Task:

ORF faced the challenge of modernizing its previously decentralized production environments for television, radio, and online and consolidating them at its Vienna-Küniglberg location. The goal was to create a future-proof, automated, and networked infrastructure that would enable close collaboration between editorial teams and secure long-term broadcasting operations.

Solution:

BFE Vienna planned, installed, and integrated the technical infrastructure for both areas—from the classic TV studio to the IP-based radio production environment. The furniture was produced in the BFE workshop in Mainz.

TV area:

Three central components were created in the TV part of the project: the new News Studio 21, the ORF Center's first fully IP-based control room, and a single-operator system for compact news productions. Automation will allow up to 16 TV broadcasts per day in the future – including short formats such as ZIB Flash and breaking news reports.

Radio area:

At the same time, the radio division was reorganized both technically and organizationally. Several radio waves from different locations in Vienna were brought together at the MedienCampus Küniglberg. BFE designed and implemented a fully IP-based production environment with a central equipment room, several processing and production control rooms, and recording studios. Signal routing was converted to SMPTE ST 2110 technology. “The multimedia newsroom has enabled us to combine TV and radio in a shared infrastructure – efficient, modular, and future-proof,” says Lukas Hayden, project manager at BFE Vienna, describing the technical objective.

Highlights:

• Shared infrastructure for TV, radio, and online at the Küniglberg Media Campus

• First IP-based control room system at the ORF center

• Fully networked, SMPTE ST 2110-based production environment

• High degree of automation for up to 16 daily TV broadcasts

• Harmonized technical concept across all radio waves

• Flexible, future-proof architecture for cross-media content

• Cross-location teamwork between Vienna and Mainz

Equipment details:

TV area (Studio 21 / RP21 / RP22):

Technology & systems:

• LED walls: Leyard AT / TVF series

• Robotic pedestal & heads: Vinten FP-188+ / FH-188+ (AR-capable)

• Rail Cam: Blackcam B60

• Graphics & AR system: Vizrt

• Prompter system: Autoscript EPIC IP

• Wireless audio: Sennheiser EM9000 series

• Wireless communication: Riedel Bolero

• Wireless audio: Sennheiser EM9000 series

• Signal & control technology: Lynx 5000 series

• Video Monitoring & Waveform: Telestream MPS-300

• Multiviewer & Gateways: Imagine SNP

• Broadcast Controller: EVS Cerebrum

• SDN Controller: Nevion VideoIPath

• Video Mixer: Sony XVS-8000

• Audio Systems: Lawo Nova 73 / mc²56 MKIII, Yamaha QL1 (Backup)

• Audio Processing: Jünger D*AP8 FLX, Cedar DNS8D

• Intercom: Riedel Artist 1024 with Smartpanels 1200 series

• KVM system: kvm-tec media4K

• Network & switches: Cisco Nexus

• Timing & synchronization: Meinberg LANTIME M3000

• Management system: Skyline Dataminer

  
  

Furniture & integration:

• Control room and technical furniture: BFE Mainz

• Studio design and decoration: Customer / external

Radio area (MMNR Radio):

General infrastructure:

• Signal routing: SMPTE ST 2110, Dante, Ravenna, and MADI

• Audio technology: DHD Rundfunktechnik (wave crossbars and processing areas)

• Studio and control room furniture: Easy Pac (custom-made)

• KVM system: kvm-tec

• Network technology: Cisco switches (production and Dante network)

Studios & production rooms:

• Production area PR14: Lawo mc²36 + Stagebox Lawo Stage64

• Audio monitoring: Barefoot & Genelec speakers

• Microphones & wireless systems: Sennheiser

• Microphone preamplifiers: Neve

• Microphone & monitor arms: O.C. White / Yellowtec

• Viewing devices: RTW

• Studio clocks: Mattig Schauer

• Audio monitoring controller: DAD AX32, DAD MOM

• Intercom system: Riedel

• Audio codecs: Prodys

• DAW & editing: ProTools via AVID MTRX Studio

• Limiter: Jünger D*AP8

• Multitrack audio recorder: Tascam DA-6400

Special features:

• Harmonized technical concept despite different radio wave requirements

• Use of the latest DHD system components

• Integration of three wave crossbars into the overall architecture

• Adaptation to structural features (Boxy system, no hollow floors, surrounding cable ducts)

• Maintenance of 24/7 broadcasting during migration

The project marks a technological milestone for ORF: for the first time, TV and radio productions were connected in a common, IP-based system architecture. While the TV control room is based entirely on SMPTE ST 2110, the radio environment uses the same principle for broadcast signals and external sources.

The collaboration between BFE Vienna and Mainz was crucial in this regard: while planning and integration took place in Vienna, the control room and studio furniture was created in the workshop in Mainz.

Result:

With the completion of the multimedia newsroom, ORF now has a fully networked production environment that greatly facilitates collaboration between TV, radio, and online editorial teams. The new architecture enables efficient use of shared resources, accelerated production processes, and greater reliability.

Images: © ÖSTERREICHISCHER RUNDFUNK, ORF