Clear-Com Communication Systems will supply China’s largest broadcasters with a full range of crew communications technology for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. CCTV, China’s national broadcaster, has selected Clear-Com to provide an intercom network that will eventually span its entire broadcast operation.
Operators at CCTV said they liked Clear-Com’s ability to automatically switchover from fiber to the backup high-density, low-latency VoIP link. Under the same conditions, other systems require a reboot, which can take more than 60s or involve a manual intervention like rerouting communication lines. This can mean precious time during a broadcast.
Clear-Com’s communications network will provide a link for CCTV between the International Broadcasting Center (IBC), the hub of all broadcasting activities for the Olympic Games, and CCTV’s new Television Culture Center (TVCC), which will house administration along with news, broadcasting, studios and program production. The buildings are more than 12mi apart and will be networked using Clear-Com’s fiber link technology, with a redundant VoIP connection as an automatic failover backup to ensure continuous connectivity between the IBC and TVCC.
CCTV has purchased two Clear-Com Eclipse Omega systems with 120 ports in total, which will form the heart of the network at the IBC and TVCC. An integrated digital wireless card, E-Que, will enable connectivity between FreeSpeak user beltpacks and headsets within the Eclipse matrix system, creating a seamless environment for wireless mobility and reliability over a wide area of operation. An additional six Eclipse PiCo units, each providing up to 36 full-duplex wireless ports, will be deployed throughout the arenas for electronic field production.
In addition to CCTV, 13 regional broadcasters have selected Clear-Com Eclipse products for use in 14 OB trucks, including two belonging to China Beijing TV (BTV) as part of a robust and failsafe communication system designed for on-the-fly operation.
For more information, visit http://www.clearcom.com/.
