PHOENIX, ARIZ.– Lakeshore Public Television, a PBS member station based in Merrillville, Ind., has made monitoring dozens of video signals easier in its new HD master control room with Plura Broadcast, a leading manufacturer of high-end professional LCD monitors for studio and field use. Three Plura PBM-147 47-inch LCD monitors are positioned side-by-side in separate equipment racks and controlled through a multi-image processor, which saves space in the facility and eliminates the need for individual monitors for each source.

One of three PBS stations serving the Chicago market area, Lakeshore PTV programming targets audiences in northwest Indiana. But unlike most public broadcasters, Lakeshore PTV emphasizes local news and sports coverage. As a result, the station’s master control features a high number of satellite sources that need to be monitored.

Henry Ruhwiedel, Lakeshore PTV chief engineer, said the Plura monitors provide excellent resolution and no visible artifacts, plus there is no problem when monitoring various signal types, such as 720p, 1080i, and SD sources. “I needed something that was SMPTE accurate, without image burn or aging,� he said. “It’s as close to a CRT as you’re going to get.�

Like many broadcasters, Lakeshore PTV has a mix of new and legacy playback equipment, which means a variety of inputs is essential for monitoring purposes. The PBM-147 features HD-SDI and SD-SDI inputs, plus VGA, DVI, and several analog inputs. Without these choices, facilities like Lakeshore PTV would have to invest in numerous adapters.

Operators at Lakeshore PTV can view multi-screen HD routed and on-air signals, switch to a VGA input to see automation or other computer screens, switch to an NTSC analog satellite feed, or compare pre and post up/down conversion using the SDI and HD inputs to check quality. “They have every imaginable input,� Ruhwiedel added. “These monitors accept every input type, and you don’t have to do anything special to get the picture on the screen. It eliminates the compromises you have to make on monitor choices to get the programming up that you need to see.�

Plura monitors even made room design easier, according to Ruhwiedel. Because the Plura monitors are mounted on the faces of their respective equipment racks, rather than inside the racks, Lakeshore engineers were able to utilize the rack space behind the monitors for additional equipment.

About Plura Broadcast:
Plura Broadcast is an international leading manufacturer for high-performance HD and SD LCD video monitors for digital broadcast and professional video markets. Plura Broadcast is known for its superior picture quality and truly affordable high-end features built upon core technology. All Plura Broadcast monitors fully comply with EBU-2330-TECH, SMPTE-C, and ITU-R BT.709 standards. Find out more at www.plurabroadcast.com.