RTV Noord
News
News Production: RTV Noord
Author & Photos: René van de Kolk
A New Home Full of Energy and Future
In 2024, RTV Noord, the public regional broadcaster for the province of Groningen, made one of the most significant decisions in its history: relocating from the Mediacentrale in Groningen’s Europapark to a new home in Meerwold, a multi-tenant business building on Laan Corpus den Hoorn, on the outskirts of the city.
The reasons were clear — the existing premises had become inefficient after scaling back space, and the lease term was expiring. It was time for a fresh start.
Finding the Right Place
When searching for a new location, RTV Noord focused on three key priorities: accessibility, flexibility, and technological readiness. The choice fell on Meerwold, a former KPN building that underwent a complete transformation within just a few months. Strategically located next to the A28 motorway, the building offers RTV Noord not only a modern new home but also the opportunity to fully embrace the digital transition.
A Move in Phases
The relocation project moved at an impressive speed. Within a few months, the building was completely stripped and rebuilt according to RTV Noord’s needs. While contractors and designers transformed the spaces from January to March 2025, technicians at the old Mediacentrale location were already preparing, testing, and configuring new systems.
Thanks to a dark fiber connection between both sites, RTV Noord was able to move equipment gradually. In April and May, the first phase took place: relocating the radio studio, newsroom, and offices to the new site. The first radio broadcasts from the new building went live in early May 2025 — marking the beginning of a new chapter for the regional broadcaster.
At the new location, we meet Tim de Vrij, Senior Media Technician at RTV Noord. Proud of the new environment, he explains the project, the technical decisions, and the small but dedicated team that made it all possible.
Smart Choices
“Not all equipment was replaced — we moved systems where possible. The radio studio, however, was completely renewed. We also built new solutions for live, online, and podcast production. RTV Noord is moving away from traditional linear broadcasting toward a multi-platform strategy — producing more for online and social platforms while keeping radio and television as important pillars,” says De Vrij.
Because the move had long been planned, major technical investments at the old site were postponed until now.
Radio
A brand-new DHD/XC3 audio platform with SX2 fader panels was installed, alongside a smooth transition to Omniplayer E3 playout software. RTV Noord also implemented IP telephony with an AVT Magic server, allowing integration of video calls into multimedia broadcasts. Visual Radio was fully introduced using Blackmagic and Panasonic cameras, with the system largely developed in-house in collaboration with Automates.
Producers can now use a visual radio dashboard to trigger videos, stills, and graphics instantly.
Television
Trusted hardware — like the Nexio playout and LAWO audio mixer — moved to the new site. Large productions on location can now be operated remotely using the LAWO mixer. At the same time, RTV Noord invested heavily in advanced automation with Cuez (formerly TinkerList) — becoming the first regional broadcaster in the Netherlands to deploy the software on such a scale.
The new TV studio is more compact, featuring a news desk and a second area for guests, explainers, or live music. Production and control have been extensively automated. A news broadcast now requires only one director and one technical operator — freeing up time for developing new formats and productions.
- “The automation is implemented carefully and reliably — no big risks,” says De Vrij.
Most of the move and configuration was done internally by RTV Noord’s own team, supported by external project leads, including from Diginet, which also served as system integrator for the new site.
- “The benefit of doing most of it ourselves is that we now have in-house knowledge of all key systems. Media is dynamic — we want to stay agile. With our own expertise, adapting software for different types of programs is now much easier,” says De Vrij.
RTV Noord’s technical department now consists of three ICT specialists, ten media technicians, and several freelancers. At the heart of the TV studio is a Ross Ultrix combined with a Carbonite video mixer. RTV Noord is the first regional broadcaster in the Netherlands to have its TV automation powered by Cuez Automator.
Cuez integrates multiple systems — playout, graphics, video mixer, cameras, and lighting — into one smart workflow. The entire process was already tested at the old location, which helped meet tight deadlines. Cuez also integrates seamlessly with CasparCG, used by RTV Noord for on-screen titles and graphics.
“The linking of software applications — even open source — is the real difference from the past,” De Vrij notes. “More and more tools are now delivered as SaaS, with support and regular updates. Cuez is no exception. It’s easy to add new automation, and we can still handle big live productions manually when needed — like election coverage.”
Newsroom
For news items, the editorial team edits with Avid, while social and graphics teams use Adobe software.
A new multi-purpose podcast studio has been created, fully equipped for both audio and video production.
“The studio has the same visual capabilities as our main radio studio,” explains De Vrij. “It also serves as a backup radio studio and for our sound designer. A great feature is SpotOn, a clipping tool by Triple (Alkmaar), which lets users instantly post short video snippets to social media.”
Within six months, RTV Noord moved the entire media operation from the old to the new site.
Some final details are still being completed, but the result is clear: a modern, efficient workflow that perfectly matches the broadcaster’s digital ambitions — in a fresh and inspiring environment.
Teamwork as the Biggest Success
For Senior Media Technician Tim de Vrij, the greatest achievement isn’t just the technology — it’s the teamwork. RTV Noord handled most of the move internally, with support from Diginet and designer Hans Kodden of BSK Afbouw & Interieur, who also designed the radio and TV sets.
“The best part is that we did this mostly with our own team,” says De Vrij. “Everyone worked incredibly hard. We didn’t just renew the tech — we strengthened the team spirit.”
Sustainable and Regionally Rooted
Sustainability and regional collaboration were also priorities. The central equipment room (CAR) features an innovative cooling system by Duraflow, which both heats and cools efficiently while saving energy and costs. Conventional lighting was replaced with LED fixtures supplied by local company ADD-live. Furniture was produced by Just in Case (Baflo), and the interior design was created by Hans Kodden of BSK Afbouw & Interieur.
The result: a modern yet warm new home that reflects RTV Noord’s regional identity in every detail.
Ready for the Future
From its new Groningen base, RTV Noord is fully prepared for a rapidly changing media landscape. The broadcaster can now work more efficiently, adapt quickly to digital developments, and reach its audience through radio, TV, online, and social media.
Collaboration with partner broadcasters, like RTV Drenthe, allows them to share innovations and technology — for example, LiveU 5G capabilities. The focus is shifting ever more toward online, and RTV Noord is ready for it. The new studios, newsroom, and technical facilities prove one thing:
RTV Noord is ready for the digital future.
Read the original article in the AV & Entertainment Magazine.
