Riedel builds Geelong’s broadcast backbone
Riedel builds Geelong’s broadcast backbone
Broadcast and live event productions at Australia’s Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre are supported by an integrated video transport and communications infrastructure from Riedel Communications.
Located on Geelong’s waterfront in Victoria, the newly opened venue comprises the 1,000-seat Wala Mirr Theatre, approximately 3,700m² of flexible event space and a series of divisible breakout rooms. Designed to accommodate conferences, gala dinners, concerts and exhibitions, the facility also caters for regional and national broadcast productions.
At the centre of its broadcast infrastructure is Riedel’s MediorNet platform, which provides high-bandwidth 12G-SDI signal distribution across the building. Fibre connectivity allows cameras to be connected locally before their signals are transported to the central infrastructure. MicroN UHD units can also be deployed within individual event spaces to provide local access to the wider network.
The system includes a dedicated 24-core single-mode fibre connection to the venue’s satellite truck position, allowing signals from the MediorNet network to be accessed by visiting outside broadcast (OB) facilities. Broadcasters already using MediorNet can connect their production infrastructure directly to the venue over fibre.
“For us, MediorNet is one of the highest-bandwidth, self-healing networked SDI transport systems available today,” said Michael Walker, senior manager of audiovisual at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre. “It allows us to bring 12G-SDI signals into the network anywhere in the building where we have fibre. We can bring individual camera signals back to the central infrastructure, deploy a MicroN UHD locally in the room or integrate a broadcaster’s MediorNet-equipped truck over fibre. That gives us a great deal of flexibility in how we support each production.”
Production communications are handled by a Riedel intercom ecosystem built around Artist, incorporating Bolero wireless intercom, PunQtum partyline intercom and SmartPanels. Sixteen Bolero antennas provide coverage across indoor and outdoor areas, supported by 36 beltpacks. Within the Wala Mirr Theatre, the Artist, PunQtum and SmartPanels systems complement the wireless infrastructure.
The combined installation allows technical teams, clients and visiting production crews to maintain communications across the facility.
“Nyaal Banyul is a strong example of how an integrated video and communications infrastructure can support the very different requirements of a modern event venue,” commented Chris Johnson, director Oceania at Riedel Communications. “MediorNet gives the team the flexibility to move broadcast signals wherever they are needed across the venue, while the Artist intercom ecosystem brings together wired and wireless communications for technical teams and customer production crews across the site. Together, they provide a flexible foundation for a wide range of live event and broadcast workflows.”
