Broadcasting
VCON's vPoint HD Revolutionizes Global Newsgathering
BACKGROUND
A leading British broadcaster, delivering 24-hour news and information broadcasts to millions of viewers in English across the globe, decided to review how it leveraged cutting-edge video technology to ensure faster, sharper news stories. The corporation, which presents a diverse mix of authoritative international news, sport, weather, business, current affairs and documentary programming, sought to deliver breaking news and up-to-the-minute stories, as well as in-depth analysis from remote regions worldwide in the most compelling and cost-effective way possible.
CHALLENGE
The corporation sought to leverage video technology to provide individual news-gatherers deployed globally with the ability to file 24-hour reports, by transmitting news feeds live from disaster-hit areas, war zones, sports events and remote regions around the globe to one central studio, and then direct into millions of homes. The video had to be high resolution for viewers worldwide, and had to be transmittable over domestic broadband and BGAN satellite connections. As it was required for live news feed environments, the selected video solution had to demonstrate 100% reliability even under harsh conditions.
SOLUTION
To file these reports from remote locations worldwide, the broadcasting corporation selected VCON's high definition, software-only client, vPoint HD™ for its news-gatherers. Compared with other solutions, VCON's vPoint HD clearly demonstrated best overall quality and robust performance over both domestic broadband and BGAN satellite connections. Its unparalleled price performance was another attraction for the broadcasting corporation who were seeking a cost-effective but highly reliable solution.
USER-FRIENDLY
Over the past two years, news correspondents have been exploiting VCON's cutting-edge videoconferencing technology for real-time broadcasting. In remote regions of the world, where crews, equipment and transportation are a major expense and where access can be limited, vPoint HD has proved itself time after time.
Designed to be extremely user-friendly, especially for correspondents under pressure in the field, the vPoint's easy to install software program requires next to no configuration.
In addition, comprising just a laptop with a 3G card, webcam and vPoint software, the kit is so small and lightweight that it can easily be carried by a single reporter even on long treks.
HANDS-ON NEWSGATHERING EXPERIENCE
To date, the vPoint HD kit has been used to deliver live TV reports from all over the world. Some of the events it has been used to cover include developments in Iran, elections around the world, the World Cup in Germany, Hurricane Katrina, and the Afghanistan conflict to name but a few. Armed with vPoint HD, over 150 news-gatherers all over the world are able to collect news reports and transmit multiple live feeds daily for news broadcasting in the UK.
ANYTIME, ANY PLACE, ANYWHERE…
The vPoint HD can transmit news from almost anywhere, without being tied to a physical broadband connection. With the satellite terminal, called BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network), vPoint users have been able to transmit news at 192Kbps, over BGAN mobile satellite connections. Weighing just a few kilos, the BGAN device also fits into a small bag and can be taken on planes, helicopters or vehicles.
PARADIGM SHIFT
Andy Ostler, VCON's UK Director, who worked side-by-side with the broadcasting corporation to ensure that vPoint HD exactly matched the organization's requirements, is delighted that vPoint HD is now used by broadcasters every day to report live from remote locations. He said: "vPoint HD is an exceptional broadcasting tool that has revolutionized the way in which news is gathered and told around the world. Its high definition audio and video and advanced capabilities make it the solution of choice for news-gatherers. We are proud that VCON is helping deliver news from all over the world to viewers at home, keeping millions of people in touch with developments worldwide – this is clearly a broadcasting paradigm shift".