The Colombian channel is moving towards a new era in news production with Sony's ELC automation system.
Sony
The RCN Channel of Colombia once again placed its trust in Sony's professional solutions to strengthen its technological infrastructure, optimize resources and automate tasks in the production of its news programs. In the media industry, changes are faster and staying ahead of the curve requires investing in new products and technologies to be more agile in content development.
There have been more than 20 years of relationship between RCN and Sony, where the integration of solutions has become an important alliance for the development of different content and productions. Among the main products are studio cameras, switchers, editing tools, among others.
This relationship with RCN has allowed Sony to learn about the demands that a prestigious television channel faces to produce content that transcends worldwide. High-quality productions must maintain the highest standards in technology.
Producing more and better news content, the challenge to overcome
Andrés Galeano, Chief Technology Officer of RCN, was very clear that reinvention was necessary to keep the news content of the network in the viewer's taste and also the level of production that the industry demands. For this reason, he spoke with Sony through its official distributor La Curaçao de Colombia S.A. and found in its professional tools the solution to the new production paradigm that has spread to all television stations and now to digital channels: immediacy and agility in production times.
The aim was for this investment to be scalable in the short and medium term, in addition to ensuring that its installation would not compromise the normal operations of the RCN chain, even in challenging times.
It was there where Sony together with La Curaçao de Colombia S.A. focused on presenting a proposal that covered current needs, offered versatility and different implementation models, several solution models were presented evaluating space, cost and added values.
"Sony is synonymous with trust. It is the only company that came closest to our language and style for the great change in the way we operate our business," said Andrés Galeano, Chief Technology Officer of RCN.
The Challenge Solution The Result
RCN needed to optimize resources and automate tasks in the production of its newscasts.
A solution was required to ride the wave of immediacy and agility in production times.
The ELC-MVS01 (Enhanced Live Production Control System) automates and improves operational efficiency on newscast sets.
Six robotic PTZ cameras made it easier for the team to focus more on the quality of their content, making it more competitive.
Reinvest optimized resources in improving content, such as increasing journalistic research, narrative elements, and more initiatives for the benefit of the viewer.
Catapult productions with an integrated model
Since 2020, RCN has purchased the XVS-7000 switcher system with Sony's ELC-MVS01 that automates newsrooms, with the ability to control third-party devices, thus improving operational efficiency on newscast sets. Among the great benefits of this system is that it contributes to increasing airtime without increasing costs; In addition, he manages the control functions of the studio from a position of dedicated operator, facilitating the work of producers, journalists and RCN drivers. This system also monitors the continuous playlist and automatically prepares the audiovisual material for the next broadcast.
In addition, they also acquired six robotic PTZ cameras. This equipment provides immediacy and facilitates the work of camera operation due to its technology of configuration, focus, lightness in equipment and image tracking, because with the automation that is achieved, now the team can focus on tasks that demand more attention to innovate, research, produce and deliver renewed content for audiences. In addition, the BRC-X1000 PTZ cameras allow production with augmented reality, giving them advantages of versatility in the products, differentiating themselves from the rest and making them more competitive.
"For RCN, Sony is synonymous with trust because it has allowed us to grow technologically. We have found an ally whose quality of products and customer service allows us to better develop our business. Before implementing the ELC system, our way of producing news was very traditional and Sony is the company that came closest to our language and style to carry out this great change," said Andrés Galeano.
Reaping new possibilities through innovation
Sony's tools have allowed RCN to save financial resources with the intention of reinvesting them in improving content, such as increasing journalistic research, narrative elements and other initiatives for the benefit of the viewer. Currently, both the ELC system and the robotic PTZ cameras are only used in RCN's primetime newscasts; However, there are productions that are looking at solutions and others are considering evaluating the option of implementing the systems in other production formats and styles such as the morning magazine.
Sony has shown that, from a newscast production perspective, automation brings numerous benefits to both production houses and audiences. While the former enjoys a simpler and more functional way of generating content, the permanence of the audience is ensured, which will always look for the best source of information.
"Our clients' goals become our own, we are in constant liaison with them to design, create and implement solutions as their needs evolve. Sony Professional solutions last for many years and are scalable, meaning they grow with customer situations and requirements," said Daniel McDonald, Senior Manager of Professional Solutions for Sony.
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