Project engineer at ITV Steve Usher says: "In the TV lighting world, operators are only interested in the lighting, and not the technology. The old desks needed increasingly frequent repairs, and it was becoming harder to get spares. We looked at lots of different options, but it was difficult to find one which all the operators were confident about using. We were looking for a desk which was sophisticated, capable and flexible."
To change the desks over, the studios needed to be taken out of use for a few days - and with the studios as busy as they are, finding a slot was difficult. Usher continues: "The previous desks worked on DMX, so we needed to completely recable for Ethernet. In front of the operator in each control room is a Congo; out of sight under the desk is a Congo jr operating synchonised backup all the time. Should the Congo fail, the Congo jr can be lifted out of its hiding place and set to work immediately."
Mick Cocker, sales director of Lighting Logic, says: "We're really pleased to be installing lighting control systems at ITV. After years of searching for just the right desks, ETC fitted perfectly. All the installations have gone perfectly, thanks to efficient working between ourselves and the technical guys at ITV and with the support of ETC, both on site and on the phone. So far, we've successfully installed desks in two studios, and are waiting for August, when the facilities are quiet, to do the third and final installation."
(Jim Evans)
