UK - Sky News is now broadcasting from its new, state-of-the-art Sky News Centre studio complex in West London. Central to the operation is the main combined studio-newsroom, complete with the first LED backdrop solution in a 24/7 UK broadcast facility. Barco supplied all of the LED backdrop walls equipped with unique diffusers especially developed for the broadcast market, and projectors used in news studios and monitoring rooms in the purpose built facility.

Paul Vickerage, head of studio production for Sky News states, "One reason for the purchase from Barco was that Barco is a total solution provider and could provide us with all the LED and projectors needed for this new and technologically advanced studio."

At 7,500sq.ft Sky News' new newsroom is over twice the size of its previous facility, which was around 3,000 square foot. Measuring 14m x 3m, and 34 tiles long and 6 tiles high, the main news LED wall is nearly twice the size of the previous wall, and has a total resolution of 2448 x 432 pixels.

At the heart of the newsroom-studio is a state-of-the-art motorized presentation desk that rotates. The desk has been installed with a purpose-built LED screen, another television first, that can mirror the images on the news wall, giving depth to the picture used. Alternatively the LED on the desk can be operated independently, giving Sky flexibility in methods to portray the story under presentation. Sky has chosen the Barco ILite 3 complete with controller.

Nick Pollard, head of Sky News, says: "Sky News is an innovator. We were first on the 24-hour news scene in the UK and have consistently set the standard to which others aspire. We are committed to developing the service we offer to viewers and these changes will seek to broaden our appeal while cementing our position as the most innovative force in news television."

Stephan Paridaen, president of Barco's Media and Entertainment division adds: "The fantastic installation at Sky demonstrates Barco's ability to provide a total visual solution for our customers. With the LED diffusers we have another example of Barco working in partnership with our customers to provide bespoke solutions and specially developed products to ensure that the final result is a perfect fit with the customer brief."

(Jim Evans)


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