Next generation remote radio studio wins EBU Technology and Innovation Award

A project which allows a single radio presenter to run a whole outside broadcast (OB) radio show without a traditional OB truck has won the 2017 EBU Technology & Innovation Award.

The NXG Project, jointly developed by EBU Member Sveriges Radio (SR) and Ihre, a German manufacturer of digital mixing consoles, was presented with the award at the EBU Technical Assembly in Stuttgart on 8 June.

By using a powerful remote control protocol, NXG allows a complete radio show to be made from anywhere with a sufficient network connection.

The EBU Technology & Innovation Award, given for the first time in 2016, goes to an individual or group project that will have a major impact on broadcasting. Last year’s winner was the VRT Sandbox LiveIP Studio, a proof of concept for television live production run entirely on IP infrastructure.

Egon Verharen, Chair of the EBU Technical Committee, said: “NXG was a very exciting project, and points the way forward to greater efficiency in radio programme production.”

Simon Fell, Director of Technology & Innovation, added: “It`s really great to find that the award this year goes to this super radio production development. It shows how much radio is valued by EBU Members”.

“This project helps us meet our goal to move shows out-of-house and be in touch with our audience”, said Hasse Wessmann, Strategist at SR’s Development department. “The system is geared towards the needs of journalists, and it is also more cost effective because equipment stays centralized and is shared. We are proud and happy for the recognition our project’ has received.”