Reidel’s largest N.A. intercom in place at NFL Network

By Ken Kerschbaumer

The NFL Network, based in Los Angeles, has gone live with a newly expanded intercom system that made its debut in time for the network’s launch of its eight-game package on Thanksgiving night. With the help of Azcar, says Michael Descoteau, Riedel general manager, U.S., the system was blown out to more than 300 ports.

“It’s our largest system in North America,” says Descoteau. “We’re extremely pleased with the way it turned out.”

The Riedel installation consists of three Artist 128-port mainframes and nearly 100 control panels. NFL Network chose Riedel’s Artist digital intercom platform based upon the organization’s successful history with the manufacturer’s equipment.

The Artist 128 was designed to benefit mission critical applications such as broadcast studios and remote production. The platform consists of a fiber-based backbone providing a decentralized network infrastructure for production intercom and the distribution of analog and digital audio. The system is fully redundant, all modules are hot-swappable and extensive on-line, real time system monitoring as well as multiple computer control capability via Riedel’s Director Configuration software allows the highest degree of reliability and ease of rapid repair, so essential to live sports operation.

Descoteau says IP is the current buzz in Intercom circles although the NFL Network system doesn’t take advantage of the technology. “For big networks like Fox or CBS Sports IP offers huge savings because they aren’t nailed by local telcos,” says Descoteau. “But there is also a lot of interest in digital intercoms as facilities see the benefit of a digital pipe that distributes both audio and data.”