ebraska Public Media’s Revamps Iconic Studio with
New Rigging and Lighting Systems
The Challenge
Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull Studio, built in 1968 and commissioned in 1970, had long been an iconic space for local educational programming, producing shows like the legendary “Backyard Farmer” and “Big Red Wrap Up.” Spanning 100 feet by 60 feet, the studio featured an advanced rigging system and lighting setup that was groundbreaking for its time. However, as production technology advanced, the studio’s infrastructure began to show its age. The motorized rigging and lighting systems were outdated, and manual control panels posed electrical hazards, leading to frequent arcing and burnout.
The studio needed a significant overhaul to meet the expectations of modern viewers, who now had a wider array of visually dynamic programming to choose from. Doug Carlson, former Director of Production Services, and Nancy Finken, Chief Content Officer, recognized that the Ron Hull Studio’s lighting and rigging systems were no longer competitive, compromising the quality of the station’s broadcasts. Carlson came out of retirement to oversee the much-needed transformation, aiming to create a more flexible, efficient, and visually compelling space.
The Solution
To revamp the Ron Hull Studio, Nebraska Public Media turned to top industry experts, including Norman Russell, Principal Consultant and Lighting Group Leader for NV5, who spearheaded the redesign. The project involved stripping the studio down to its bare bones, removing all the outdated rigging, motors, and lighting fixtures, and installing cutting-edge systems that would last for decades.
The newly designed rigging system consisted of 60 package hoists installed in 20 rows across the studio’s 100-foot length. These hoists provided more reliable and safer support for lighting fixtures, scenic elements, and other equipment. A fixed pipe grid was installed around the studio’s perimeter to offer additional rigging points for lighting and backdrops. The streamlined rigging allowed for greater safety and flexibility while reducing the overall number of hoists from 109 to 60 without sacrificing functionality.
Brightline LED fixtures were integral to the lighting system upgrade, with Series One L1.4 and L1.2 LED studio lights replacing the aging incandescent system. Each LED fixture was equipped with a network driver system for precision control over intensity, color, and beam angles, allowing lighting designers to adjust settings based on each production’s unique needs. Brightline’s Mako and Minnow profile spotlights, along with Lupo Fresnels, were also added, offering flexibility in both directional and soft lighting. The entire system was controlled via DMX, enabling seamless coordination across the studio’s productions.
Chris Boyd and Erik Rodgers, experienced lighting designers, installed and programmed the new fixtures, allowing Nebraska Public Media to tailor lighting effects to each show’s distinct character.
The Results
The transformation of the Ron Hull Studio has breathed new life into Nebraska Public Media’s productions, significantly enhancing their visual appeal. With the upgraded rigging and LED lighting systems, the studio now has the flexibility to meet the creative demands of a wide range of programming, from weekly series to seasonal specials. Chris Boyd, one of the lighting designers, noted, “The new rigging and lighting allow us to achieve a wide range of effects that were simply not possible before. It opens up entirely new creative possibilities.”
The LED lighting system has also resulted in improved energy efficiency. By replacing the old incandescent system with LEDs, Nebraska Public Media reduced power consumption while enhancing lighting quality. The station’s production team can now create visually dynamic content with greater ease, offering viewers more engaging programming.
Kathy Katz, Managing Director of Brightline, summed up the impact of the project: “With the new studio LED lighting systems, Nebraska Public Media is not just more energy-efficient but also has the versatility needed to meet the creative demands necessary today. This upgrade enables them to continue producing engaging, quality content with greater ease and reliability.”
The overhaul ensures that the Ron Hull Studio will remain a vital part of Nebraska’s media landscape for the next 50 years, honoring its past while embracing the future.
Find out more on the Nebraska Public Media redesign
The Challenge
Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull Studio, built in 1968 and commissioned in 1970, had long been an iconic space for local educational programming, producing shows like the legendary “Backyard Farmer” and “Big Red Wrap Up.” Spanning 100 feet by 60 feet, the studio featured an advanced rigging system and lighting setup that was groundbreaking for its time. However, as production technology advanced, the studio’s infrastructure began to show its age. The motorized rigging and lighting systems were outdated, and manual control panels posed electrical hazards, leading to frequent arcing and burnout.
The studio needed a significant overhaul to meet the expectations of modern viewers, who now had a wider array of visually dynamic programming to choose from. Doug Carlson, former Director of Production Services, and Nancy Finken, Chief Content Officer, recognized that the Ron Hull Studio’s lighting and rigging systems were no longer competitive, compromising the quality of the station’s broadcasts. Carlson came out of retirement to oversee the much-needed transformation, aiming to create a more flexible, efficient, and visually compelling space.
The Solution
To revamp the Ron Hull Studio, Nebraska Public Media turned to top industry experts, including Norman Russell, Principal Consultant and Lighting Group Leader for NV5, who spearheaded the redesign. The project involved stripping the studio down to its bare bones, removing all the outdated rigging, motors, and lighting fixtures, and installing cutting-edge systems that would last for decades.
The newly designed rigging system consisted of 60 package hoists installed in 20 rows across the studio’s 100-foot length. These hoists provided more reliable and safer support for lighting fixtures, scenic elements, and other equipment. A fixed pipe grid was installed around the studio’s perimeter to offer additional rigging points for lighting and backdrops. The streamlined rigging allowed for greater safety and flexibility while reducing the overall number of hoists from 109 to 60 without sacrificing functionality.
