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When Mediaset España planned the renovation of the Telecinco news studio, the technical challenge went far beyond suspending equipment above the set. The real challenge was designing an architecture of scenic mechanics capable of moving three motorized screens Live on air, with pinpoint accuracy and such seamless integration that it would be invisible to the cameras and perfectly integrated with the other technologies that needed to be implemented in the studio. In daily broadcasting, there is no margin for error, and the technical infrastructure had to meet this absolute requirement.
The system required performing simultaneous and sequential movements, both in groups and individually. Everything was done with sufficient speed, precision, and smoothness so that the mechanics could be part of the production without introducing abrupt movements, visible wiring, or elements that would distract the viewer's attention.
Moveket technology integrated by Stonex
In television, film and film setsReliability dictates the entire system architecture. An incident during a live broadcast has an immediate impact, so every engineering decision must minimize critical points and facilitate a rapid response to any eventuality.
For this project, the team of Stonex engineering He developed a stage mechanics solution based on Moveket technology, with an i-Motion system with Basic-CII control, NMB14, V-Motion 40E drives and VPU power box.
The installation was configured with a Basic C-II table and a De Spare V-Motion 40E drive, and with a second communication line in order to guarantee the operational continuityIncorporating redundancy into a system allows for a margin of reaction to an incident and is part of an architecture designed to keep the installation operational in an environment where stopping production is simply not an option.
The difference lies there: in designing a system where the solution is ready for any incident.
“At Mediaset, we are accustomed to deploying technological solutions always prioritizing complete system redundancy. This screen motorization solution was approached in the same way, ensuring that the design meets our usual operational safety standards. Before commissioning, we positively assessed the high level of safety (meeting SIL3 standards), the provision for separate manual operation elements in case of failure, and the installation on main beams (more reliable) rather than on grating. Subsequently, we confirmed the Stonex technicians' expertise with the solution and were greatly reassured by their technical support service in Madrid.”
Two motors per screen and custom-made benches for the space
Each of the three totems was suspended by two 500 kg variable speed motors, installed on special benches designed and manufactured specifically for the project.
The use of two motors per element allows for precise control of screen movement to execute the various maneuvers required for production. The frames, for their part, had to be adapted to the available geometry and the specific needs of the project. integration on set.
Here the solution ceases to be a simple sum of standard components. mechanical design It influences how the screen moves, how it is installed, how it is maintained, and how it coexists with the rest of the studio's technical infrastructure.
The result allows for staggered entrances, joint movements, and different compositions in depth that expand the visual possibilities of the set.
The cabling is also part of camera engineering
Moving a screen is relatively easy. Moving it while maintaining power and signal without the cables ruining the plane requires solving another problem.
Stonex designed a specific cable management system to accommodate the movement of each totem. The integration was planned so that each screen only required one power cable and one signal cable, which followed its path throughout its movement.
The technical objective was to avoid loops, gaits or coils, as well as visible crossings or paths that could enter the camera and clutter the screen's visuals.
This part of the project is especially important in television: the engineering must address mechanical calculations and safety, but it also has to understand the framing, lighting, and movements planned by the production team. When everything is properly integrated, the viewer sees a screen appear on screen. All the infrastructure that makes that movement possible remains outside their notice.
And that's precisely where the job is done well.
"We highly value Stonex's technical solution for the cabling. Several approaches were made until we agreed that the cable winding system, for both power and data, would be integrated with the steel cable support for the screens. This, along with carefully considered camera angles and appropriate studio lighting, resolved this issue cleanly and elegantly."
Rigging engineering ready for the pace of the studios
A stage movement system designed for live television must combine safety, control, mechanical reliability, and visual integration. The system must be suitable for demanding daily operation and allow the technical team to work with repeatable and controlled maneuvers.
Therefore, the scope of the project undertaken by Stonex considered the system as a whole: engineering design, mechanical integration, control architecture, custom-made test benches, power and signal management, assembly and after-sales support.
Moveket provides the motion technology. The work of stage mechanical engineering It consists of ensuring that the technology responds exactly to the space, the production workflow, and the level of risk required by a news studio.
Because live television, when a screen has to go down, it has to go down.
"The system offers very interesting narrative possibilities that our production team has valued very positively from the beginning. Screen movements are reflected in the rundown and agreed upon beforehand so that the presenter knows their position in relation to the screens (we decided to perform the raises and lowers before the On Air take for simplicity). In addition, Stonex's support has been effective in resolving incidents so far, even proposing temporary solutions when necessary."
To guarantee safety, accuracy, and operational continuity in these types of facilities, our team develops comprehensive projects for rigging and stage mechanics Adapted to the geometry and requirements of each space. If you are considering a motorized screen system, motion or elevation for television, a studio or a set, request a technical assessment of your project and we will study the most suitable mechanical and control architecture for your installation.
Stonex, official distributor of Moveket in Spain
En Stonex We combine the best of innovation and experience to ensure that each project is as safe as it is spectacular. We work with premium brands such as Moveket, taking rigging and stage mechanics to another level, even in the most complex productions.
