Harrisburg, PA, June 2, 2008 – WHTM-TV was the eyes and ears for Harrisburg, PA residents as they tuned in over a seven-day period to watch community laborers join together to renovate the home of a deserving family during the ABC 27 News’ Mid-State Home Makeover. Mirroring the format of the ABC network’s popular national Extreme Home Makeover show, ABC 27 captured every step using two of RF Central’s RFX-CMT-II wireless camera transmitter and two of its RFX-RMRTD diversity receivers.
Throughout the week, ABC 27 News programs covered the progress of the home’s reconstruction during each of its multi-daily broadcasts as a team of contractors and engineers gave the house an overhaul to adhere to the needs of the family’s 12 adopted children, most of who are with mental or physical disabilities. ABC 27 Director of Photojournalism, Bryan Barr, says that the RF Central’s wireless camera set up proved most beneficial in light of the busy and complicated construction location in which the project was being broadcast live.
“We had an army of contractors, painters and electricians working throughout this 4,000-square-foot farm house,” explains Barr. “Because it was an active construction site, one that was busier than normal, it was not feasible for us to broadcast the project if we were to have to pull cable all over the place. In having the CMT-II, we were able to roam freely without wire, which allowed us to report from a variety of places within the house as well as beneath and on top of the home, without being in the way of the workers. This really enhanced the quality of the production that we were delivering.”
Barr adds that the diversity receive set-up also served well, not only in terms of the quality of the footage, but also as a time-effective solution. “The RMRTD allowed us to present the live pictures no matter where we were within the house without losing any signal. Regardless of whether we were in the basement, the attic, on top of the roof or around the house, the diversity receiver provided us with a strong, steady signal. All we had to do was simply turn the units on, walk upstairs, and away we went!”
The Mid-State Home Makeover segments ran on ABC 27 News’ two-hour morning show, half-hour noon program, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. evening broadcasts as well as during its 11 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. nightly newscast. WHTM-TV’s coverage culminated after seven days, where ABC 27 unveiled the home’s final reconstruction and interviewed the family live on site, which involved use of two CMT-IIs that captured each revamped room of the house.
“The wonderful thing about RF Central is that its team is comprised of former television people who understand the needs of news as well as its shortcomings and strengths. They design their equipment with the end-user in mind,” says Barr. “They consider what’s going to work and what is not going to work when the equipment is finally in the end-user’s hands. Ultimately, the gear is simple to figure out, comprehend and operate.”
About RF Central
RF Central, LLC manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art microwave equipment to television broadcast and government customers throughout the United States. As one of the premier suppliers of broadcast equipment required to complete the 2 GHz BAS transition, RF Central has grown from a few employees in 2005 to over 60 full-time dedicated professionals today. Located in Carlisle, PA, RF Central also provides specialized integration, installation, and engineering services. RF Central is marked by its unique qualifications within the industry, its focus on customer service and its dedication to expanding and improving the terrestrial microwave options available to customers. RF Central, along with Nucomm, Inc. and Microwave Service Company, form the Vitec Group RF Systems business unit, a part of Vitec Group Broadcast Systems Division. For more information, visit www.rfcentral.com.
About The Vitec Group plc
The Vitec Group plc is acknowledged as a global leader in the supply of equipment and services to the broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries and has established a reputation for technical excellence and superior engineering along with an astute business strategy which has seen it grow by acquisition. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Group’s activities and the organization is committed to a policy of continuous product development. With revenues (2007) of $546m (£274m) and over 2200 employees world-wide, its products are distributed in almost 100 countries, through a strong, fully-resourced distribution network or direct to the end user or corporate customer. More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.
