Bexel Debuts 3G LIVE!

Bexel, the largest video rental company in the U.S., has combined the best of broadcast with the best of the broadband production world with the debut of its 3G LIVE! Broadcast Production Package that will enable broadcasters to produce live, cost-efficient content for the 3G and broadband community.

With its compact rack packaging and industry-standard interface, Bexel has succeeded in assembling a system that both satisfies the technical requirements of new 3G media channels while maintaining the workflow compatibility of live television production. The system is designed to use up to 6 video and audio feeds from a live production and create platform-specific content. Unilateral cameras and graphics can also be accommodated if needed.

Designed with the live broadcaster in mind, the system is contained in a portable rack system that can quickly and easily be transported to and from a live event. Moreover, the system can be universally used for all live events and produces content very quickly and cost effectively. Bexel’s Broadband package costs roughly 25 percent of the base cost of a live television truck.

Comprised of four workflow components, the Bexel system differs from other broadband solutions with its mating of industry-standard and cutting edge technologies from EVS and Apple ®. “We are pleased to see our long-time partners at Bexel utilizing the full power and flexibility offered by our broadcast products,” says Fred Garroy, GM of EVS USA. “With Bexel’s solution-based engineering expertise, we foresee a successful inroad into the 3G marketplace.”

The industry-standard EVS LSM-XT is used to provide up to six channels of content ingest. After ingest, the clips are transferred to an XFile Digital Archive Station and are then rewrapped as QuickTime‚ files using specialized EVS software.

From there, Apple’s Final Cut Pro Studio‚ system is used to edit and finish content pieces without having to re-record or render the clips. Once finished product is created in Final Cut Pro, it can then be sent to a client in any file format desired using software tools that are part of Final Cut Pro Studio or the Telestream Flip4Mac product. The system converts finished content to any major file format for distribution to any broadband platform. Connection to a customer’s hosting facility can then be accomplished using any of the standard broadband services, including wireless, DSL or digital cable.

“EVS is the defacto-standard in live production and event recording,” says Tom Dickinson, VP and General Manager of Bexel. “As this market develops, we wanted a solution that broadcasters are comfortable with. EVS is a known quantity and their technology is proven. With EVS as the standard, we’re able to offer a cost-effective solution without the need to duplicate systems or personnel on site.”

Bexel will offer the system beginning in January of 2006 and will provide support for all components of the 3G LIVE! Broadcast Production package through its network of ten US branches and its staff of trained technicians. In addition, Bexel will also provide authorized Final Cut Pro training for long-term use technicians of the package.