BX1 Successfully Reinvents its On-Air Look with Telemetrics Robotics

BX1 is a regional television channel based in Brussels that produces more than 25 hours of original programming per week. This includes 30-minuite and hour-long shows dedicated to News, Sports, Entertainment, Politics, and local culture in and around the city of Brussels; which are distributed on the Internet and on radio and television.

Management there is always looking for ways to maintain a high standard on its on-air image as well as new methods for producing content as efficiently as possible. The popular local broadcaster recently decided to integrate camera robotics and tracks systems from Telemetrics as a practical way to do that. This robotics technology is now combined with a virtual set and 3D graphics system from Zero Density that enables the creative team to produce stunning on-screen effects while distinguishing its own programs apart from each and from the competition. 

The Telemetrics systems were installed in May by local system integrator AV Group and went live a week later—in time to help televise results from the country’s Federal Elections over a three-day period. BX1’s production studio now includes: three Telemetrics PT-LP-S5 pan/tilt heads with built-in tally light and teleprompter power; a Telemetrics Televator™ EP-7 elevating pedestal; a TeleGlide™ TG-4 track system; and an RCCP-1A STS robotic camera control panel. The ultra-precise mechanics provide smooth motion and an accuracy of 0.016º, making the PT-LP-S5 ideal for virtual set applications such as this one.

Rafaël Sellekaerts, systems engineer at BX1 said that the team wanted to improve its on-air look without spending a lot of money or human resources. The Telemetrics systems installed enable a single person to easily operate all three robotic cameras in the studio, including the one on a TeleGlide camera track and elevating camera pedestal-which is used for steady, sweeping camera pans on air across the front of the Zero Density virtual set.

“BX1 wanted to be able to offer a new range of programs based on a virtual studio tracked to be in the style of the day,” said Rafaël Sellekaerts, Chief Systems Engineer at BX1. “The challenge in this case was the integration between the Telemetrics and Zero Density systems, but it all came together seamlessly in the end and has worked flawlessly ever since.”

Control data from the robotic camera on a track in the studio is fed into the Zero Density Virtual asset system and used to enable precise moves that display stunning graphical elements to help on-air BX1’s presenters tell their stories in a highly visual way that resonates with viewers.

“It was a big challenge to integrate the three robotic cameras and the Zero Density engines in a week, but we did it,” Sellekaerts said. “The result is more than good. We had fears about the interpretation of the Y axis on the diagonal traveling axis, but the Telemetrics system is very accurate so it gives us dynamic movement and very high precision. Everyone is very pleased.”

Indeed, everyone seems very happy with the results. BX1 viewers have praised the new look of the channel and its technical team is excited with the possibilities to create fantastic sets and photorealistic-looking imagery for its programs both now and in the future.