At a glance

• Client: Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Cologne

• Role: BFE as general contractor (EU-wide tender procedure)

• Project period: June 2022 to December 2025

• Locations: Paris (Dec 2022), Brussels (Jul 2023), Nairobi (Dec 2023), Warsaw (May 2024), New York (Sep 2024), Washington D.C. (Dec 2025)

• Scope: complete media technology integration from a single source

• Control and monitoring: KSC Core and KSC SinAlarm

International studio production on a common technical platform

Over three years, BFE renewed the technology of six ARD foreign studios on three continents on behalf of Westdeutscher Rundfunk and handed them over to regular operation. The project started with an EU-wide tender procedure, which BFE won as general contractor.

Based on a shared overall technical concept, modern cross-media production environments were built at all six locations: Paris, Brussels, Nairobi, Warsaw, New York and Washington D.C. We already reported on the objectives and implementation during the project.

One technical design for very different locations

The six studios differ considerably in size, infrastructure and local conditions. Yet they all share one technical design: system architecture and components are defined across all locations. Deviations arise only from country-specific requirements or the required system dimensioning.

Many locations use the same manufacturers and device types. The specific configuration depends on each studio’s operational profile. This makes it possible to meet very different production requirements with one consistent technical concept.

Standardisation as the basis for operation and support

The chosen standardisation has a direct effect on long-term operation. Service and support processes can be organised centrally, expertise can be built up across locations, and maintenance and spare parts management follow a clear structure. For production sites spread across several countries, this consistency increases operational reliability and simplifies system support for years to come.

There is a further effect: the uniform system logic shortens training times and makes cross-site support easier.

Implementation during live broadcast operation

The technical renewal was carried out step by step without interrupting live broadcast operation. Temporary production environments were set up at every location before the new technology went live. The project was shaped by short implementation periods, complex logistics and international coordination. The high degree of standardisation, with identical technical design and repeatable processes, was a key success factor: every completed studio provided experience that could be applied directly at the next location.

Technical integration from a single source

BFE was responsible for the entire scope of work: control and monitoring solutions based on KSC Core and KSC SinAlarm, production and infrastructure technology, studio and workstation furniture, and full commissioning at each location.

Today, the studios support networked video and audio workflows for television, radio, online and social media, and they share a uniform technical setup. The completed project shows that internationally distributed broadcast infrastructures can be delivered reliably with a clear standardisation concept, technical precision and close collaboration.

Key takeaways for planners and operators

• One technical design for very different studio locations

• Complete media technology integration from a single source, including control, monitoring and furniture

• Conversion during live broadcast operation using temporary production environments

• Standardisation as the basis for efficient operation, support and maintenance

• Repeatable rollout concept: experience from each studio feeds directly into the next location

• Can be extended to further international locations