The Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) has selected Grass Valley to provide a major technology upgrade to its broadcast facility in Mecca. Delivered in collaboration with First Gulf Co. (FGC), the new installation significantly enhances SBA’s live production capabilities, particularly supporting around-the-clock online broadcasts from Al-Masjid Al-Haram, the Grand Mosque.
SBA, the national state broadcasting body, serves domestic and international audiences with news, cultural, and entertainment programming. The Mecca facility is a key hub for live religious event coverage. This upgrade is part of SBA’s ongoing project to modernize its broadcasting infrastructure with scalable, state-of-the-art systems for delivering high-quality content across radio, television, and digital platforms.
Grass Valley systems were selected after thorough planning and coordination, with equipment delivered in December and installation currently underway by FGC. According to Joe Chbat, Executive Vice President of FGC, the decision to choose Grass Valley was driven by its proven technology, reliability, and seamless integration. The upgrade ensures high-quality video switching, scalable infrastructure, and efficient signal processing, all of which are vital for SBA’s growing broadcasting needs.
The new system features 12G technology, offering higher capacity and enhanced performance, making it future-proof for SBA’s evolving production demands. Key components of the installation include the Kayenne K-Frame XP 3ME system with the ELITE Performance Suite software, a secondary Kayenne K-Frame XP Compact, a Sirius 850 Dual Frame router, Densité-configured Kaleido modular frames, and the Masterpiece 12G-SDI master control switcher.
The upgrade positions SBA to continue meeting its expanding need for high-quality, high-definition production capabilities as it remains at the forefront of broadcasting in the region.
