RAI needed an HD/SDR and UHD/HDR capable production infrastructure that could be setup quickly and easily in a range of locations and broadcast situations. This would allow RAI to produce events from locations where even an OB van would prove to be logistically challenging. This new “the Regia Mobile 4 unit” will be the first RAI production system able to produce primary live events using either an HD/SDR or UHD/HDR setup, at the press of a button.

As the national public broadcasting company for Italy, RAI operates as one of Italy’s largest broadcasters, with productions that are distributed internationally. Video Progetti have an already established working relationship with RAI, having provided a range of turnkey implementations for them previously, including a range of Ka-Sat SNGs in 2017 and the infrastructure for many production and post-production systems.

As a result of this need for flexible functionality, the Regia Mobile 4 system developed by Video Progetti, makes use of a number of Grass Valley systems, including the Grass Valley Kahuna video mixer (9600 4/ME 4 DVE Channel HD 110 x 48, 4K UHD up to 26x12). This is then supported by a Grass Valley Kula, which operates as both DSK and backup system to manage full disaster recovery, including a backup Vega router from Grass Valley. The Grass Valley Densité is controlled through the control system’s “Human Interface” that allows for the automatic switching of emergency devices, while Telestream Tektronix monitoring solutions have been integrated to check the quality of the transmitted signal and balance, and to allow for full redundancy of the SPG master clock generator.

Grass Valley products have additionally been used for editing functionally with the Edius Pro 9 editing software, combined with the Stratus MAM system and drawing from a K2 Media Server.

Meanwhile, audio is managed using the high-performance Calrec audio mixer with a high level of redundancy, combined with Genelec loudspeakers, whilst a Clear-Com intercom system is connected with a MADI to the main audio switcher. A combination of TVLogic and Samsung monitors have been integrated into the overall mobile production unit.

Together, this combination of equipment provides not only the flexibility needed for RAI to broadcast in either HD or UHD with HDR enhancement but is mounted within rugged flight cases that allow it to be quickly and easily set-up in remote and difficult to access locations.

The central challenge for Video Progetti was selecting and installing equipment that could be wired and connected within the confines of a flight case.

As an example, the Grass Valley Sirius router used within the system itself alone required the wiring of 576 cables, totaling a length of over 1.5km. A group of ten installation professionals from Video Progetti were allocated to work on the physical and technical installation of the flight case system, whilst a wider team worked on the initial identification of RAI’s needs and the design of an appropriate systems architecture.