By far the biggest challenge for the project was the timescale. The initial approach to Broadcast Solutions Group, from technical and editorial consultants on behalf of CIBC Global, was made at the CABSAT exhibition in Dubai in late May 2024, with a completely immovable deadline of the opening of COP29 on 11 November.

At the time of the initial contact, CIBC Global did not even have a building ready for the new channel, nor staff, editorial policies and of course technology. From its Dubai facility, Broadcast Solutions took on every aspect of delivering the centre, from supervising civil works, interior fit out, to training the staff on system operations.

“We took the immediate decision to build around the nxtedition integrated production environment,” explained Laurent Mairet, managing partner of Broadcast Solutions operations in Dubai. “Broadcast Solutions was already in the process of establishing a centre of excellence for nxtedition implementations, and we had complete confidence we could realise the functionality AnewZ needed in a platform that was intuitive for users.”

nxtedition provides complete editorial control for all the journalists and producers working at AnewZ. It also automates operation of the three news studios built as part of the project: one studio for anchors and up to four guests, a second stand-up studio for reporters and weather presenters, and a broadcast position in the heart of the newsroom.

Integrated into the system are Ross production switchers, Tascam audio mixers, Canon PTZ cameras and the studio lighting. 24/7 outputs go to local and international broadcast feeds: AnewZ is available in more than 110 countries worldwide. Journalists can also repackage stories for social media in the same nxtedition platform.

To add to the pressure on the project, they were also asked to relocate other facilities in the same timeframe. Sister channel CBC Sports was previously based in a studio complex in the Olympic Park in Baku, but this space was needed for the COP29 event. The channel was moved into the same new building as AnewZ, and Broadcast Solutions provided support in moving all the equipment while keeping the channel on air.