CGI’s Media Solutions were able to help Geneva-based Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) by developing a custom plug-in for its OpenMedia newsroom installation. RTS was looking for a real-time motion graphics solution that it could integrate in its established OpenMedia system.
The challenge
The challenge started when RTS was looking to update its graphics systems and give its graphics operators greater creative freedom when it came to creating lower thirds for its extensive news output. The new solution chosen for the task was XPression, a real-time motion graphics solution from Ross® Video. But its deployment meant an overhaul was required to the MOS-based production workflow that had been established between the CGI NRCS and the old graphics system, Harris Inscriber®.
This type of strong editorial network structure required a large number of interfaces to a wide variety of other systems, including radio production systems. CGI implemented dira, which encompasses the entire production workflow required for media management in radio journalism, as well as a bi-directional MOS interface.
One of the key goals of the project was the gradual replacement of the existing newsroom system infrastructure and RTS’s own system for documenting copyright and royalty information.
Another project goal was the gradual replacement of the existing newsroom system infrastructure and the overhaul of RTS’’s own system for documenting copyright and royalty information. All inventory data was to be consolidated, merged and transferred to OpenMedia. In addition, parallel operational ability needed to be available for the locations and editorial offices that had not been converted to OpenMedia yet, which would enable constant data exchange between Erfurt and the legacy systems at the other four locations.
The solution
Typically the integration between XPression and OpenMedia would have been accomplished via an ActiveX interface, but RTS decided it required something that not only provided more flexibility with its feature set but also in turn maximized future-proofing and thereby its ROI in the new system.
The decision was made to implement a HTML5 solution and leverage its cross-platform and browser-based capabilities. The only difficulty was that such a solution did not as yet exist within OpenMedia. CGI therefore had to work closely with both Ross and RTS to adapt Ross’ existing HTML5 MOS plugin to ensure it could handle the interface between the two systems. The development went down to the wire.
“The configuration took time as all parties, including RTS, CGI and ROSS, had to work together and set properly all parameters,” explained Etienne Favereau, Chef de projets techniques at Radio Télévision Suisse. “It finally provided the expected result right before the production went on air!”
The end result has been well worth the coding effort, however. Radio Télévision Suisse’s graphics artists are able to deploy ever-more creative visuals on the broadcasters’ newscasts swiftly and smoothly as part of an overall OpenMediadriven story-oriented workflow.
Learn more about OpenMedia newsroom solutions
