ConocoPhillips Selects Broadcast Pix for Digital Control Room

The
Broadcast Pix Slate 5016 live video production system is helping ConocoPhillips
create more compelling video, and do it more cost-effectively. ConocoPhillips
is the third-largest energy company in the United States. With headquarters in
Houston and
approximately 33,600 employees in 40 countries across the globe, effective and
efficient communication is crucial to this major supplier of oil, natural gas,
chemicals, and plastics.

CononcoPhillips
Creative Services video manager Larry Jones, who is based in Houston, and Paul
MacFarlane, a producer/director based in Bartlesville,
Okla., discovered Broadcast Pix
at last year’s NAB Show. The company was planning to replace an aging analog
system anchored by a Grass Valley 200 switcher. After watching a demo on the
show floor, they decided to move forward with a Slate 5016, a 2 M/E switcher
that includes a built-in Inscriber CG as well as clip store, graphic store, and
multi-view monitoring.

“It
seemed liked the best fit for us,” MacFarlane said. “It’s got everything inside
it. You can sit down with one operator and do an entire show without any help.”
Systems
integrator Digital Resources, based in Southlake,
Tex., delivered the Slate 5016 in
November 2008 as part of a larger studio infrastructure build out. MacFarlane
said the Broadcast Pix switcher has not only improved the quality of the
productions, but it saved ConocoPhillips thousands of dollars in additional
equipment purchases.

The
Creative Services Video department produces about 12 programs each month. While
they are primarily delivered to branch locations over a private IP network,
projects are also archived, distributed on tape and DVD, and accessible on the
company’s Web site. Corporate videos for ConocoPhillips include training and
information pieces that are shared across outlets all over the world, which
helps reduce travel time and costs.

MacFarlane
appreciates the Slate 5016’s ability to access clips from the company’s Final
Cut Pro edit bays for use during shows.

“It
really took the burden out of the production, especially the pre-production,”
he noted.

MacFarlane
also uses the switcher’s integrated audio control to manage a Yamaha 28-channel
audio board during live production.

Currently,
ConocoPhillips is shooting in SD using four Sony DSR-450 cameras. However,
MacFarlane said the plan is to eventually move to HD production — and the
company will be ready with Broadcast Pix. Not only is the Slate 5016 HD-ready,
but it features AutoAspect, which allows the use of 16:9 and 4:3 content
interchangeably (and without stretching video), and it is upgradeable to 3Gbps
1080p.

The
five members of the Creative Services Video team have given a “thumbs up” to
the Slate 5016.

“It’s
so easy to use,” MacFarlane said. “We’ve put it through its paces. It’s a
wonderful system.”

MacFarlane
also gave high marks to the Broadcast Pix technical support staff, which he
said was really efficient.

“They’re
very easy to work with and very knowledgeable,” he added.

For more
information, visit http://www.broadcastpix.com