Abu Dhabi Media Upgrades for the Future with Imagine Communications

Imagine Communications is providing a full upgrade of the central technical facilities at Abu Dhabi Media. The center, which includes playout facilities for 15 HD channels, relied extensively on Imagine technology when it was first established 10 years ago. Central to the design of the refreshed technology platform is the flexibility to update seamlessly to meet changing market demands. The system currently supports baseband/SDI, but is future-proofed to incorporate IP connectivity, as required. It supports 4K, HDR, and other potential technical developments. The hybrid architecture supports a mix of on-premises and cloud-ready solutions, including Imagine’s Broadcast Master and xG Schedule for traffic and program scheduling.

The new installation provides an end-to-end broadcast chain, from ingest to delivery. The new ingest and asset management system is based on the Imagine Nexio Motion, which manages all content workflows across the system while the Imagine Versio playout solution, running as software instances on Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) workstations, supports the playout automation, including Nexio+ AMP, branding, and master control switching. The Nexio Motion also provides browse access to content and low-resolution editing. High-resolution editing software has direct access to content on Versio IOX storage solutions for highly efficient post production. Also incorporated into the network at the software level are other key applications, including QC, file transfer, and production graphics, which reside alongside the central archival storage.

Abu Dhabi Media has elected to make a managed transition to IP, primarily to protect its capital investment in legacy equipment. The continuing relationship between Imagine Communications and Abu Dhabi Media and the availability of support in the region were key deciding factors in awarding the contract to Imagine. This major program of work has now been designed, with installation starting at the beginning of 2018 for an on-air date in May.