Latest news with #LDX180
Broadcast Pro
16-06-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows
With a growing footprint across the Middle East, Grass Valley is navigating the challenges and opportunities of a broadcast market in transition. In an exclusive interview with BroadcastPro ME, GV's VP of Sales for EMEA, Mark Gardner, discusses how evolving needs in the Middle East are shaping the company's regional strategy. What kind of momentum are you seeing for Grass Valley across the Middle East? We're continuing to see strong growth in our traditional products such as cameras, switchers and IP solutions. However, what's especially exciting is the growth in our software offerings. At last year's CABSAT, we announced a new partnership with Arabsat to provide our cloud playout software, Playout X, as a managed service. This year Arabsat showcased it at their booth, and we're thrilled to welcome new customers to the platform through this partnership. We're also seeing increasing interest in remote production for sports coverage. Technologies we've been successfully deploying in mainland Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and the UK, are now beginning to gain traction in the Middle East. Can you share any customer use cases in the region? We worked closely with NEP on their new IP trucks for the Middle East, supplying cameras and switchers, which were showcased at CABSAT. This collaboration also included our new shallow-depth-of-field camera, the LDX 180, a single large-sensor model that delivers a cinematic look for sports. Although the camera's official release is scheduled for IBC, NEP provided a regional sneak preview. This highlights the strength of our partnership. What stands out is how this technology allows broadcasters to achieve cinematic storytelling without added operational complexity. NEP was able to connect the camera to their system just like any other, integrating it into their existing live workflow. The result is the ability to tell more creative stories while maintaining a streamlined and more efficient production process. You've been discussing AMPP for some time. Has that translated into real-world applications? It's more than a POC now. For example, AMPP is being used across all Saudi Pro League games. They are using it for ingest and then using FrameLight X, our production asset management system, for highlight cuts. This relationship continues to grow, and we are helping them explore additional ways to use AMPP, particularly in cloud and remote production workflows. Given the breadth of your portfolio, where are you seeing the most traction? Last year we saw significant growth in cameras and switchers, but one of our key areas of focus is software products. Playout for example is an area where we see strong potential in the region. We're currently working with several customers on tests and proof-of-concept projects for both on-premises and cloud deployments. One of the strengths of our product line is its flexibility. You can deploy on-premises using COTS servers or in cloud environments such as AWS, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba or whichever platform best suits your business needs. What overarching message did you bring to CABSAT this year? It's the Grass Valley Media Universe, bringing all of our existing hardware products into the AMPP ecosystem. It's a true platform approach, with the entire product range connected. We're also making sure customers understand that it's an open ecosystem. Third-party vendors are encouraged to join the system and benefit from the platform approach. In addition, we've been working on the Media Exchange Layer (MXL). This is an EBU initiative, and Grass Valley has been a strong supporter. It enables the exchange of video and audio flows on a CPU-based platform. We expect to make the SDK available to customers in the coming months, giving them confidence that the platforms will remain open and that interoperability is built in. What are the biggest challenges right now from a sales standpoint? The breadth of our portfolio is always a challenge. We're selling software products, solutions that can be deployed on-premises or in cloud environments, and more traditional hardware products. We offer a lot of choice to customers, and while they benefit from that flexibility, they also want a clear understanding of where things are headed. Cloud may be ideal for one customer, while another may benefit more from an on-premises deployment. For example, we spoke with a few customers in Saudi Arabia who feel that connectivity charges are still too high, making cloud less viable for them at the moment. In other parts of the region, however, customers may see the benefits of cloud and be ready to adopt it. We're working to tailor our message to each individual market. It's a mistake to treat the Gulf as a single homogenous market. Each country is unique, with its own specific needs and conditions. Where will Grass Valley focus its efforts next? Interoperability remains a top priority for us. We are actively involved in initiatives like the Media Exchange Layer (MXL) and are accelerating our efforts in this area. Our goal is to ensure that customers can seamlessly integrate our solutions with other software environments. We understand that customers make long-term investments and need confidence that their systems will stay flexible and future-proof. By supporting open standards and speeding up development in areas like MXL, we are helping customers achieve the security and adaptability they need.
Broadcast Pro
06-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Grass Valley introduces LDX 180 camera at NAB 2025
The LDX 180 brings cinematic depth of field to fast-paced live production environments, combining the artistry of cinematic storytelling with the speed and precision required in broadcast production. Grass Valley has introduced the LDX 180, the industry's first oversampled large imager camera engineered specifically for live production workflows. Making its global debut at NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas (booth N506), the LDX 180 is set to transform live storytelling by combining cinematic depth of field with the speed and efficiency of a traditional broadcast camera. At the core of the LDX 180 is a newly developed S35 global shutter CMOS imager, designed in-house by Grass Valley. The camera leverages the LDX 100 Series platform and integrates with existing models like the LDX 135 and LDX 150, ensuring consistent colourimetry, shared transmission capabilities and a cohesive visual experience across mixed-camera setups. This camera enables productions—from sports and concerts to drama and live events—to blend dynamic wide-angle shots with emotionally charged cinematic close-ups, all within a single workflow. Whether used in full cinematic setups or hybrid productions, the LDX 180 fits seamlessly into existing infrastructures with flexible output options including SDI and SMPTE ST 2110, made possible by its compatibility with XCU and NativeIP technologies. Paul de Bresser, Product Manager for Cameras at Grass Valley, said: 'The LDX 180 is the only large imager camera that delivers cinematic storytelling without compromising speed, connectivity, or workflow integration. This is not just another retrofitted cinematic camera, the LDX 180 has been purpose-built for the realities of live workflows, bringing greater emotional depth to live productions and enabling broadcasters to unlock new capabilities in cinematic storytelling for sports, concerts, and drama productions.' Key to the LDX 180's performance is Grass Valley's Xenios CMOS imager, offering oversampled UHD resolution for true cinematic depth of field. When paired with Creative Grading, operators can make real-time shading adjustments with graphical precision, enhancing visual control and creative expression on the fly. Whether used as the centrepiece in a multi-camera cinematic setup or integrated into a broader hybrid system, the LDX 180 empowers broadcasters to elevate their storytelling. Sports productions can now juxtapose tactical views with emotive player close-ups, while concerts and dramas benefit from immersive visual depth and immediacy. 'Live productions can now capture depth, intensity, and connection in a way that was previously impossible,' de Bresser added. 'The LDX 180 continues Grass Valley's legacy of propelling the industry forward with award-winning innovations that are redefining visual storytelling, and at NAB Show we are showcasing how our game-changing solutions are leading the media revolution, and redefining what's possible in live production.' Visitors to the NAB Show will have the exclusive opportunity to experience the new LDX 180 and the latest LDX Series advancements on booth N506, April 6-9, and discover how the products and solutions of the GV Media Universe are pushing the boundaries of live media production.
