WETA-TV and WETA Radio, Washington, D.C.
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CEI has worked on a variety of projects for WETA since 1990. In March 1990 CEI was selected to be a part of the project management team to plan and design WETA’s new broadcast facilities.
In May of 1991, CEI was again chosen by WETA to provide engineering and consulting services in support of a renewed effort to locate a building site for the future home of WETA. CEI was selected for a third time by WETA to supply a comprehensive package of the following services in support of a new WETA headquarters and technical facility built in Shirlington, Virginia.
Today, the new building serves as the Broadcast Headquarters for WETA TV and FM and as home to all of WETA’s support personnel. The facility was designed and implemented as a pioneering effort for state of the art multi-channel SDTV and HDTV technology. The FM facility utilizes all digital audio mixing and distribution technology and full server based playout.
To achieve this goal, the latest developments in video/audio servers, data tape archives, automation, asset management and virtual monitor wall technology have been incorporated into the facility with many firsts for multi-channel HDTV television.
CEI furnished all broadcast technical planning, detail design documentation, equipment procurement, implementation and training services culminating in the transfer of operations in late 1999 from existing locations to the new fully automated server-based facility.In 2006, CEI supported the analog to digital transition at WETA’s Production Center, as well as the re-modernization of the channel’s master control playout facility. The scope of the project included consulting, planning, systems design, installation and testing.
In 2007, CEI completed the high-definition upgrade of WETA’s Production Center. A new state-of-the-art facility enables PBS’ “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” which is produced at WETA, to be broadcast in HD.
The project, featuring new HD control rooms and edit suites, was begun in the first quarter of 2007. Challenges for completing the project included the need to build the control rooms in an active production facility. The space, which was acquired from a conference room, edit suite and reception area, was completely gutted in preparation for the project. A separate air conditioning system had to be installed for the control rooms.
Careful planning and coordination with WETA allowed CEI to complete this phase of an extensive upgrade for the WETA Production Center, as well as conduct testing and training, in time for the first scheduled live broadcast on Dec. 17, 2007. “NewsHour,” seen five nights a week on more than 315 PBS stations across the country, became the first live, regularly scheduled PBS program to be broadcast in HD.
The state-of-the-art production facility, which also hosts “Washington Week in Review,” includes many upgrades: two new HD video control rooms; a new digital audio control room featuring a 5.1 surround sound console; six new HD studio cameras; three upgraded HD edit suites; an expanded online digital media storage system; four HD field camera systems; two HD studio decks; expanded HD routers; a multiple rear projection display wall; and QC/QA workstations.
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WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD
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WBAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Baltimore, began planning to broadcast in high-definition (HD) in early 2007, and station management knew from the beginning that there would be several challenges associated with the HD upgrade. One key hurdle was continuing to broadcast their regular news programming while the studio was being gutted and redesigned.
In December 2007, WBAL brought in Communications Engineering, Inc. (CEI) of Newington, VA, to help them overcome the challenges to create a new HD production system. CEI’s primary responsibilities in the upgrade project included designing and constructing a new HD video control room, audio control room, HD news production studio, a core equipment room and a video control area. The project resulted in the complete modernization and expansion of the existing production facilities to allow WBAL to broadcast in HD.
WBAL, which reaches about 1 million households, was able to handle the problem of continuing its news broadcasts during the build-out by temporarily broadcasting from the newsroom. During this time a new lighting grid and new studio sets were constructed and installed. WBAL also had to locate temporary camera pedestals for their existing cameras so that their permanent robotic pedestals would be available for the new HD cameras.
CEI’s project team worked with WBAL to deal with these problems, as well as develop and refine conceptual and detailed designs, specifications and documentation to ensure the proper design of the technical space, including electrical and mechanical systems. The company also handled console and monitor wall design, equipment procurement and integration, installed and tested the systems, and trained WBAL personnel on systems operation.
