In the last 10 years Telecafé has experienced a process of technological updating in which they have made all the evolution it has reached today: the digitalization of the workflow and the inclusion of the signal in high definition. They also started a process of automating the broadcast, then began to make digital storage and implement a workflow without tapes and with centralized digital storage.
Carolina Ocampo, coordinator of technology and innovation of Telecafé, stressed that they began to integrate production - post-production - broadcast - LTO deep storage, all in an online workflow, as well as a 100% HD signal and its 100% native HD streams, do not convert signals, all as part of the process to face DTT in the country.
He assured that "Telecafé's investments in technology are not only based on the solutions that allow reaching the online workflow, they also look for solutions that allow technological innovation. Investments in technology are supported by the national television development fund of the National Television Authority, ANTV. Procurement includes training processes on the solutions you have."
Among the regional channels, the Telecafé model is unique, because it operates for three departments, Risaralda, Quindío and Caldas. And although the administrative headquarters and the Emission center are in Manizales, it has production studios in Pereira and Armenia. The studios have a connectivity through optical fiber that allow to integrate contribution signals from Pereira and Armenia in the broadcast center at any time, managing to make live TV production from the three studios at any time without any inconvenience, being able to interact between the three studios if necessary.
On the digital issue, for two years Telecafé has been taking steps in crossmedia and with the aim of advancing transmedia, to leverage on digital platforms and strengthen audiences on the main screen and digital media. For this year they want to strengthen the strategy so that all the programs of the channel generate specific and special content for digital media.
Ongoing projects
Telecafé's engineering team is made up of four engineers, focused on the different areas of procedures in the technology area, a team that is complemented by 10 technicians. To acquire new technology, this team makes an internal analysis of new technologies, their convenience and how to link them to the Channel.
Carolina Ocampo commented that "the projection of the Canal is to make technological acquisition of the top of the line of manufacturers, that is, to try to buy the latest developments as long as they adapt to their workflow. As the technology is generally expensive, when we are going to acquire we always design the projects in phases, in such a way that the budget is well used and each phase is functional and does not depend on the next phase to continue operating".
In 2018 Telecafé has an investment project approved to give continuity to phases of projects that have been advancing. Among them the expansion of the broadcast center to increase the operational capacity in signal processing, renewal of the master control and branding system. In addition, they will expand the operational capacity with ENG equipment for reporting and renovation of production equipment in studio.
Finally, the Coordinator of technology and innovation of Telecafé indicated that "the evolution of technology is a very rapid development and is a challenge in many ways for television, especially public television, due to the complexity of the need for resources to live a technological development at this pace. Today the pace is set by DTT, we were prepared for HD in 2015 and today we are going towards the distribution of multiscreen content to reach more audiences".
