MCI Implements New Cross-Media State Broadcasting Center for NDR in Hamburg

MCI has won the tender for the construction of the new cross-media state broadcasting center for Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) in Hamburg. The project was successfully completed. In Building 24 on the NDR premises in Lokstedt, a state-of-the-art broadcasting center was created, bringing together the NDR 90.3 radio station and cross-media collaboration between various editorial teams within a pioneering technical infrastructure.

The project focused on the planning, delivery, integration, and commissioning of all media technology systems. MCI was responsible for all necessary measures and services to ensure smooth broadcasting operations. The new broadcasting center meets the highest standards for operational reliability and redundancy, guaranteeing uninterrupted 24-hour broadcasting. The DHD mixing consoles used operate across the campus via AES67, connecting with the playout systems at the Rothenbaum site. The Dante protocol from Audinate is also used within the studios. High flexibility and scalability are ensured, including for future studio expansions.

The new building comprises several rooms, including broadcasting areas with two on-air studios, a production control room with a production studio, and a broadcast support area with three workstations and an additional traffic workstation. The ensemble is complemented by further production control rooms, an optional multimedia workshop with control room, six extended editorial workstations with recording capabilities, and a modern newsroom with a total of 19 workstations.

MCI installed the media technology equipment in the central technical room. The complete integration of all video, audio, and signal lines was implemented by MCI, including the programming and configuration of all components such as the audio system, telephone hybrids, playout servers, and control systems. As a result, the entire system was handed over to NDR ready for operation.

The studio and control room furniture come from the standard range of Studio Hamburg Design Works. In addition, MCI coordinated the integration of supplied systems such as data networks, servers, video, and power infrastructure of NDR, ensuring seamless integration into the overall system.

Throughout the project, regular planning and interface meetings as well as workshops were held both on-site and virtually. Complete system documentation, including conceptual and implementation plans as well as configuration protocols, was handed over to NDR.

After successful acceptance and the briefing of all trades, the new state broadcasting center went on air. With this project, NDR has created optimal conditions for modern, networked, and future-proof broadcasting operations in Hamburg.