CEI Completes HD Upgrade of Channel 6 TV Production Systems at Greenspring

Communications Engineering Inc. (CEI) has just completed a major, high definition upgrade of the Channel 6 TV production systems at Greenspring in Springfield, VA, one of 18 Erickson Living retirement communities, serving over 3,000 residents and staff. 

Three full-time Greenspring staff and more than 50 dedicated resident volunteers produce segments and award-winning programs for Channel 6. The station produces a weekday live morning show called Village in Motion, as well as That’s Life, and Talking Sports. Senior residents actively participate in all facets of running Channel 6 including program development, technical operations, and on-air talent positions. The residents operate the cameras, host, and serve as moderators for the program’s guests, run the audio board, assist with graphics and playbacks, and produce voice overs of on-screen text for low-vision residents. Outside the studio, resident volunteers also help to coordinate various audio-visual needs throughout the community’s event venues and meeting spaces, from the Chapel to the theater. Volunteers support sound and lighting needs, as well as recording programs for later replay on Channel 6.

In order to meet growing needs of the station, Greenspring contracted CEI for a full upgrade of the Channel 6 facilities to digital high definition. Everyone agrees the improvement has been dramatic. Sharper pictures and better sound makes Channel 6 an even more enjoyable resource at Greenspring for residents on both sides of the camera… producing the shows and watching them throughout the Greenspring campus.

CEI worked within the project’s budget and kept Channel 6 on-air during the entire digital transition. “CEI’s Jim Taylor has always gone above and beyond and Frank Giliotti has been extremely helpful during the planning and execution of all television projects,” says Diane Gatsis Havinga, Channel 6’s Executive Producer and Director.

Now that the project is complete, CEI is also providing on-going service and support for the Channel 6 facility. Quarterly preventative maintenance (PMs) and CEI’s renown field service team step in when unexpected troubles arise, keeping the Greenspring television facilities always up and operational for the residents.
“Channel 6 and CEI have worked together for the past 10 years,” says Havinga, “It has been a wonderful working relationship – whenever we need technical support, we can call, text or email and get an immediate response.”

CEI’s Frank Giliotti, VP of Technical Services says, “It’s great to see the Greenspring community take advantage of new HD technology for making better community television programs. Greenspring is a long-time CEI customer and we look forward to supporting them for many years to come.”

Key technology in the upgrade on the Greenspring campus:
*    3 Sony high definition cameras
*    Fujinon lenses
*    Miller camera tripods and wheel sets
*    Sharp displays
*    Broadcast Pix production switcher
*    Evertz test generators
*    Ensemble Design converters
*    Avocent KVMs
*    Nevion router
*    Mackie audio console
*    Grass Valley K2 Summit video server for recording and playback
*    AJA KiPro Rack video recorder
*    Listen Technologies assisted listening system
*    TBC consoles
*    Middle Atlantic racks
*    Sennheiser microphones