Sky News Arabia, based in Abu Dhabi, has embraced studio automation, shifting away from manual processes to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. Suresh Kumar, the Director of Technology at Sky News Arabia, emphasized the broadcaster’s unique needs, stating that their complex workflows, especially with multilingual broadcasts, necessitated adapting studio automation systems to fit their existing processes.
The decision to adopt Vizrt’s Viz Mosart automation software was influenced by multiple factors. Notably, Sky News Arabia’s prior use of several Vizrt products in Abu Dhabi studios facilitated a smoother transition. With Viz Mosart, staff training was minimized, and they benefitted from observing its operations in other Sky group companies, including Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland.
The Viz Mosart system seamlessly integrates with key studio components, such as the iNews Newsroom Control System, Grass Valley Kayenne vision mixer, and Avid FastServe playout server. This integration ensures a cohesive workflow, enabling real-time adjustments and last-minute content changes, crucial for a dynamic newsroom environment.
Training was a pivotal aspect of the transition. To ensure uninterrupted operations, the Sky News Arabia team underwent comprehensive training, ensuring a confident on-air transition. Remarkably, the entire project, initially projected to span six months, was completed in half the time. The broadcaster went live with Viz Mosart ahead of schedule, without any glitches.
The automation initiative not only bolstered consistency but also yielded cost savings. Operational costs were slashed by over 40%, and the system’s reliability significantly reduced errors, enhancing viewer experience. Varoujan Joulfayan, Head of Creative, highlighted the system’s impact, emphasizing the reduction in human errors and the resultant consistency in production quality.
Wissam Ayoub, Director of Studio Operations, lauded the system’s user-friendly interface and its adaptability to both planned and breaking news scenarios. He further mentioned that the transition’s success was evident, as recognized by the ASBU Broadcast Pro ME award, acknowledging excellence and innovation in the Media and Entertainment industry.
