
Broadcaster rolls out IP wireless intercom and communications system across entire operation-
Getting 11 separate regional studios to communicate seamlessly with zero disruptions to on-air time is no small feat, but ITV has accomplished that with help from Clear-Com's IP-based wireless communications systems. Working with primary system integrator IPE, the UK broadcaster recently converted three studios to the FreeSpeak II wireless intercom system, completing its company-wide adoption of Clear-Com that began in 2014.
ITV noted it chose Clear-Com's technology for its flexibility, easy deployment and ability to deliver clear audio quality between studios and remote locations.
The Clear-Com system provides the basic building blocks we need to cost-effectively add functionality while increasing operations efficiency and productivity with minimal learning curves, said Steve Teague, Head of Technical Services, ITV News Group. The system has proven to be efficient to configure and install, with the staff at each studio able to maintain their familiar workflows.
The first phase of ITV's conversion was completed in 2017, accomplishing the broadcaster's goals of establishing a MADI and IP production workflow foundation across all its sites. A Clear-Com solution - consisting of Eclipse HX-Delta digital matrix platform with V-Series control panels, MVX and MADI cards - was rolled out across ITV Tyne Tees (Newcastle), ITV West Country (Bristol), ITV Central (Birmingham), ITV Anglia (Norwich), ITV Wales (Cardiff) and ITV Channel (Jersey and Guernsey).
We've established a reliable and flexible communications backbone for the distribution of audio and data signals across hundreds of users within an intercom system network, Teague said.
The initial system was unique in its ability to seamlessly integrate with IP-based software intercoms for remote users on virtual panels, using Agent-IC, with intelligent trunking over CAT5, POTS, IP, Fibre and MADI. The system installed at each regional site also provided talk-back to the news studios and satellite newsgathering trucks. The V-Series panels installed at ITV's remote sites connected to the main studio via IP, giving them the MADI capability to connect directly to ITV's Solid State Logic audio desks.
The addition of FreeSpeak II earlier in 2020 to three more sites-Meridian, Granada and Yorkshire (replacing systems from Trilogy, which has since been acquired by Clear-Com in 2017)-now allows ITV teams to produce news packages more efficiently and communicate among all sites and field reporters in a more streamlined way.
The addition of LQ Series IP interfaces and the Agent-IC mobile app for remote productions contributes to the flexibility of ITV's capabilities and has proved critical during the COVID shutdown, enabling studio-based roles to be performed at home.
The adoption of Clear-Com technology has significantly enhanced the ITV production workflow, Teague said. A typical broadcast day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends close to midnight, with the system in operation throughout as the ITV studios and remote field teams continually produce live bulletins and prerecorded segments and insertions.
For example, one program might be produced in a studio with five cameras, two presenters plus studio technicians on the floor using Clear-Com beltpacks. These may include the prompt operator and a manual camera operator. The gallery environment also has a Clear-Com system with at least five panels (for sound, video, director, producer, etc.). The newsroom, located outside the gallery, will have another producer's panel plus channels for contributing regions. According to ITV, the Clear-Com system ties everything together perfectly.
ITV uses it for remote and base communications and as a SIP interface, so it is a central part of their daily operations.
The most recent phase of the Clear-Com/ITV collaboration is highlighted by ITV's adoption of the Clear-Com FreeSpeak II system, which also helped ITV make more efficient use of frequency space cleared in the 700 MHZ band. The broadcaster was able to prioritize what needed to stay in the spectrum, such as radio mics, as well as better allocate the space to largely deal with production talk-back among regional stations via an IP backbone. The Clear-Com system allows ITV to use more rechargeable batteries versus disposables, and also requires less power consumption. Plus, the fact that it's essentially one network reduces the need to interface with other systems, further reducing power consumption.
With FreeSpeak II, ITV has more flexibility to manage the limited staff resources across its news operation. The beltpack's ability to also act as a panel allows more tasks to be done in parallel. Having IP connectivity between remote sites enables the system's trunking nature, making it seem that there is one seamless network connecting all of ITV, rather than separate networks for each site. For example, one site can act as a national hub feeding content to the regions when handling large national news stories.
The conversion to Clear-Com completes ITV's future-proofing' as an all-IP environment, Teague added, allowing us to implement not only a flexible and seamless communications workflow across our entire operations, but also a logical and cost-effective plan for future growth.
