(BURBANK, CA) Bexel, a unit of the Vitec Group's Services Division and a leading worldwide provider of broadcast services and solutions, recently completed major projects for two broadcasters, the new cable network Fusion and WCBS-TV of New York. Bexel provided complete RF system integration for the newly launched Fusion studio located in Doral, Florida. For WCBS-TV, the studio was just upgraded with Bexel's proprietary Managed Antenna System (MAS). Both jobs were overseen by the company's Audio Specialties Group (ASG), whose unique RF services deliver the ability to communicate over longer distances and with more information than was previously available to the broadcast market.
Fusion, a joint venture between ABC News and Univision, launched October 28. The English-language network features news, information and lifestyle programming aimed at Latinos and young Millennial viewers. Bexel was contracted by The Systems Group to provide complete RF system integration for the new facility that was built from the ground up to support Fusion, as well as Univision's news programming. The entire process, from the planning stages to final installation, took nearly a year.
Bexel's skilled engineers provided a MAS to facilitate the use of all wireless production equipment throughout the entire Fusion facility, allowing the complete network of equipment to work in all studios as a shared resource. The project required eight zones of RF coverage, and installed equipment included five Bexel IS8 Combiners, five PA1 Distribution Amps, five UHPS1X8 Power Splitters, three UMC16X16 Receive Multicouplers, 28 Shure Axient Systems, 54 Lectrosonics IFB systems, and nine Telex BTR800 Wireless Intercom systems. Approximately 20,000 feet of coax cable was deployed for the job, along with nearly 80 antennas.
"It is always a tremendous opportunity when we can get in on the ground floor of a project," says Jim Dugan, senior project engineer, Bexel. "With Fusion's new studio, we were able to start with a blank canvas, and our experts were really able to configure a system that was right for their specific and varied needs. Beyond consulting on all the RF in the facility, we provided project management, frequency coordination, bandwidth planning, and equipment purchasing as well."
For WCBS-TV studios in New York, Bexel recently upgraded the MAS for this market's top-rated news station, which is also home to local area talk show "The Couch." The system allows talent to roam from their home studio, CBS Studio 46, to the adjacent newsroom and the soon to be completed Studio 55. The wireless antenna solution at WCBS accommodates 16 Sennheiser wireless microphones, eight Lectrosonics IFB systems, and two Telex BTR800 Wireless Intercom systems on a single, four-zone system.
WCBS is located in the CBS Broadcast Center, a million-square-foot production facility in Manhattan that serves as the headquarters of CBS News and CBS Sports. Over the last two years, Bexel has also installed Managed Antenna Systems in all five of the complex's other studios.
"We are proud to continue our work at the CBS Broadcast Center. With our Bexel MAS installed in Studio 46, the WCBS news team is going to enjoy a whole new level of flexibility and freedom. Our RF configurations streamline communications for the production workflow."
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About Bexel
Bexel is the pre-eminent worldwide provider of broadcast services including video and audio equipment rentals, fiber services, new audio sales, used equipment sales, and repairs/maintenance. Bexel provides brilliantly designed and flawlessly executed systems and solutions to all customers - including producers of the biggest and most important televised events in the world. For more information, visit www.bexel.com, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Vitec Group
Capture the moment(tm)
For over 100 years, through every innovation in photography, film and digital image-making, Vitec businesses have developed a powerful portfolio of brand and products that have enabled some of the most amazing moments to be captured under some of the most challenging conditions. Vitec is an international Group principally serving customers in the broadcast photographic and military aerospace and government (MAG) markets. Vitec is based on strong, well-known premium brands on which its customers worldwide rely. Vitec is organized in three divisions: Videocom, Imaging and Services. Videocom designs and distributes systems and products used in broadcasting and live entertainment, film and video production and MAG. Imaging designs, manufactures and distributes equipment and accessories for photography, video and events. Services provides equipment rental, workflow design and technical support for camera, video, audio, fiber optic and wireless technology used by TV production and film crews. More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.
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