Apantac’s KVM-over-IP key to ZDF’s remote production of FIFA World Cup

German public broadcaster ZDF chose Apantec’s KVM-over-IP solutions for its remote production of the recently concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup Soccer in Qatar.
 
ZDF produced and showed the World Cup live in Germany on free-to-air television, with the games production handled remotely at the National Broadcasting Centre (NBC) located at ZDF in Mainz, rather than on-site in Qatar.

The mobile production unit (MPE) founded and driven by ZDF and fellow German public broadcaster purchased more than 150 KVM-over-IP transmitters (Tx) and receivers (Rx) (models: KVM-IP-Tx-PL/KVM-IP-Rx-P) and “free flow” software licenses from Apantac through Broadcast Solutions, Apantec’s representative in Germany.

With the Apantac KVM-over-IP extender/receiver solutions, the technical team in the MPE was able to extend and switch video signals, keyboard, and mouse functions, as well as embedded and analogue audio signals over IP. 

Operators were also able to access all their computers and servers on the network from any display, keyboard and mouse consoles. The receivers allowed scaling of the incoming video to match the resolution of the computer console monitor, regardless of the source computer resolution.

Jens Hoppe, Head of Support for Broadcast Solution, said, “When we showed ZDF the flexibility, scalability and functional capabilities of Apantac’s KVM-over-IP solution, it made sense to them and their operations.”