German Broadcaster WELT Builds Studios On Black Box Emerald

Private German broadcaster WELT (formerly N24) is deploying the full Emerald Unified KVM product line and Boxilla centralized KVM manager to support modern broadcast operations across its new studio headquarters in Berlin.

Designed, supplied and installed by the project’s master systems integrator Qvest Media, the Black Box solution will enable reliable, flexible IP-based signal switching and extension for two large broadcast studios and one smaller studio, all of which rely entirely on remotely operated robotic systems.

“The Emerald KVM platform is unique in supporting both virtual and physical machines, and this capability — along with anytime, anywhere access via the Remote App software receiver — has opened up a whole new way of approaching our studio infrastructure,” said Thorsten Prohm, chief technical officer at WELT. “The Black Box system’s ability to support both HD and 4K likewise gives us valuable flexibility in managing signals and format types as we deliver news broadcasts with an innovative look and feel.”

WELT will take broadcasts live from the new facility this year. With Emerald transmitters and receivers connecting operator workstations to computers in the facility’s equipment rooms — and eventually to virtual machines — operators working anywhere will enjoy fast access to any sources they need to do their jobs. The Remote App securely extends access to the KVM network so that authorized users can connect to the studio or other broadcast facilities and remotely perform the same job they do when working on site.

“We’re thrilled to be working with WELT on their exciting new facility build to redefine live news broadcasting — from an overhaul of the conventional studio model to the integration of user-generated content and modern news production,” said Norman Tettenborn, principal at Qvest Media. 

You might also like...

Designing IP Broadcast Systems - The Book

Designing IP Broadcast Systems is another massive body of research driven work - with over 27,000 words in 18 articles, in a free 84 page eBook. It provides extensive insight into the technology and engineering methodology required to create practical IP based broadcast…

Demands On Production With HDR & WCG

The adoption of HDR requires adjustments in workflow that place different requirements on both people and technology, especially when multiple formats are required simultaneously.

If It Ain’t Broke Still Fix It: Part 2 - Security

The old broadcasting adage: ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ is no longer relevant and potentially highly dangerous, especially when we consider the security implications of not updating software and operating systems.

Standards: Part 21 - The MPEG, AES & Other Containers

Here we discuss how raw essence data needs to be serialized so it can be stored in media container files. We also describe the various media container file formats and their evolution.

NDI For Broadcast: Part 3 – Bridging The Gap

This third and for now, final part of our mini-series exploring NDI and its place in broadcast infrastructure moves on to a trio of tools released with NDI 5.0 which are all aimed at facilitating remote and collaborative workflows; NDI Audio,…