Qvest Media sets up Alarab for the future
Published: MEA
BAHRAIN: Stated to be one of its most advanced to date, Qvest Media has completed a project to design and install all production, broadcast and distribution equipment for the Alarab News Channel. The channel, which is due to air later this year, is based in Manama and aims to deliver global news in a 'completely fresh style for a new generation of viewers'. To aid with this goal, Qvest has integrated end-to-end file-based workflows, automation for all production processes, a centralised media asset management system, as well as multi-platform live streaming and an IPTV solution.
'We want to change the way people think about news broadcasting,' said Jamal Khashoggi, GM of Alarab TV. 'A fundamental part of that is our delivery infrastructure and the solution delivered by Qvest Media will be a key part in our success.'
'We have provided a highly future-oriented media infrastructure to Alarab for seamless management between all fields of news production,' added Peter Noethen, MD of Qvest Media. 'We take into account the most modern forms of IP-based content aggregation and multiple ways of broadcasting such as satellite and online. This helps Alarab to maximise the efficiency of news production and distribution.'
The main file-based production system is formed from an Avid ISIS 7500, Avid Interplay media asset management and iNews, deeply integrated with a redundant central storage system from EMC². 3D graphics and channel branding is performed by solutions from Virtz.
The channel has two studios, both of which feature Viz Mosart newsroom automation. The larger studio will be used for 24-hours rolling news live broadcast and the Viz Mosart studio automation controls equipment from Sony, Calrec, Avid, Vinten Radamec Robotics and Vizrt graphics, among others using preconfigured templates. In addition, the system integrates closely with Avid iNews as well as with LSB's VSM switching and management system. The second studio will be used to produce news features and packages to insert into the rolling news output, with Viz Mosart interfacing with the Avid Airspeed 5000 editing environment and Vizrt graphics.
The broadcasters operators, technicians and editorial staff are currently undergoing training delivered by Qvest Media in anticipation of the channel's launch.