The performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York are now to be routed to the ERC (Euroradio Control Centre) in Geneva via the EBU New York Bureau using the FiNE fibre optic network, and from there transmitted to EBU members over our Euroradio satellite channels. This fibre optic link replaces the TDRS transatlantic satellite network. 

The immediate advantage for EBU members is better sound quality, without compression, instead of the MUSICAM 256 kbit/s format used for the past 10 years. One immediate consequence for staff is that the large parabolic antenna that is currently hidden under its black plastic cover on top of the operations building, and that hides the Mont Blanc on clear days, will be dismantled. 

The first transmission will be Verdi’s Sicilian Vespers on Saturday 11 December. 

All our thanks to Puiu Dolea and the team from the Technical Development Unit of Eurovision Operations Department for this wonderful work.

pj / ep