MDR AKTUELL – New Construction of the Cross-Media Broadcasting Complex

As part of Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk’s (MDR) comprehensive tri-media strategy process, the previously separate and geographically dispersed editorial teams of MDR AKTUELL have been brought together. The distribution channels for TV, radio, and online now work cross-medially at a single editorial location at MDR in Leipzig. To enable this, a new broadcasting complex was created on site, consisting primarily of two presentation studios, each with an adjacent newsreader studio and a divided control room. Additionally, a studio for cross-media pre-productions and a weather studio were built.

All studio technology facilities can be used very flexibly within the broadcasting complex. This flexibility is essential for cross-media work and ensures that changing programming requirements can be implemented within this complex in the future.

In late 2018, Studio Hamburg MCI was commissioned to technically equip the new broadcasting and editorial spaces for MDR AKTUELL. The contract covered broadcast and conference technology. Studio furniture was provided by Studio Hamburg Werkstätten, allowing the entire project to be carried out in close coordination between MCI and the workshops.

The MCI integration team was responsible for the broadcast technology, the installation of conference technology, and the mounting of trusses for presentation and information systems.

The divided control room complex was equipped with DHD 52-MX mixing console surfaces as well as the corresponding DSPs, audio, and control interfaces. In total, six studios (two presentation studios, two news studios, one weather studio, and one tri-media audio booth) were fitted with DHD control consoles, production technology, and an AVT telephone screener system. The dira! production and playout system was also integrated with all associated components. The central DHD 52/XD2 program router provides the necessary interfaces to the control rooms, studios, editorial workstations, and the connection to the radio center in Halle. The IHSE KVM system and the integration of 79 audio workstations, each with different, workflow-specific equipment, were also part of the integration and configuration package.

In the editorial area, 43 workstations were equipped with a DHD 52/TX mixing console and were also connected via the program router.

The equipment for the editorial and broadcasting areas with ProAV media technology components included all conference areas as well as 19 trusses up to 7.5 meters long for presentation and information systems. A total of 70 Samsung digital signage displays were installed on the trusses, enabling the display of editorial content, news feeds, and TV programs as information sources for the editorial teams.

As general contractor, MCI was responsible for the planning, installation, cabling, commissioning, and configuration of all broadcast and media technology components, both in the cross-media broadcasting and editorial rooms as well as in the central equipment room. All systems were handed over to MDR at the turn of the year.