SAM: Snell Advanced Media

Last May saw Ziggo Sport, part of Liberty Global, appoint NEP The Netherlands to build, operate and maintain the complete playout and technical production for its seven Dutch language sports channels. NEP The Netherlands is part of the NEP Worldwide Network and this contract makes the group Europe’s largest provider of sports playout facilities. Alongside the traditional broadcast outlets, Ziggo also operates five OTT internet channels/streams for broadcasting the Formula 1 Grand Prix......

Alongside traditional control from the studio galleries, those facilities can be used just as readily for CloudProduction. “Even ahead of the launch of the Ziggo channels, we were doing this anyway,” states de Ridder. “We can connect any sources from anywhere using our cloud technology. And we can shade the pictures from our facilities here in Hilversum. In effect, we use the galleries as a master control room, storing highlights and building the programmes around all of the sources.”

He says that during 2017 it is anticipated that all of the Ziggo Sports programming will be handled in this way – with just cameras in the location and all production handled from the studio.

SAM has also been the choice for Qube editing systems. “We looked at all the systems on the market and decided for the fast turnaround that is needed for sport, the requirements for highlights packages and slo-mo replays, that the SAM sQ platform combined with LiveTouch was the right solution for us. That selection also meant that a close integration with live ingest is achieved,” declares de Ridder. “In short, we decided to go for a full SAM Quantel workflow – and that even includes the 24/7 playout channels on Morpheus and ICE.”