Brightline LED fixtures were integral to the lighting system upgrade, with Series One L1.4 and L1.2 LED studio lights replacing the aging incandescent system. Each LED fixture was equipped with a network driver system for precision control over intensity, color, and beam angles, allowing lighting designers to adjust settings based on each production’s unique needs. Brightline’s Mako and Minnow profile spotlights, along with Lupo Fresnels, were also added, offering flexibility in both directional and soft lighting. The entire system was controlled via DMX, enabling seamless coordination across the studio’s productions.
Chris Boyd and Erik Rodgers, experienced lighting designers, installed and programmed the new fixtures, allowing Nebraska Public Media to tailor lighting effects to each show’s distinct character.
The Results
The transformation of the Ron Hull Studio has breathed new life into Nebraska Public Media’s productions, significantly enhancing their visual appeal. With the upgraded rigging and LED lighting systems, the studio now has the flexibility to meet the creative demands of a wide range of programming, from weekly series to seasonal specials. Chris Boyd, one of the lighting designers, noted, “The new rigging and lighting allow us to achieve a wide range of effects that were simply not possible before. It opens up entirely new creative possibilities.”
The LED lighting system has also resulted in improved energy efficiency. By replacing the old incandescent system with LEDs, Nebraska Public Media reduced power consumption while enhancing lighting quality. The station’s production team can now create visually dynamic content with greater ease, offering viewers more engaging programming.
Kathy Katz, Managing Director of Brightline, summed up the impact of the project: “With the new studio LED lighting systems, Nebraska Public Media is not just more energy-efficient but also has the versatility needed to meet the creative demands necessary today. This upgrade enables them to continue producing engaging, quality content with greater ease and reliability.”
The overhaul ensures that the Ron Hull Studio will remain a vital part of Nebraska’s media landscape for the next 50 years, honoring its past while embracing the future.
The Challenge
Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull Studio, built in 1968 and commissioned in 1970, had long been an iconic space for local educational programming, producing shows like the legendary “Backyard Farmer” and “Big Red Wrap Up.” Spanning 100 feet by 60 feet, the studio featured an advanced rigging system and lighting setup that was groundbreaking for its time. However, as production technology advanced, the studio’s infrastructure began to show its age. The motorized rigging and lighting systems were outdated, and manual control panels posed electrical hazards, leading to frequent arcing and burnout.
The studio needed a significant overhaul to meet the expectations of modern viewers, who now had a wider array of visually dynamic programming to choose from. Doug Carlson, former Director of Production Services, and Nancy Finken, Chief Content Officer, recognized that the Ron Hull Studio’s lighting and rigging systems were no longer competitive, compromising the quality of the station’s broadcasts. Carlson came out of retirement to oversee the much-needed transformation, aiming to create a more flexible, efficient, and visually compelling space.
The Solution
To revamp the Ron Hull Studio, Nebraska Public Media turned to top industry experts, including Norman Russell, Principal Consultant and Lighting Group Leader for NV5, who spearheaded the redesign. The project involved stripping the studio down to its bare bones, removing all the outdated rigging, motors, and lighting fixtures, and installing cutting-edge systems that would last for decades.
The newly designed rigging system consisted of 60 package hoists installed in 20 rows across the studio’s 100-foot length. These hoists provided more reliable and safer support for lighting fixtures, scenic elements, and other equipment. A fixed pipe grid was installed around the studio’s perimeter to offer additional rigging points for lighting and backdrops. The streamlined rigging allowed for greater safety and flexibility while reducing the overall number of hoists from 109 to 60 without sacrificing functionality.
Brightline LED fixtures were integral to the lighting system upgrade, with Series One L1.4 and L1.2 LED studio lights replacing the aging incandescent system. Each LED fixture was equipped with a network driver system for precision control over intensity, color, and beam angles, allowing lighting designers to adjust settings based on each production’s unique needs. Brightline’s Mako and Minnow profile spotlights, along with Lupo Fresnels, were also added, offering flexibility in both directional and soft lighting. The entire system was controlled via DMX, enabling seamless coordination across the studio’s productions.
Chris Boyd and Erik Rodgers, experienced lighting designers, installed and programmed the new fixtures, allowing Nebraska Public Media to tailor lighting effects to each show’s distinct character.
The Results
The transformation of the Ron Hull Studio has breathed new life into Nebraska Public Media’s productions, significantly enhancing their visual appeal. With the upgraded rigging and LED lighting systems, the studio now has the flexibility to meet the creative demands of a wide range of programming, from weekly series to seasonal specials. Chris Boyd, one of the lighting designers, noted, “The new rigging and lighting allow us to achieve a wide range of effects that were simply not possible before. It opens up entirely new creative possibilities.”
The LED lighting system has also resulted in improved energy efficiency. By replacing the old incandescent system with LEDs, Nebraska Public Media reduced power consumption while enhancing lighting quality. The station’s production team can now create visually dynamic content with greater ease, offering viewers more engaging programming.
Kathy Katz, Managing Director of Brightline, summed up the impact of the project: “With the new studio LED lighting systems, Nebraska Public Media is not just more energy-efficient but also has the versatility needed to meet the creative demands necessary today. This upgrade enables them to continue producing engaging, quality content with greater ease and reliability.”
The overhaul ensures that the Ron Hull Studio will remain a vital part of Nebraska’s media landscape for the next 50 years, honoring its past while embracing the future.