NDR selects Vitec Group Communications
News Release: September 10, 2004
NDR, one of Germany’s largest broadcasters has chosen Europe’s Intercom market leader – Vitec Group Communications (VGC) as their preferred intercom supplier by awarding a long-term contract to the British firm.
NDR, a VGC customer for a short time, but a Drake customer for over 15 years, has reinforced their satisfaction with VGC by securing a long-term commitment. VGC triumphed over fierce European competition to be NDR’s preferred choice for the next decade. Under the initial order, VGC have planned to supply numerous intercom systems, commencing with NDR’s brand new studio campus in Hamburg.
Included in the new project for NDR’s studio is the award-winning FreeSpeak®: the world’s first digital, wireless intercom. The inclusion of FreeSpeak® in the system architecture allows wireless users to roam freely around the studio, whilst still being in constant communication with all, or selected members of the production team.
The current systems include 3000 series and an obsolete intercom from another German supplier. As a short-term measure, VGC will develop an interface for backward compatibility to the existing obsolete intercom, which will gradually be phased out and replaced with the 4000 series II.
During the contract period, VGC will be introducing several innovative networking technologies to NDR. VGC is also in the process of developing new, intuitive web based software and NDR will benefit from this new technology.
German distributor and systems Integrator MCI Studio Hamburg will play an integral part over the contacted period, acting as systems integrator for VGC. AVC, a separate part of Studio Hamburg, will also provide technical support for all of NDR’s studios and OB vans.
About NDR:
Forming part of ARD, NDR consists of eight radio stations and NDR TV. NDR contributes a large number of prime-time programmes to ARD. NDR TV is known for its high-quality programmes, which are characterised by their journalistic competence and diversity.
