Media Group International provides MBC Group with news facility
Published: MEA
EGYPT: Media Group International recently completed a project for the MBC Group (Middle East Broadcasting Centre) to install a state of the art news facility in Cairo, Egypt.
The broadcaster engaged Media Group International (MGI) on the basis of the company’s reputation for high quality systems integration and project management. MGI’s brief was to provide MBC Group with an entire news facility consisting of a broadcast control room/gallery, a central apparatus room, an audio studio, a broadcast studio, a master control room, a newsroom and various editing and production facilities. The company was also responsible for the entire IT infrastructure and the installation of all power requirements.
‘MGI’s reputation for delivering world-class broadcast solutions was a key factor in our decision to award the company the contract,’ Raed Bacho, broadcast manager, MBC Group. ‘Our Cairo News facility is a major investment and one that required careful planning. We were delighted by the efficiency and timely results.’
‘MBC’s on-air requirements meant that we were up against extremely tight deadlines,’ said Paul Wallis, MGI’s sales director. ‘We also undertook this project during the recent political unrest, which created its own set of issues. On at least one occasion our team could not leave the facility overnight because demonstrators were protesting outside.
‘In consultation with MGI’s experienced technical team, MBC selected some of the latest ground breaking equipment, including cutting-edge Grass Valley LDX-80 studio cameras that adopt cmos technology as opposed to traditional CCD,’ he continued.
‘At the heart of the system is a full Avid Newsvision production system, complemented by the latest Viztr on air graphics. Other technical highlights include a powerful Ross live production switcher, a Trilogy Broadcast communications system, a state of the art video wall and a Studer all-in-one Vista audio mixing console, the first of its kind to be installed in Egypt.’
Mr Wallis added that the project was not without its challenges, but due to MGI’s positive relationships with the various manufacturers involved, these were quickly overcome. ‘We were faced with some tough technology changes that could have delayed the on-air deadline, but fortunately we had chosen manufacturers who helped us work around this problem and enabled us to keep our commitment to MBC,’ he said.
MBC’s News facility in Cairo is now up and running, delivering news to the broadcaster’s Egyptian viewers.