Azam Media, an East African direct broadcast satellite service headquartered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is recently unveiled its new outside broadcast (OB) truck, crafted in collaboration with system integrator Broadcast Solutions and incorporating a Lawo mc²36 console and additional components.
The new truck is tailored to the company’s expanding portfolio of sporting events, particularly football matches, not only in Tanzania but also in neighboring Kenya. The vehicle’s audio control room is centered around the mc²36 with built-in A__UHD Core functionality that offers 256 processing channels, available at both 48 and 96 kHz. It natively supports ST2110, AES67, RAVENNA, and Ember+, and it provides an I/O capacity of 864 channels.
With the audio accompanied by a dozen Sony cameras, two additional Dreamchip mini cameras, and a ROSS Vision mixer, Azam Media’s production team is equipped with the tools needed to capture the action. Additionally, the integration of two EVS XT-GO Replay Servers is designed to foster efficient replay capabilities.
Further, Lawo’s VSM (Virtual Studio Manager) IP broadcast control and workflow platform serves as the backbone of the OB truck’s broadcast control system. It integrates with a wide array of broadcast equipment, providing Azam Media with the ability to customize workflows to meet the demands of various production scenarios.
“VSM gives us the right way to manage a complex workflow, with the large-scale use of tie-line we can obtain a great flexibility on our resources, and, with the fully integration of all the equipment inside the OB, is, without compromise, the best product for us,” says Raghvendra Tiwari, head of department – technical at Azam Media. “Last but not least, it is a matter of saving plenty of time on the spot during the configuration of the OB van, implying a cost reduction which pays back the investment.”
Wladislaw Grabowski, managing director/COO at Broadcast Solutions, adds, “While we have a range of ‘standard’ designs for outside broadcast fleets, every production company is different. They need specific functionality to meet their market; they have different workflows; they have different preferences over key equipment. We are able to take all our knowledge and experience, rapidly understand the specific requirements, and build and deliver quickly. This has been another great project for us: a rapid turnaround and a happy customer.”
