August 4th 2013, Dubai, U.A.E: Leading systems integrator
Media Group International has completed a
prestigious project for Middle East broadcaster MBC Group (Middle East
Broadcasting Centre) to install a state of the art News facility in
Cairo, Egypt.
MBC Group, the first
private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World
which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters
in Dubai in 2002, has grown to become a well-established
media group that enriches people’s lives through information,
interaction and entertainment. Based in Dubai, in the United Arab
Emirates, MBC Group includes 12 television channels. The broadcaster
engaged Media Group International (MGI) on the
basis of the company’s established reputation for high quality systems
integration and project management. MGI has over
35 years’ experience of systems integration in the Gulf region and
represents many worldwide broadcast equipment manufacturers. It also
serves TV channels and networks, movie studios
and network operators in the region, providing telecommunications,
broadcasting, integrated systems and state-of-the-art security.
Raed Bacho, Broadcast Manager, MBC Group says: “MGI’s
reputation for delivering world-class broadcast solutions was a key
factor in our decision to award the company the contract. Our Cairo News
facility is a major investment and one that
required careful planning. We were delighted by the efficiency and
timely results.”
MGI’s brief was to provide MBC Group with an entire
News facility consisting of a broadcast control room/gallery, a central
apparatus room, an audio studio, a broadcast studio, a Master Control
Room, a Newsroom and various editing and production
facilities. The company was also responsible for the entire IT
infrastructure and the installation of all power requirements.
“MBC’s on-air requirements meant that we were up
against extremely tight deadlines,” says Paul Wallis, MGI’s Sales
Director. “We also undertook this project during the recent political
unrest, which created its own set of issues. On at least
one occasion our team could not leave the facility overnight because
demonstrators were protesting outside.”
At a time when many companies are avoiding outlay in
Egypt, MBC’s decision to build this new facility – and its equipment
choices – reflect its determination to invest in the very latest
technology in order to bring high quality news coverage
to the people of Egypt.
“In consultation with MGI’s experienced technical
team, MBC selected some of the latest ground breaking equipment,
including cutting-edge Grass Valley LDX-80 studio cameras that adopt
cmos technology as opposed to traditional CCD,” says Wallis.
“At the heart of the system is a full Avid
Newsvision production system, complemented by the latest Viztr on air graphics.
Other technical highlights include a powerful Ross live production
switcher, a Trilogy Broadcast communications system, a state of the art
video wall and a Studer All-In-One Vista audio mixing console, the
first of its kind to be installed in Egypt.”
Wallis adds that the project was not without its
challenges, but thanks to MGI’s excellent relationships with the various
manufacturers involved, these were quickly overcome.
“We were faced with some tough technology changes
that could have delayed the on-air deadline, but fortunately we had
chosen manufacturers who helped us work around this problem and enabled
us to keep our commitment to MBC,” he says.
