Amsterdam, The Netherlands (IBC — Stand 1.D11), September 08, 2011 — Grass Valley™ will show expanded functionality for its Karrera™ Video Production Center switcher (see release: "Grass Valley Unveils Next-Generation Production Switcher Karrera Video Production Center," September 8, 2011) with its Ignite™ Scalable Automated Production System.

By making use of the Ignite Konnect Live Control Room Automation System, users can seamlessly interface the two production solutions and cost-effectively transition to live production automation and benefit from the Ignite system's many technical and resource-saving advantages.

With the latest version of Ignite Konnect software and hardware, professionals can use the new Grass Valley Karrera switcher panel to automate their daily newscasts, as well as scripted and unscripted studio productions. This new integration also includes the ability to directly link the Ignite software to a newsroom computer system (NRCS), giving the entire news staff more control and capabilities, as well as improved audio mixing features.

"Our plan for Karrera was to always make sure that it could immediately be used as either a standalone system or as part of the Ignite automation system with enhanced NRCS support," said Scott Murray, Senior Vice President, Live Production Solutions for Grass Valley. "Now, whether a user has a Karrera, Kalypso™, or Kayenne™ switcher, all can work seamlessly as part of the Ignite automation system, thereby allowing an owner to gain more value."

Karrera & Ignite Konnect
Visitors to the Grass Valley IBC stand will see demonstrations of the Ignite Konnect system and new Karrera switcher in a "split" mode, whereby half of the M/E channels are controlled by the Karrera switcher panel's operator, while the other half are controlled by the Ignite automation software. This allows broadcasters to produce two live shows, simultaneously, one under manual operation and the other under Ignite Konnect automation.

Also new for Ignite, Grass Valley will be showing ActiveX control and a new MOS gateway and management server for interfacing to iNews and ENPS newsroom computer systems. This new capability helps non-technical staff and those new to the Ignite interface to get up to speed quickly via a simple drag-and-drop architecture. Operators familiar to the standard Ignite system will still be able to run the system the way they always have.

The Media Object Portal (MOP)-based, MOS–compliant server provides a bridge between the Ignite system and the NRCS, while allowing users to set filters to automatically block unwanted content from the show rundown.

Pricing and Availability
The new Ignite Konnect for the Karrera Video Production Center will be available to order in September, with first shipments planned to begin in December, at a starting list price of $52,495, which includes the new Katalyst automation panel.

Ignite Konnect for the Kalypso and Kayenne Video Production Centers is available now.

The new Karrera Video Production Center will be available to order in September with first shipments planned to begin in December.

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About Grass Valley – the Premier Video Technology Solutions Company

With a rich history serving the broadcast and professional video industries, the Grass Valley name is synonymous with innovation, leadership, and performance. With a full range of products and services supporting many of the world's most high-profile television events, Grass Valley offers the most comprehensive portfolio of flexible and cost-effective digital technologies and systems available. Customers deploying Grass Valley solutions include most of the world's leading broadcast and teleproduction facilities, independent video professionals, as well as emerging content creators and distributors providing broadband, telecommunications, and transmission services. When you're watching news, sports, or entertainment programming, whether on a TV, the Web, or a mobile phone, you're watching Grass Valley at work.

For information about Grass Valley products, please visit: www.grassvalley.com