Al-Nahar TV chooses Hybrid’s 3D virtual studio

Egyptian broadcaster, Al-Nahar TV has purchased 3D virtual studio solutions from Hybrid, a real-time graphics and robotic camera systems provider. The equipment will transform two studios used for daily news, entertainment and live sports programming for Al Nahar Entertainment and Al-Nahar Sports channels, respectively.

Each studio will employ the same configuration of Hybrid products: two Silver II PTZF robotic camera heads, a Cobalt control panel with Mercury control software, and one camera in the ceiling for beauty shots using Hybrid’s Neon trackless virtual set solution.

“We’ve been extremely thorough in our review of the available virtual studio systems,” said Amr El-Kahky, the Head of Al-Nahar TV Network. “We feel confident that the Hybrid virtual studio solutions and robotic camera support will meet our needs. We’re looking forward to all of the design and operational benefits they’ll provide our network.”

Al-Nahar TV Network, who’s clinched a dozen awards since launching in June 2011, has been among the top three TV networks in Egypt’s post revolution era. The Egyptian broadcaster’s management seeks modern and robust technology to jump to the top of the competitive charts.

The sale agreement was finalised at the 2013 CABSAT Show in Dubai, UAE. Systems Design and Technology KAR— two systems integration firms and Hybrid technology partners based in Egypt—facilitated the sale and will manage the installation. Al-Nahar TV, which operates a total of five satellite channels in Arabic and English, is currently designing the virtual sets.

“We’re very happy to enter into this new relationship with Al-Nahar TV. We’ve been in communication with them for a long time, so this is a very rewarding win for us. We believe that our virtual studio solution enables them to meet and expand their high-quality live program offerings,” said Olivier Cohen, CEO of Hybrid.

The trackless virtual set Neon is based upon the same core engine as Hybrid’s higher-end Krypton system, but it allows for virtual camera movements in real-time from fixed cameras on set. It requires only a PC and software and operates with a simple drag-and-drop process. It creates the illusion of sophisticated camera moves within a virtual set without use of a tracking system, chroma keyer or other accessories – this allows Neon to be a fully portable virtual studio system. Neon can import 3D scenes and models from all common modeling software, such as 3D Max, Maya, Softimage.

Al-Nahar TV also ordered two Hybrid Silver II robotic pan/tilt/zoom/focus (PTZF) camera control systems for tracking virtual studio camera moves, such as zooms from wide to close-up.