Indonesia’s Net TV takes to the road
Published: ASIA
INDONESIA: In an attempt to break through living room screens in Indonesia, Net TV has taken to the road. The latest free-to-air television broadcaster launched in May 2013 and is using the internet as one of its main weapons in driving browsers to its scheduled channels via Google’s YouTube. Having invested in a US$1.3 million fully customised OB vehicle and successfully delivered its first live programme in late November 2014, Net TV is looking to host more live TV shows from all around the archipelago in its continued drive to increase viewer ratings.
A team of 10 technical engineers and support staff are assigned to the truck, which comes with separate audio and video compartments within its 12m long chassis and expandable sides that allow for more interior space. Whilst the video compartment supports up to 12 full HD Grassvalley LDX 80 cameras, the smaller audio section is centred round a Midas Pro9 control surface console, powered by a DL371 remote processing engine, and further connected to a networked system of I/O devices via Cat-5e cabling. Operating on an AES50 protocol, a 56-input DL451 modular stage box connects the vehicle to a venue’s infrastructure via a facility panel at the rear of the truck – which also hosts all the data, video, communications and camera connections. The audio panel includes eight inputs, eight outputs, six data, two AES and 16 tie line connections.
‘We have a Pro6 console in one of our studios here in Jakarta Selatan. But I’ve always loved the Midas sound, especially the warmth of their pre-amps,’ explained Net TV’s audio engineer supervisor, Yan Ferdian. ‘Having fully researched what consoles are available on the market however, I was increasingly convinced that Midas was the most reliable and durable one for our needs. We are going to be travelling on the roads of Java, Bali and Sumatra, so the truck has to cope with difficult conditions. Equally, the equipment on board has to cope with these conditions. With 88 channels, we are more than equipped to handle a multitude of live TV shows, concerts and sporting events throughout Indonesia.’
The engineers can monitor the performances via Focal CMS65 and CMS40 speakers, with the latter primarily used for checking the balance of a programme. Ten channels of Sennheiser EM2050 wireless and Clear-Com headsets are used for communications, whilst a DK Audio MSD100C meter measures audio peak, loudness levels, phase correlation and amplitude. ‘Access to some venues can be tricky, but once we’re on site, we have everything on board to ensure a smooth transmission to the airwaves,’ furthered Mr Ferdian. ‘With the addition of this vehicle, we believe that Net TV has raised the standard here in Indonesia.’