Al Kout TV (Kuwait) - case study

We selected VSN for its ability to provide solutions for a complete workflow that meets our needs. Its flexibility and optimal quality/cost ratio were also crucial in our choice

- Abdula Alattar, Technical Manager

Flexible, multilanguage, end-to-end tapeless workflows for all needs

The Challenge

Al Kout decided to migrate to a fully digital tapeless environment, in order to increase the economical efficiency and the productivity. As a private company, all investment have to be assessed and guaranteed. Out of different suppliers, MRSI (the Lebanese system integrator and VSN partner) was chosen to supply a new turn-key digital infrastructure comprising a 4-camera News studio, tapeless newsroom, play-out room, several postproduction suites, Ross video mixers Evertz routers and glue equipment. All of it without exceeding the approved budget.

Al Kout has also two studios for their own productions (one for talk shows and the other one for sports and debates). Both are controlled from an independent control room where they have the titling system VSNCG and the playout automation VSNMATIC.

Of course, the compatibility with Arabic language was a must for this project!

The Solution

The Al Kout end-to-end tapeless project consists of two double VSNAUTOREC ingest systems and one complete news production system VSNNEWS with 12 journalist workstations; a redundant playout server VSNAIRNEWS and two VSNPROMPTER teleprompter systems.

The MCR is managed by the VSNMULTICOM automation suite, driving 2 redundant VMAX video servers. VSNARCHIVE documents and manages the media catalogue at three levels: online, nearline and offline. VSN’s MAM system allows Al Kout to share their online material among the ingest system, the 5 NLE stations and the 12 journalists’ workstations, thus making easier and faster the news creation task.

Integration with the Xenon (Evertz) routing switcher, a LTO4 Qualstar tape library, a 16TB FC storage system plus four Edius Broadcast NLE stations are also implemented in the workflow.

The channel, currently working with DV25 format, has also included to its project the rendering solution VSNRENDER FARM, the compliance recording system VSNLEGALREC and the VSNCG+ graphics solution for the News system. They use two basic VSNCG graphic systems in their MCR and their production control room in order to insert their logo and tickers with animated objects created by them.They also acquired VSNWIRES for the news reception from agencies such Reuters, in both Arabic and English languages.

The Results

Whether you need a reliable and expandable tapeless newsroom, archive, MAM and/or master control playout within your finantial reach, VSN is the right choice.

Abdula Alattar, Al Koot TV’s Technical Manager: “We selected VSN for its ability to provide solutions for a complete workflow that meets our needs. Its flexibility and optimal quality/cost ratio were also crucial in our choice.”

Thank to VSN solutions, Al Kout is currently producing several live programs in house everyday such news, sports debates, kids shows and many other entertainment programs.

One of the the main advantages of VSN system for Al Kout is the ease with which users can operate the system.

About Al Kout TV

Al Kout is a new private Kuwaiti TV channel broadcasting general affairs and entertainment throughout the Persian Gulf. Al Kout was born in 2008 as one of the first private TV stations in Kuwait and since then, the channel has experienced a steady growth both in technical level and staff. Today, 120 professionals work for the channel. The company has plans to continue growing and extend broadcast coverage to Europe in an effort to reach all Kuwaiti people living in the continent. Kuwait is one of the most relevant markets in Middle East and the Gulf.