CEI Completes HD Upgrade of CSN Mid-Atlantic Facilities

Communications Engineering, Inc. (CEI) has completed a comprehensive HD upgrade and expansion of the studio and news facilities for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic in Bethesda, Md., enabling all of the network’s news and entertainment programming to be delivered in HD.

The project, which was completed on time and on budget, included upgrades to the production control room and studio, two additional master control rooms, equipment core area, transmission system and additional edit suites.

CSN Mid-Atlantic is the official television partner of the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, D.C. United, Atlantic Coast Conference and Colonial Athletic Association. The network delivers more than 500 live sporting events per year, along with news, analysis and entertainment programming, to more than 4.7 million homes throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, as well as parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

“We are on the verge of several collegiate and professional seasons beginning, so it was critical that this project be completed on time,” says CSN Mid-Atlantic Director of Engineering Steve Weber. “CEI performed at the highest level and we are very pleased that they have prepared us to bring all of our news and entertainment shows to our viewers in HD.”

CEI handled design, equipment procurement, systems integration, installation, testing, training and overall project management for the HD upgrade and expansion. The key

elements of the project include: Harris waveform monitors, terminal equipment, Velocity edit systems, Nexio Volt servers and NetVX HD encoders; Image Video tally system; Miranda Master Control Switching, NVision Routing and Kaleido-X multi-image processors; Apple Final Cut Pro edit systems; Chyron Hyperx3 character generators and Cameo graphics management; Click Effects HD clip server system; Fingerworks telestrator; Fujinon HD lenses; Panther Trixy and Vario Jib; and Sony MVS8000 switcher, HXC HD cameras, test monitors, and professional displays.

“This project had a broad scope and a firm deadline, plus the additional challenge of upgrading a working facility with no down time or program interruption,” says Lawrence Brody, President and CEO of CEI. “Our team did a great job in meeting the requirements, for the schedule as well as addressing the very latest in technical capabilities. As a result, sports fans across this region will enjoy much more quality HD programming from Comcast SportsNet this fall.”