Gearhouse Broadcast has completed a custom built high definition outside broadcast van for Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan (DD).

The newly built van, which will be used for sporting and news programming, is part of a major investment programme in high definition technology by Doordarshan. Built by Gearhouse Broadcast, the project was carried out in conjunction with leading Indian broadcast reseller AGIV India Pvt.

A large scale, long term project took the initial brief by Doordarshan in September 2008. A TATA chassis was subsequently shipped to the UK for coach building by specialists JS Frasers. The van was then sent to Gearhouse Broadcast's headquarters in Watford for the systems integration to be carried out by their team of specialist engineers and technicians. Ten weeks later the van was then shipped back to India for final works and testing before the client took delivery mid August 2009. Doordarshan was consulted throughout the whole process which was carefully project managed by AGIV INDIA PVT.LTD and Gearhouse Broadcast.

The van was fitted out with four Ikegami cameras expandable to six, a number of Canon box lenses, a multi-format Snell Kahuna vision mixer, Marshall/Barco monitors, Harris Router, Crystal Vision glue, and other equipment from EVS and Trilogy Communications.

Gearhouse Broadcast's Managing Director said "I believe Gearhouse Broadcast was selected by AGIV INDIA PVT LTD for our proven and demonstrable experience in the provision of high definition outside broadcast installations. We have delivered many previous high profile HD outside broadcast units in the UK and Europe." Eamonn Dowdall continues, "Doordarshan's high definition OB van raises the bar for standards in Indian broadcasting and sets a benchmark for others to follow."