TSL Systems to supply production and transmission workflow for MediaCorp

TSL, leading systems integrator for the broadcast industry, has announced at IBC, that it has been awarded a contract to supply MediaCorp, Singapore's leading media company, with a new end-to-end file-based production and transmission workflow for its Caldecott Broadcast Centre.

With specialist expertise in media asset management (MAM) and IT-based workflows, TSL was awarded the systems integration contract following an extensive tender process which included the submission of detailed conceptual designs and major proof of concept (POC) sessions. TSL's POC demonstrated how MediaCorp's existing tape-based workflow could be improved if replaced with state-of-the-art file-based systems, from ingest to production, post production, transmission preparation, playout and media archiving.

Kelvin Ma, Vice President, Media Technology, Architecture & Support at MediaCorp Technologies commented: "We had been developing plans for our file based operations for some time and spoken with many system vendors. TSL, as an independent SI, brought a high level of expertise and experience which helped us redefine the architecture and workflow and developed a cost effective multi-vendor solution which will integrate with our existing operations".

TSL has already started work on the detailed design of this complex project which will positively transform the way MediaCorp produces and manages programmes, significantly improving efficiency, increasing output, enhancing control and achieving a better return on investment when it comes to adding channels and delivering content to multiple platforms.

The highly experienced SI will also provide procurement services, a pre-build facility, installation and commissioning with training and on-going support. The first phase includes integration of the file-based systems with existing studios, video and audio post and transmission, as well as the digitizing of MediaCorp's 60,000 hour archive.

The project falls in line with the MediaCorp's plan to transmit all free-to-air channels in digital format by December 2013 under the DVB-T2 television standard. As Singapore's only terrestrial broadcaster MediaCorp's transmits seven channels - Channel 8, okto, Suria, Vasantham, Channel U, Channel NewsAsia and Channel 5, which already transmits in HD digital via HD5). The existing analogue TV signals will continue to be broadcast in the next few years alongside the digital TV signals until the transition to DVB-T2 is completed by 2020.