds Rob Thorne, Category Head for Networked Live Solutions, Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “This project underlines the joint value Sony and Nevion deliver with Networked Live Solutions, and the benefits this can bring to our customers. We’re experts that our customers can trust to transform their production workflows.”
