Systems integrator Megahertz has won the contract to build a new links vehicle for ITN.

The unit is a replacement for an ageing newsgathering truck and will be used to deliver live news content via radio link. It will also provide additional facilities to enable ITN to anchor news bulletins from around the UK.

It will be equipped with two pneumatic masts, one for a terrestrial microwave link and a second that features a panoramic camera.

Feeds into the truck will originate from radio link cameras and fibre cameras, while further inputs will be redirected via on-board VTRs routed through a For-A vision mixer and an Allen & Heath audio desk.

The truck will have a fully integrated, HD-compliant infrastructure but will initially be used for standard definition newsgathering.

ITN head of newsgathering operations Malcolm Smith said: “We are working to implement a mobile facility that meets our news gathering needs while providing the cost-efficiencies we require.”

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