Innovations Park Studios (IPS), a brand new digital television production facility located at Frenchs Forest on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, is now open. The facility boasts three state of the art television studios, two edit suites, an audio production suite for mixing music and voice-overs, and a playout facility capable of broadcasting four round-the-clock TV channels.
The largest studio, Studio 1, is already fully booked, being the home of TVSN, Australia’s only shopping channel seen on Foxtel, Austar and Optus. That studio is live-to-air each day from 9.30 in the morning until 9.30 at night and is supported by a technical and production crew of around 15 people. The studio also features 4 robotic cameras that can be controlled either remotely from the control room, or traditionally via camera operators on the studio floor.
Studio 2, with more than 200 metres of floor space, includes a completely fitted-out lighting grid with more than 140 individual dimmable circuits, along with 3 widescreen cameras that can also be robotically or traditionally operated. Studio 2 is available for either long term or casual hire and already has been booked by commercial directors, programme makers and internet producers. In particular, the free-to-air digital broadcaster EXPO, is a regular user of IPS Studio 2.
Studio 3 is available mainly for product video ‘pack-shots’ or still photography. It is fitted with a complete floor to ceiling infinity sweep cyc, along with comprehensive lighting and grid.
The editing facility at IPS includes two Final Cut Pro suites available for hire, along with an audio production and voice-over suite fitted with Pro-Tools audio engineering software. The entire facility is connected via digital fibre to the Master Control Room at Foxtel HQ in North Ryde, giving IPS a conduit to deliver live or recorded television content anywhere in the world.
‘Innovations Park Studios is a modern and sophisticated complex, designed to meet a wide range of digital television and on-line production requirements,’ says Nick Pigot, General Manager, IPS.
‘I encourage production houses and networks to trial the IPS facilities, which represents the very latest in TV production technology in a purpose built, versatile and comfortable environment.’
[release from IPS & TVSN Channel]