Pearl TV Launches Ultra HD Transmiion with Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design has today announced that German satellite channel pearl.tv has installed a 12G-SDI multicam workflow using Blackmagic Design broadcast infrastructure to become the first European broadcaster to transmit in 4K to ASTRA. The Ultra HD workflow features Blackmagic hardware including the ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, Studio Camera 4K and Ultra Studio 4K Extreme.

Based out of the EnStyle Studios in Buggingen, Germany, the shopping channel, which covers the entire German speaking world and reaches potential customers in 27 million households, has always been at the forefront of broadcast innovation. Essential to the channel's move to Ultra HD transmission was the ability to work with 4K in higher frame rates.

Choosing a unified 4K production workflow based on Ultra HD product from Blackmagic Design required the channel to install more than 800 meters of 12G-SDI single link coax in order to connect the facility's two studios and a central production gallery. Any of our existing SDI runs that were longer than two meters had to go and were replaced with premium 12G-SDI coax, explains pearl.tv general manager, Dr. Michael Sichler. This ensured full signal integrity throughout our entire 4K production chain, he continues.

At the heart of this multicam workflow is Blackmagic's ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K switcher, which features 12G-SDI connectivity, handling Ultra HD at frame rates up to 60fps and delivering extremely smooth live production for broadcast. Dynamic lower thirds displaying pricing, product details and contact information for purchasing are added, and a playout system from Blackmagic OEM ToolsOnAir, paired with an UltraStudio Extreme 4K, provides an H.265 encoded file for transmission.

To ensure viewers across the pearl.tv network can still access the channel's programming on any television, the switcher also generates an HD output, and a down converted SD signal is produced through an encoder, for simultaneous multi format transmission.

Daily live content acquisition of up to eight hours is produced using six Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K across the channel's two main studios, and a further three Blackmagic URSA 4K cameras, which are used for filming outdoors. Our channel is aimed at a male, over 40 audience and focuses on the latest must have gadgets and technology, explains Michael. Shopping in person is a very tactile, emotional experience, and we have to get as close to that as we can. We have to show them in the highest possible standard why they should buy an item. Stunning Ultra HD images help to us to create a strong sense of desire and need amongst our viewers, he continues.

Being at the cutting edge of technology is very much part of pearl.tv's ethos, so we wanted to meet the challenge of launching a live Ultra HD channel before anyone else. However, as the broadcast market is still in the early development stages, we did face difficulties in finding market ready devices, concludes Michael. Blackmagic Design offers broadcast quality, reliable and unified Ultra HD workflow making them the clear choice. The ease of use and rich feature set its products offer has allowed us to make a smooth switch to 4K transmission.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world's highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design's DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company's Emmy award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984.

Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.

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