Portugal’s most-watched broadcaster, TVI, has deployed the Snell ICE channel-in-a-
box solution to support two new channels: TVI Fiction and +TVI. By installing ICE
systems, TVI is quickly and cost-effectively bringing new channels to air.
While the ICE systems enable fast expansion without significant changes to existing
infrastructure, they also integrate seamlessly with TVI’s installed Snell Morpheus
automation system enabling it to scale from a single channel to many complex
channels, controlled from just one user interface.
“Snell’s ICE gave us a straightforward, easy-to-deploy solution for adding two new
channels to our existing lineup,” said Carlos Gomes, head of technical department at
TVI. “While our investment in ICE systems alone enables us to reduce the time and
cost of our channel launches, we will realise a further benefit in the added power and
flexibility that our Morpheus automation system brings to these channel-playout
boxes.”
ICE is a best-of-breed IT-based playout system that combines what were one multiple
racks of hardware into a single system. Each ICE has multiple inputs and outputs and
includes two DVEs and eight keyers per channel mixer, routing and mixing functions,
SD and HD format conversion, audio processing capabilities, and closed-
caption/subtitle support.
TVI currently relies on Morpheus to drive playout for its main TVI channel, its 24-hour
news channel (TVI24) and TVI International. The installation of the ICE units provides
all the functionality that TVI needs to expand their flexible and highly scalable multi-
channel system. In this environment, Snell’s unique FlexiCore architecture allows ICE
to emulate the master control environment by facilitating reconfiguration of internal
routing and supporting dynamic allocation of resources across all channels to meet
operational requirements.
