Imagine Communications, a video infrastructure, advertising systems and workflow
management solutions provider which serves media networks, broadcast stations,
digital media, communication service providers and enterprise markets, has
supplied more than 50 Platinum IP3 multi-path routing switchers to European
broadcasters and facilities in recent months. In particular, the router is becoming
the de facto standard in many new and upgraded outside broadcast trucks
throughout Europe.
Platinum IP3 is the latest evolution in Imagine Communications’ innovative Platinum
router technology. Like the rest of the Platinum line, the enterprise-scale IP3 router
integrates mixed-format video and audio routing, copper and fibre inputs and
encoded signals such as AES and MADI audio, as well as multiviewers, frame
synchronisation and quality control. The Platinum IP3 control system helps enable
hybrid SDN-IP infrastructures, offering a path to an all-IP future alongside
traditional broadcast audio and video, making it an ideal platform for the transition
to software-defined broadcast networks and workflows.
Recent users include Dutch systems engineers Infostrada which has built the
technical infrastructure for a major German reality show. Broadcasters SWR and
Hessischer Rundfunk in Germany, Master Films in France and UK-based outside
broadcast specialist CTV have also updated their facilities with the Platinum IP3.
According to Fabio Bertini, owner and CTO of broadcast production company
Telerecord, virtually every new outside broadcast truck built in Italy in the last year
has featured a Platinum IP3.
“Designing and building an outside broadcast truck is a careful balance of
practicalities, operational resilience and future proofing,’ said Bertini. “Multi-
purpose trucks need completely different set-ups for each job, so the flexibility and
ease of configuration of the router is vital. With the Platinum IP3 we can simply
store configurations, and then recall them instantly, saving time and operator
resources when we get on site.
“The real benefit of the Platinum IP3, though, is its ability to support a path to an
all-IP future. Like all broadcast providers, we have to plan how we are going to
make a smooth transition from baseband audio and video to IP. With the new
Platinum control system, we can take it a step at a time, knowing the system will
switch the signals whether they are on co-ax or Ethernet, and operationally nothing
will change so we have no risks on location.’
“The Platinum IP3 router is designed to grow as the user’s requirements grow,’ said
Mathias Eckert, vice president, EMEA, Imagine Communications. “The router can
expand to sizes of 2048 x 2048 and beyond, with signals of up to 3Gb/s video or 10
gigabit Ethernet. Most importantly, it can be reconfigured or expanded without even
taking the router off air. That is a remarkable benefit for a broadcaster or
transmission facility.’