Categorised in: Uncategorized
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
20/04/2026
At the 2026 NAB Show, Sony is showcasing a broad slate of innovations across liv...
20/04/2026
At the 2026 NAB Show, Canon is doubling down on its commitment to live sports pr...
20/04/2026
Fujifilm is sharpening its focus on core broadcast production with a new wave of...
20/04/2026
This upcoming summer in North America is going to be a busy one. The 2026 FIFA M...
20/04/2026
Glookast (Booth W1661) announced a series of product updates at NAB Show 2026, c...
20/04/2026
Matrox Video and Amagi announced a collaboration to integrate the Matrox ORIGIN ...
20/04/2026
Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that the Asociaci n del F tbol Arg...
20/04/2026
Ikegami (Booth C3819) announced the VFE-P07D monocular OLED viewfinder at NAB Sh...
20/04/2026
International Association of MediaTech (IAMT), formerly known as IABM, announced...
20/04/2026
Harmonic (Booth W2831) announced that DIRECTV is updating its US direct-to-home (DTH) video platform using Harmonic's VOS Media Software.
The deployment is...
20/04/2026
Wasabi Technologies announced that it has acquired the Lyve Cloud business from Seagate Technology. As part of the agreement, Seagate received equity in Wasabi ...
20/04/2026
EVS (Booth N1841) has launched Choreon, a robotics controller for media producti...
20/04/2026
The NAB Show is in full swing, and the SVG and SVG Europe editorial teams are chasing down the hottest stories from all over the Las Vegas Convention Center. He...
20/04/2026
Skyline Communications announced the availability of its DataMiner xOps platform...
20/04/2026
Studio Network Solutions (Booth N1129) introduced a set of new products at NAB S...
20/04/2026
Dell Technologies is showcasing its Dell AI Data Platform with NVIDIA at NAB Sho...
20/04/2026
Blackmagic Design has announced Fairlight Live, a software-based live audio mixer with SMPTE 2110 support and spatial audio mixing. A public beta is available n...
20/04/2026
At the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Imagine Communications VP of Sales, Sports an...
20/04/2026
At the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, LiveU Senior Director of Sales, Sports Philli...
20/04/2026
A song that perfectly captures a moment is magic. But when you uncover the story behind it, who made it, what inspired it, and the meaning woven into the lyrics...
20/04/2026
Ultra-compact 32-bit recorder set for launch
Deity Microphones will soon be launching a new 32-bit six-track recorder that's been designed with producti...
20/04/2026
Uncoming lightweight shotgun mic announced
Production-sound experts Lectrosonics have recently announced the upcoming launch of a new lightweight shotgun mi...
20/04/2026
New 20-minute documentary explores iconic preamp
In 2025, Focusrite commissioned a new short-form documentary with filmmaker Chris Mayes-Wright - the direct...
20/04/2026
Turn quick sketches into real drum grooves
Sampleson have been experimenting with assitive production tools recently, and their latest creation aims to make...
20/04/2026
Rohde & Schwarz rolls out its full ARDRONIS counter UAS suite in a demonstration...
20/04/2026
L3Harris delivers integrated communications, navigation and C4ISR capabilities that empower the U.S. Coast Guard to protect Americas maritime interests and resp...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
CueScript and Lighting Design Group Expand Customer Opportunities
Through New Partnership
Find both companies at 2026 NAB Show in CueScript Booth # C 4720
...
20/04/2026
[Sydney, NSW, 20 April 2026] - Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media orchestration platform Streamcake, today announced the formalisation of its i...
20/04/2026
Deployment spans FOX Sports' REMI infrastructure, IP production for a major global soccer event, and its Jewel Events production systems
Appear, a global l...
20/04/2026
Pro Sound Effects Launches the Industry's First and Only Native Sound Effect...
20/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/04/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Camera for iOS 3.3 Update
Brie Clayton April 20, 2026
0 Comments
New update adds camera control and monitoring ...
20/04/2026
Maxon Announces Free Tools and Mobile Expansion of ZBrush and Cinema 4D
Brie Clayton April 20, 2026
0 Comments
Cinema 4D brings professional 3D workfl...
20/04/2026
Vizrt AI Keyer kills the green screen and creates virtual scenes in any environm...
20/04/2026
Register now - Market & Audience Department Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 11 February 2026
Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley
Talking to...