Six ARD international studios on three continents, controlled and monitored to one standard with KSC Core
How WDR used KSC Core and KSC SinAlarm to build a uniform control and monitoring platform for broadcast studios around the world, while programmes stayed on air.
At a glance
Client: Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Cologne
Project: renewal of the production technology in six of the eight ARD international studios WDR is responsible for
Period: June 2022–December 2025
Locations: Paris, Brussels, Nairobi, Warsaw, New York, Washington, D.C.
Solution: KSC Core, KSC SinAlarm, KSC control panels and virtual panels
General contractor: BFE
Starting point: international reporting needs reliable technology
Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is Germany’s largest public broadcaster. As a member of the ARD network, it is responsible for reporting from eight international studios: Paris, Brussels, Nairobi, Warsaw, New York, Washington, D.C., Moscow and Kyiv. Every day, these studios deliver content for ARD’s news programme Tagesschau, for radio, podcasts, web and social media.
As production became increasingly cross-media, the demands on operational reliability, availability and supportability grew. The studios differ considerably in size and local infrastructure. The requirements for reliability and remote maintenance are equally high everywhere.
In February 2021, WDR launched a multi-year modernisation project. Its goal was uniform, cross-media production and broadcast technology at all international sites. Following an EU-wide tender, WDR selected BFE as general contractor. BFE was responsible for technical integration and commissioning at the six ARD studios in Paris, Brussels, Nairobi, Warsaw, New York and Washington, D.C.
Requirements for the control and monitoring layer
From an operational perspective, the control and monitoring layer had to meet these core requirements:
Uniform operating and control logic across all sites
Central monitoring of complex broadcast infrastructure
Adaptable to studios of very different sizes
Clear structures for service, support and fault analysis
Vendor-independent integration of existing and new systems
Protection of live broadcast operations during the conversion
The solution: KSC Core as the technical backbone
KSC Core handles the overall control of the broadcast infrastructure and is the basis for one operating concept at all six sites. The studios differ considerably in size and expansion stage. Even so, the same functions are available everywhere, adapted to local conditions and recognisable as part of one shared system concept.
This has direct consequences for day-to-day operations. Anyone who knows one studio can find their way around the next one straight away. Training takes less time, support across sites becomes simpler and fault analysis is much faster.
Central monitoring with KSC SinAlarm
KSC SinAlarm adds cross-site monitoring to the control layer. Faults and status messages from all connected systems are captured centrally and displayed in a structured view. With one alarm and monitoring logic for all sites, operators can classify faults quickly and keep the international studios on air more reliably.
Challenge: converting studios while on air
One of the most demanding parts of the project was the logistical and technical implementation. All six studios were rebuilt while broadcasting continued. This required temporary on-air facilities, short implementation windows and close coordination with local authorities and service providers.
Standardisation was a key success factor. The team used identical technical designs, repeatable processes and uniform documentation at every site. Each converted studio provided lessons that could be applied directly at the next location.
Project timeline: six studios in three years
The studios were renewed one after another, always in close cooperation with the local editorial teams and WDR in Cologne:
December 2022: Paris (on air after conversion)
July 2023: Brussels
December 2023: Nairobi
May 2024: Warsaw
September 2024: New York
December 2025: Washington, D.C. (completion of the overall project)
“Renewing the production and broadcast technology is a key project for WDR. It prepares our production abroad for the years ahead and gives our editorial teams the support they need. Being able to produce cross-media content directly on site opens a direct channel to our viewers and secures WDR’s position as an important partner in ARD’s international reporting.” Markus Gerlach, Head of Production, Regional Programmes and External Studios, WDR
Result: a control platform that grows with every new site
With Washington, D.C. going on air on 1 December 2025, the project is complete. Six ARD international studios on three continents now work on a shared control and monitoring platform based on KSC Core and KSC SinAlarm, designed for long-term operation and later expansion.
KSC Core and KSC SinAlarm provide technical consistency and efficient operations. Operating concepts, monitoring structures and system logic are comparable and recognisable at every site. This makes it easier to transfer know-how, provide remote support from Cologne and extend the systems later, across countries and time zones.
Key takeaways for planners and operators
One control concept despite different studio sizes and expansion stages
Cross-site monitoring for distributed broadcast infrastructure
Clear structures for operations, service and remote support
Vendor-independent integration of existing and new systems
Expandable and maintainable in the long term, including country-specific requirements
Ready for rollout: standardisation reduces complexity at every additional site
KSC systems used
KSC Core: broadcast controller system for the overall control of broadcast infrastructure
KSC SinAlarm: central monitoring and alarm system for distributed broadcast sites
KSC control panels and virtual panels: uniform hardware and software operator interfaces