WBAL began live HD broadcasts of several daily programs in 2008 after the project was completed on time and within the budget. The new HD production center features a multi-format production switching system, video monitoring system, audio mixing and distribution system, HD studio cameras, and a video monitoring and testing station.
The WBAL staff believes the impact of the new HD production center and studio was immediately apparent to the viewers. WBAL’s parent company, Hearst-Argyle, is a pioneer in the transition to digital TV and is firmly committed to the future of HD technology, so this upgrade project was an ideal fit for the company’s long-term strategy.
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WOSU-TV, Columbus, OH
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WOSU, the Columbus, Ohio-based PBS member station, selected Communications Engineering, Inc. (CEI) to enhance its broadcast and production capabilities while also helping to educate the community about television technology. The station worked with COSI (Center for Science and Industry), a popular downtown Columbus science center, to construct a digital, HD multi-media facility within the 320,000 square-foot COSI building.
COSI is one of the most respected science centers in the nation, serving 18 million visitors since 1964. WOSU chose CEI to construct a fully functioning HD television production center that would blend well with the museum’s mission, plus work with and complement the station’s main studio at the Fawcett Center, located on the Ohio State University campus several miles away.
The center, known as WOSU@COSI, serves as multimedia studios and community space (for civic engagement, forums, performances, events, and meetings) and includes a media literacy lab for digital media and technology activities co-produced with COSI.
Visitors are able to watch live productions and participate in a wide variety of workshops and interactive exhibits. It features the first television and radio studios in downtown Columbus, bringing the excitement and energy of public broadcasting to residents of central Ohio.
WOSU@COSI features complete digital functionality with studios, control rooms and production areas for television, radio and Internet technologies. An especially unique part of the facility is the system’s multiplexed connection by a single fiber optic link to WOSU’s Fawcett Center headquarters, enabling simultaneous broadcasts, communications and control from both locations.
The media center, covering 12,000 square feet, includes a high-definition production control room, TV studio, HD edit systems with shared content, a combination exhibit/studio space, and several media viewing areas.
A key component of the new facility is the 2,000-square-foot Battelle Studio, which is used for producing TV programming and airing live events. The studio is separated from the adjacent exhibit area by a movable, six-panel wall with windows that allow visitors to watch as programs are being produced. The wall can be removed to create a huge open space for special events. A second, smaller studio is planned for radio, audio and smaller video productions.
The sophisticated video control room, located next to the exhibit area and the studio, also has a large window that offers a view from for COSI visitors. The facility includes adjacent audio control and camera shading rooms.
In addition, the system features numerous fiber drop points throughout the entire COSI building to enable live broadcasts from any exhibit area, in effect making it a 320,000-square-foot HD production studio.
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WRC-TV, Washington, D.C.
CEI was selected to design, engineer and renovate this NBC O & O station which will become the blueprint for NBC "Television Stations of the Future" in the upgrade of all NBC Owned and Operated stations The project involves collaboration with WRC-TV station and NY-based technical and operations staff. Every aspect of WRC-TV operations is affected in the digital plant renovation including News, Sports, remote production, multi-channel origination and transmission. An evaluation of current and anticipated industry technology architecture's and solutions is underway with DTV considerations guiding the design process.
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WHYY-TV, & FM91 Philadelphia, PA
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Communications Engineering, Inc. was contracted in 1998 by the WHYY organization to provide turnkey broadcast design and implementation services. CEI collaborated with the WHYY team to design and equip WHYY's new corporate headquarters, broadcast and production facility on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. The analog technical plant was replaced with a hybrid analog/digital solution that will enables WHYY to expand services on additional DTV channels and other media managed through automation and centralized storage systems. WHYY's radio operation became an integral part of the new system design ensuring effective resource and content sharing throughout the production and on air operations.
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KNBC-TV, Burbank, CA
This project consisted of full broadcast turnkey consulting, design, engineering, equipment supply and implementation services performed by CEI for the additions and renovations to the facilities housing the Master Control Room and its associated Equipment Center. Additional areas of CEI service included:
