KETK-TV, a Communications Corporation of America station and the East Texas NBC affiliate located in Tyler, recently replaced a set of aging and obsolete pedestals with three Shotoku TP200/SX300 systems.
On air since 1987, KETK-TV provides news for Tyler, Longview, Waco, Shreveport and Baton Rouge sister stations from its Tyler facility. Communications Corporation of America is a leading medium-market broadcast and digital media company with outlets throughout Louisiana, Texas and Indiana.
“KETK selected the Shotoku systems following a fairly extensive research process,’ explained Dan Trent, chief engineer at KETK-TV. “Price is always a driver, and Shotoku gives “more bang for the buck.’’
Trent continued, “We produce 12 hours of news per day for five stations from our Tyler facility, so Shotoku’s TP200/SX300 pedestal / head system gets a lot of use. Our former equipment wasn’t capable of up and down movement, and that limited production creativity. The new units change elevation easily, giving operators the freedom to capture a variety of shots and adjust to our different sets. ‘
Shotoku’s elegant and ergonomically designed TP200/SX300 Pedestal System is a state-of-the-art configuration ideal for news and production studios. The two-stage pneumatic pedestal has a maximum payload of over 80kg (177 lbs.) and supports a wide-range of camera configurations. Its perfect balance column and base offer maximum stability and great operational flexibility. One-step foot brake and single-action cable guard enables precise movements and control at all times for fast and easy positioning.
The companion SX300 pan & tilt fluid head offers top class performance with 40kg (88 lbs.) payload and perfect counterbalance/smooth pan & tilt drag to maximize image flexibility.
Added Trent, “The systems have been performing flawlessly; we’ve already experienced a significant improvement over the previous equipment. The operators are very happy.’
