New Zealand Parliament

Friday October 12, 2018 12:23

Gencom has a longstanding track record with NZ Parliament, dating back to the inception of Parliament Television in 2007. Gencom supplied and installed all broadcasting systems including robotic PTZ cameras, vision switcher, playout and archive systems. We also designed and installed a custom user interface that allowed selection of a camera position based on speaker name and/or location. In 2014 we upgraded the graphics system to a Ross XPression system with a customised user interface that allowed selection of graphics templates and automatic text population based on the speaker chosen in the control system.

In 2018, the Office of the Clerk reached an agreement with longstanding operations contractor Kordia to take over ownership of all Presentation, Master Control and Playout functions. The agreement involved replacing all systems and relocating the control room to a remote location roughly 20 km away. Given that there would no longer be a Kordia operator at Parliament House, reliable, efficient remote communication was essential. Gencom worked closely with Kordia and with Parliament from the outset to design and implement a modern studio control system that would meet these requirements. Ross Video’s Lightning Control System was selected for its flexibility, ease of use, and tight integration with Ross’s Carbonite vision switcher and XPression graphics system. Gencom contracted separately with the Office of the Clerk to install new cameras in the debating chamber (these continue to be owned by Parliament).

Installation occurred over the Christmas 2018 recess and the system was handed over to Kordia in mid-January in preparation for the 2019 Parliamentary Sitting Schedule.