Avid Technology > Case Studies > Avid Everywhere Empowers Al Ghad Al Arabi TV's Transition to a Leading Pan-Arabic News Channel

Avid Everywhere Empowers Al Ghad Al Arabi TV's Transition to a Leading Pan-Arabic News Channel

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Technology Category
  • Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Database Management & Storage
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Storage Services
Applicable Industries
  • Cement
  • Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions
  • Facility Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
  • Construction Management
  • Infrastructure Inspection
Services
  • System Integration
  • Training
About The Customer
Al Ghad Al Arabi TV is Egypt's first privately owned news broadcaster with a 24/7 brief to cover news from the Arab world. Its main playout and production centre at Media City in Cairo relies on an Avid Everywhere vision, bringing together Avid | ISIS shared storage, iNEWS, Media Composer and other Avid systems on an Avid MediaCentral platform for both linear broadcast and social media distribution. Originally a news and entertainment channel with programs aimed at the youth market, Al Ghad Al Arabi TV went on air in 2013 from facilities in London, with plans to subsequently set up studios and production facilities in Cairo and Beirut. However, when Abdul Latif El Menawy was appointed as chief executive and managing director in 2014, his remit was to establish a pan-Arab 24-hour news channel that would compete with the existing leaders in the field.
The Challenge
Al Ghad Al Arabi TV, Egypt's first privately owned news broadcaster, aimed to establish itself as a leading pan-Arabic 24/7 news channel. The challenge was to move the central operations from London to Cairo, transforming the production centre at Cairo’s Media City into the main full 24/7 news facility. The London facility was to remain as a broadcast centre and disaster recovery location, with the Beirut facility proceeding as planned. The channel's aspiration was to compete with the existing leaders in the field, requiring a complete restructure and transformational program to gain recognition as an international broadcaster. The challenge also involved identifying gaps in the existing infrastructure and operating model at Media City, addressing technology changes, operational workflows, training, branding and on-screen graphics, and recruiting editorial and operational staff. The goal was to enhance the existing infrastructure to allow the production of 24-hour news and social media, delivering a multi-location solution within a set timeframe and a tight budget.
The Solution
HiMedia Pro, the implementation specialists, decided to use Avid as a one-stop shop, exploiting the manufacturer's desktop editing, integrated graphics, archive systems and social media capability to their full capacity. The initial newsroom installation based on the MediaCentral platform included Avid iNEWS, iNEWS Command, Interplay | Production and asset management, AirSpeed 5000, five Media Composer licenses, five Media Composer | NewsCutter Option licenses and an Avid ISIS | 5500 storage system. This end-to-end solution was intended to replace the existing infrastructure at Media City, which was limiting growth. The second phase of the project saw the installation of Interplay | MAM Active Archive and ISIS 5000, plus Media | Director for faster ingest and Media | Distribute to simplify distribution to multiple platforms. The new system enabled greater collaboration, allowing the news team to share media quickly and easily. Multiple users could access content as it was being ingested and work on individual stories for news, long form or online without impacting other staff. The storage capacity was increased to cope with higher staffing levels and more technology licenses, and facilities for ingest and playout were enhanced.
Operational Impact
  • The new system provided a more resilient graphics system and added a 70-inch Barco video wall working with a single VizRT engine. The greater emphasis on social media also demanded more storage. By integrating Avid Media | Distribute into the workflows, the team could automate and streamline publication to the web, mobile devices and social channels, making multi-platform distribution much faster and more intuitive. HiMedia Pro provided essential technical training for the operational staff, but also needed to ensure that the journalists—particularly those with a more traditional background—felt comfortable with the new file-based system. The new broadcast centre was delivered successfully in time to go live in October 2015, positioning Al Ghad Al Arabi TV in a very strong position to compete in the crowded market.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Greater collaboration enabled by the new system, allowing the news team to share media quickly and easily.
  • Multiple users could access content as it was being ingested and work on individual stories for news, long form or online without impacting other staff.
  • Storage capacity was increased to cope with higher staffing levels and more technology licenses.

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