While the voting for the next president of Germany took place in front of the cameras, behind the scenes Riedel Communications’ MediorNet provided a real-time network to distribute and route video signals between OB trucks and the Reichstag.
ZDF, the German public TV network, ordered a comprehensive MediorNet network for broadcasting the election of the German president on May 23. As part of the installation, eight different locations around the Reichstag were connected through fiber cabling.
To integrate the frames, about 5km of fiber were installed. The setup consisted of 17 MediorNet mainframes equipped with 77 SD-I/O media cards. The system included 32 MN SD12I input and 45 MN SDO output cards, which provided 92 inputs and 90 outputs for SD signals. Riedel provided connections to integrate the digital video router of the OB trucks and one of the SNG trucks via RS-422 interfaces.
The MediorNet network connected two OB trucks, two DGN trucks as well as several locations within the Reichtag, including the plenary chamber. In addition, ZDF’s control room and the stage in front of the Brandenburg Gate were also integrated into the network.
MediorNet’s point-to-multipoint functionality made any video signal available at any point of the installation. This allowed the video production and the live broadcast of the election to use the same signals.
Due to its open network topology, MediorNet could be closely adapted to local demands. The ZDF installation used ring, daisy chain and star topologies. The signals were exchanged between the different topologies.
The Riedel Rental department set up the MediorNet installation, with only seven days between the order and the event itself.
