Remote Camera Technology helps CBC/Radio-Canada with Remote Acquisition Portal (RAP)

To address a perceived audience expectation for more live and local news and resolve their requirement for greater regional representation, CBC/Radio-Canada set out to implement a new approach to deliver “live hit” elements of their newscasts from their production centers and news bureaus in Canada and around the world.

The recent availability of higher quality and more reliable and affordable PTZ cameras, audio and lighting devices, all with published APIs, enabled the design of a browser-based application for device control and administration of user rights at both device and geographic (station) access levels through their corporate LAN/WAN login credentials. The application is called Remote Acquisition Portal - RAP - and a key design element was the desire to augment the user experience of the GUI-based controls at head-end workstations by the addition of a hardware-based control panel for more tactile, accurate and detailed camera controls than intended in the simple unified multi-device pre-show-setup application.

Remote Camera Technology (RCT) offered a flexible solution with their CS-1 Control Surface. The camera vendor agnostic nature along with the unique ergonomic design, integrated touch-screen display, high quality joystick, zoom, and focus controls of the CS-1 provided the user interface they were looking for. 

RCT worked closely with the CBC/Radio-Canada design team as the RAP platform evolved and were able to develop custom software integrating login through the RAP system allowing only users with specific credentials to access the CS-1 panel paired with the workstation. Additional software features, such as router and switcher integration, can also be implemented should the needs arise.