Vatican Television Center Chooses Clear-Com Eclipse and Tempest2400 for HD OB Van

Staff Coordinates Coverage of Pope’s Daily Activities and Events in Vatican City Using Clear-Com Intercoms

Clear-Com®, a global leader in critical voice communication systems, is pleased to announce that Vatican Television Center, known in Italy as Centro Televisivo Vaticano (CTV), the official broadcaster of Vatican City, has selected Eclipse-Median digital matrix and Tempest®2400 digital wireless intercoms to help cover the official activities of Pope Benedict XVI as well as the ongoing religious events and services held at the Vatican. The extensive communication capabilities offered by the four connected Eclipse-Median, six I-Series intercom panels, two Tempest BaseStations and four Tempest BeltStations assure that CTV broadcasts have fast access to reliable, high-quality communications.

Since 1983, CTV, headquartered in Via del Pellegrino in Vatican City, has broadcast the Pope's pastoral ministry and other activities of the Holy See. Each year, they cover about 200 events from inside the Vatican as well as during the Pope's travels in Italy and abroad. The network’s footage is picked up via satellite by broadcasters, news agencies and editing facilities around the world. CTV has no production studios, as a majority of the broadcaster’s work is ENG. The new OB van, which has full HD capability, has become the central hub for critical operations at the network. Its four operating areas include the audio room, equipment room, primary and secondary production control with VTR and camera control.

“The combination of the Eclipse digital matrix with V-Series panels and Tempest2400 gives CTV a tremendous amount of communications flexibility, making it much less stressful to manage the broadcasting of the Pope’s ministry,” says Karlie Miles, Director of EMEA Sales, Clear-Com. “Our system has certainly proven to function flawlessly during critical situations. The signal transmitted from the Tempest2400 wireless intercom system easily penetrates the thick walls of the church and can travel far distances to the van. We are thrilled that CTV has entrusted Clear-Com to help deliver the Pontiff’s and Vatican’s message to worshippers around the world.”

The 112-port Eclipse-Medians, which interface with the I-Series intercom panels, provide the CTV team with fast audio routing, many communication paths and sophisticated features for ample flexibility and exhaustive functionality. Operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the Tempest2400 utilizes patented Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum radio technology, which withstands frequency interference and maintains high quality audio for reliable communications. The two- or four-channel version Tempest2400 enables the employees in the CTV OB van to effectively coordinate between the OB’s production area and camera operators. Clear-Com improves the broadcasting experience of CTV by driving efficient collaboration with the robust Eclipse-Median and high performing Tempest2400 wireless system.