NBN Television Expands Mobile Newsgathering Capabilities With Dejero

March 2014

One of Australia's Oldest and Largest Broadcasters Equips Mobile News Crews With Dejero LIVE+ 20/20 Transmitter to Send Live or Recorded Broadcast-Quality Video.

Australia's NBN Television has expanded its live electronic newsgathering (ENG) capabilities with the Dejero LIVE+ Platform. Using the rugged and portable Dejero LIVE+ 20/20 Transmitter, NBN Television news crews are able to transmit broadcast-quality, live video from the source of breaking news using available cellular networks and Wi-Fi connections.

Cameraman Peter McDonald with Weather Reporter Gavin Morris.

"Previously, we had to hire a satellite truck and do a significant amount of advanced planning in order to put a live, remote feed on the air. Not only was it costly, but it meant we could not always respond quickly to breaking news," said Stephen Bates, studio engineering supervisor, NBN Television. "Now, our mobile crews can respond instantly the moment we hear of a news situation – they just grab the small briefcase-sized Dejero LIVE+ 20/20 Transmitter and a camcorder and go right to the scene. This technology has really upgraded the look and character of NBN Television's news reporting, bringing new levels of freshness and immediacy to our broadcasts."

Using the Dejero LIVE+ 20/20 Transmitter, NBN Television news crews are able to access news scenes that might be off-limits or impractical for a satellite or microwave truck, and then set up in minutes to begin transmitting live video feeds or record them for later broadcast. Depending on the location, the Dejero LIVE+ 20/20 Transmitter is able to bond available Wi-Fi and cellular networks to enable the bandwidth for HD video with latency of less than a second. In areas with little or no cell coverage, the crews are able to store and forward video and then transmit it as they travel back to the station. At the NBN Television broadcasting facility in Newcastle, New South Wales, a Dejero LIVE+ Broadcast Server receives the feeds and integrates them into the station's live production workflow.

These capabilities proved valuable during NBN Television's recent coverage of a large brush fire in New South Wales. News crews were able to access remote fire locations and transmit a wide array of live and recorded video feeds that were integrated quickly into NBN Television's news bulletins, as well as those of its affiliate network, the Nine Network.

"The Dejero LIVE+ 20/20 Transmitter's ease of use and rapid set-up is a huge advantage to our news department, because it means we can deploy smaller and less technical crews in the field," Bates said. "Back in master control, our engineers are able to use Dejero's remote control capabilities to access the transmitter and adjust its settings to maintain bandwidth, leaving the camera crew free to concentrate on getting the story. It's a very empowering tool for our on-location journalists."

Dejero LIVE+ is sold and supported in Australia by Sydney-based digital media specialist Digistor, which was instrumental in supplying the solution to NBN Television and can provide local demonstrations and information to organizations evaluating ENG options.

About NBN Television Australia
NBN Television commenced broadcasting to the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region in 1962. NBN Television's market stretches from Central Coast in the south to the Gold Coast, Queensland in the north and west to Moree and Narrabri. This market has a population of 1.9 million people, and is the fourth largest television market in Australia, behind Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. NBN Television is an independent affiliate of the Nine Network, and the combination of its own locally produced programs, including the region's number one news service, with the Nine Network's strong line-up of Australian and international programs, has seen the NBN Television Group consistently achieve the highest ratings for any station in a major television market across Australia. Whilst NBN Television is one of Australia's most successful broadcasters, it is also committed to providing a high level of community support and local programming.

About Dejero
From video capture and transmission to management and distribution, Dejero solutions help broadcasters, media companies, and organizations of all sizes reach their global multiscreen audiences instantly and cost-effectively. Dejero's LIVE+ Platform simplifies the acquisition and broadcast of live video on-air and online through a broad range of traditional and emerging uplink solutions. The platform, including portable transmitters and software for laptops and smartphones, intelligently manages or bonds wireless connections (3G/4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, microwave, and satellite) to deliver optimal picture quality. In addition, customers are able to centrally monitor and manage Dejero devices and live feeds in the cloud for streamlined content delivery and enhanced operational efficiency. Dejero is privately held and based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit www.dejero.com.

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