Saskatchewan Legislature Upgrades with Shotoku Robotic Broadcast Control System

May 17, 2010 - PRLog -- James Eddershaw, Sales Director of Shotoku, Ltd. made the announcement from North American headquarters in Torrance, CA.

The Saskatchewan Legislature (www.legassembly.sk.ca) made broadcasting history in 1983 when it became the first to employ an automated, computer-driven system to televise gavel-to-gavel coverage to the sparsely populated province's constituents. The newly installed configuration supports five Hitachi HDV-5W cameras on Shotoku's TG-27 robotic pan/tilt heads, one mounted in each corner of the Chamber, plus a wide cover shot. The TG-27 heads are ideal for Parliaments, Legislatures and Conference Centers and are used in many major National Parliaments where small unobtrusive cameras are required.

A microphone-based switching system triggers camera selections and preprogrammed movements via the Shotoku "Orchestra" Camera Management System (CMS), which operates with minimal operator intervention, while still permitting full on-air operator control and fine camera adjustments using the  TR-8S Control Panel. The TR-8S is capable of controlling eight cameras and stores up to 900 shots per camera. The panel uniquely features an "all camera mode," providing the ability to replay shots on all cameras simultaneously, as well as an interface to microphone selection systems.

"We had been researching systems for three years to find an appropriate replacement," said Darcy Hislop, Chief Technology Officer. "Shotoku's solution was desirable from an operations point of view - it operates in a similar fashion to the old system - and it offered the functionality we needed at an affordable price point." The new system was commissioned in just a week by a Shotoku factory engineer working closely with the two Legislative Assembly Service (LAS) senior broadcast technicians Kerry Bond and Ihor Sywanyk. "As a small provincial assembly, our legislature sits for only 65 days (40 in the spring; 25 in the fall), We have just two full-time and one part-time technician who perform all the broadcast functions, from design and installation to maintenance and on-air production. Shotoku customized the CMS touch-screen for us with text on the stored shot numbers to display each legislator's name, thus eliminating the need for a paper reference chart," Hislop concluded.

"We are delighted to add the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to the wide community of Shotoku users within parliamentary and government organizations," said Eddershaw. "Our remote camera systems are ideally suited to facilitate the coverage of legislative proceedings   with minimum staffing and the highest of production values."

About Shotoku Broadcast Systems
Shotoku Broadcast Systems is an international leader in the manufacture and marketing of a full range of camera support products, with emphasis on pedestals and pan/tilt heads for the television broadcast industry. The Company also provides robotic camera systems capable of interfacing with other manufacturers' equipment. Established in 1941 as an engineering design firm specializing in unique machines, Shotoku maintains headquarters in Japan and operates offices in Staines, UK and Torrance, CA.  For further information, please visit www.Shotoku.tv


About the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is located in western Canada between the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba. The Legislative Assembly is the province's parliament and plays a vital role in the life of every citizen in Saskatchewan. Government power is exercised through the Legislative Assembly and all laws must be introduced by a Member democratically elected by the people.

Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan contact: Darcy Hislop
+1-306-787-8071 / dhislop@legassembly.sk.ca

Shotoku contact:  James Eddershaw
+44 0784 224650 / info@shotoku.co.uk

Press contact:  Desert Moon Communications
Harriet Diener  
+1-845-512-8283 / Harriet@DesertMoonComm.com

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