DirectTV recently has placed a multimillion dollar order with Quantel for a full Enterprise sQ server-based sports production system for Direct's Red Zone Channel.
Five Enterprise sQ servers will be used, all under the control of Quantel's sQ Record and sQ Play ingest and playout automation systems. The system will be configured for 10 low-resolution sQ View browse stations and 10 sQ Edit stations. An additional six sQEdit Plus HD stations will be used to create finished products.
"The decision to use Quantel was made easy because the technology fit our needs and Quantel understands close-to-air sports production as well as anyone," said Chris Homer, DirecTV's senior director at the Los Angeles Broadcast Center. "The edit stations can handle both SD and HD footage on the same timeline and the play-out server handles mixed resolutions beautifully."
The system is expected to be installed by the end of this month.
The Red Zone Channel delivers big plays and significant moments from NFL games to DirecTV subscribers.
