recent local virtual studio launches featuring FMJ virtual sets include: Red Deer, Lethbridge, Victoria and Halifax

article link: Global TV begins next phase to air news from virtual sets

Virtual sets give Global TV ‘a network look on a local budget’

This week, “HD Technology Update” concludes its conversation with Gerry Belec, Global Television director of technology and design, about the Canadian broadcaster’s innovative use of virtual sets in local markets and regionally located consolidated production control to set the stage for the rollout of local HD newscasts.

Belec was part of a five-person team from Global TV responsible for implementing the approach, which was conceived of and developed by John O’Connor, the broadcaster’s VP of engineering....

read the complete article here

Kent State Student Broadcasts Look Polished and Professional Thanks to Orad SmartSet

DMN Newswire--2008-6-25--Orad Hi-Tec Systems Limited (Symbol: OHT), a leading provider of virtual sets, on-air graphics systems, and sports production and enhancement solutions for the global broadcast market, today announced that Kent State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Office of Student Media have implemented the company's SmartSet 3-D virtual set system as a key component of a new HD facility for TV2, its student-operated broadcaster. The school's new building was dedicated in April and the Orad system fit perfectly into the state-of-art facility. The university is located in Kent, Ohio....

from CNBC

Award-winning journalist Maria Bartiromo and a global news gathering team, alongside well known current and former CEOs and a wealth of experts will explore a diverse range of topics and provide solutions to the question of innovation. This compelling series will demonstrate how to side step the pitfalls and supply real tools and concrete strategies for viewers seeking to innovate in their own organizations.

http://innovation.cnbc.com/

you can download the complete case study pdf from PNY's website:

http://www2.pny.com/Pressroom/caseStudies/CNBC.pdf

Thanks to everyone at PNY, CNBC and Brainstorm for their support!

From CNBC website:

Award-winning journalist Maria Bartiromo and a global newsgathering team, alongside well known current and former CEOs and a wealth of experts will explore a diverse range of topics and provide solutions to the question of innovation. This compelling series will demonstrate how to side step the pitfalls and supply real tools and concrete strategies for viewers seeking to innovate in their own organizations.

The Business of Innovation is a five part series on CNBC which premiered Monday June 03

full press release to come.

The theme of the seminars: Next Generation Content where a technical presentation will be presented by Global's Eric Heidendahl on the Global virtual studio project titled " The Future of Virtual (Reality that is)"

more details: http://www.smpte.org/sections/toronto/techsem/

For the bold relaunch CNBC wanted a new look that employed state of the art graphics but still felt like an authoritative news program. The network turned to FMJ to address the numerous technical and production challenges involved in retooling the series.

FMJ’s solution was to create a simple yet elegant space with large curved multi-functional virtual panels. The set was designed with references to the station logo and other graphic elements in mind. Deep, rich colors added depth and dimension while animated set elements were created to add movement to the shots.

Production interfaces were also built by FMJ to help CNBC's operators easily control the elements of the set interactively and in realtime. This allows an efficient workflow for directors and cameramen when blocking shots.

“The unique challenge to designing and building realtime graphic spaces is how to create depth within the hardware and software limitations,” said FMJ’s Creative Director Ronen Lasry. “With CNBC we were able to listen to their needs and craft something we hope will exceed expectations.”

BUSINESS NATION airs monthly CNBC

media coverage for this project..probably the biggest and most complex virtual studio installation is starting to grow.. we will link to as many articles as we can find.

from the Ottawa Citizen:
Global National -- from Ottawa
Kevin Newman moves to the nation's capital to anchor the news, with the help of cutting-edge technology

from KSU site:

“From cameras to the video switcher to video outputs, everything is new,” declared Tim Muir, TV2 operations manager.
A 3-D virtual set – as against a standard set with a physical backdrop – has injected versatility to TV2’s shows. The set combines real people and objects in a computer-generated environment.
“Now we don’t have to move or tear anything down when doing different shows,” Muir said. “And it’s a lot easier to get the look we want.”
TV2 is among only a few student-run TV stations in the country that use virtual sets, Muir said. The station can now produce a vast array of graphics and backgrounds for different shows.
Orad, a company from Israel, constructed the set, which can be viewed here: http://www.fullmentaljacket.com/librarysets/news-c/. TV2 plans to lease out the studio to area production companies when it is not in use by JMC students, Muir said.

more information on this project can be found here:
http://jmc.kent.edu/home/feature/2008/January/TV2Live/index.html