CBC/Radio-Canada chooses ETL's RF equipment for broadcast centre

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. As Canada’s trusted news source, CBC/Radio-Canada offers a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs.

In order to to inform, enlighten and entertain the general public, CBC/Radio-Canada need good quality and reliable RF distribution equipment. 

CBC/Radio-Canada's broadcasting facilities need to be supported with reliable RF equipment for a consistent and uninterrupted broadcast feed.

The new 420,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Maison de Radio-Canada will broadcast 13 radio stations and CBC’s French-speaking arm with 20 TV channels and 80 radio channels operating out of the hub.

The new center is completely fibre based; IP has become a core focus for many broadcasters as they look to create more flexibility and reliability in their operation - especially in the wake of Covid-19.

ETL’s RF distribution equipment was supplied through its partner Consultation Pefau Consulting, a company which ETL has worked with since 2016.

The RF equipment for this project was chosen because of its redundancy capability, scalability and longevity as the production facility will serve the broadcaster for years to come.

The project included ETL’s Hurricane 64x 64 RF switch matrix (HUR-10) equipped with active fibre optic input modules, L-band Alto line amplifier and 8, 16 and 32-way single L-Band Active Dextra splitters.

This is the second project on which CBC/Radio-Canada has used ETL’s RF distribution equipment after working with the manufacturer on the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto in 2016, where ETL’s StingRay RF Over Fibre equipment is installed.

The careful design of the new Maison de Radio-Canada ensured that every piece of RF equipment and component that was chosen reduced downtime to a minimum and guaranteed continuous, strong signals to support the public broadcaster’s entertainment and news output.

“During the last 5 years, lots of broadcasters, especially in North America, have either upgraded or moved broadcasting facilities to expand, improve or ensure the quality of service being provided. In CBC/Radio-Canada’s case, its new facility in Montreal is state-of-the-art and has moved the broadcaster towards IP, which will support its broadcast of huge one-off events or regular local ones, as well its ability to essentially transmit channels and information anywhere at any time." 

Bill Pryle, RF Consultant, ETL Systems.