Broadcast Studio of Future - Mount Royal University Responds
Irv Ratushniak, Associate Professor,
Calgary’s Mount Royal University is committed to its communication programs - their Broadcast Media Studies Program has been running since 1961. For most of that time, it was a two-year diploma; in 2016 it became a 4-year communications degree. The MRU Broadcast Media Studies Program operates both as a modern media organization and a learning laboratory where students apply their skills to serve the wider campus community. The emphasis has always been on writing, performing and technical production for audio and video. The communications field has been evolving rapidly in the last several years; staid flagship productions are being supplanted with a torrent of topic and viewer specific productions. This shift of focus requires nimble micro production and equipment which enables it.
Professor Ratushniak recognized the intensifying connection between media communications and technology – the department’s capabilities are crucial to the success of the media program. MRU’s challenge was to update the antiquated TV studio which had been using six P2 cameras and some very old teleprompters.
“We've been very fortunate to be in a position to upgrade and expand our facilities and hardware. Traditional broadcast cameras and support equipment were completely out of the question, but dramatic improvements in the 4K video capability of cameras (PTZs) suggested another approach”.
“I reached out to Tekskil Industries, a Canadian company, to gain an understanding of their platform solution for these “all in one” PTZ cameras. It turned out Tekskil had a new approach for PTZ camera stations that met our functional requirements and budget.
“It wasn't long before we concluded that Panasonic’s and Tekskil’s integrated system would provide what we were looking for. The new PTZ cameras provide excellent image quality and the Tekskil prompting platform seamlessly integrates them with prompters, tally indicators and talent monitors. The multiple support displays make a huge difference in assisting our on-air talent performance. Our studio productions now include news shows, talk shows, music performances, demonstration videos and commercial shoots, so we needed a camera/prompter system that was flexible enough to adapt to any scenario.
This past summer, we were able to make a big purchase of six Panasonic PTZ cameras, Cam Gear Terra II pedestals and three Tekskil PTZ prompter platforms. From a control room operations stand-point, the PTZ/Prompter format in tandem with our new scripting software and video file playback server provides an opportunity for our students to develop a whole new set of skills. The move to Robocams and improved automation has brought our Media Studies program to an excellent state that allows our students to experience what’s happening in the broadcast industry.
Later this fall and next semester is when we'll really gear up and break-in the new gear. We're very excited and looking forward to seeing what kind of programming our students will conjure up - they can't wait to get going either.
