Nagoya Broadcasting Network (NBN, also known as Me-Tele) has expanded its intercom capabilities with Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak II digital wireless intercom system in its main Studio A, supported by partner Matsuda Trading (MTC).
Studio A, a 320-square-metre facility at NBN’s Nagoya headquarters, hosts a range of productions from news and variety shows to live broadcasts. MTC provided system design, integration, and RF testing for the project.
The installation builds on NBN’s existing Clear-Com infrastructure, which includes the Eclipse HX digital matrix system introduced in 2019 and later upgrades to its OB vans with FreeSpeak II.
The move was enabled by FreeSpeak II IP transceivers launched in 2023, designed for Japan’s DECT specifications. By updating firmware on its existing E-IPA card and deploying antennas over PoE, NBN expanded its wireless intercom coverage without adding new base stations.
Hideaki Inoue, operations management department at NBN, commented: “FreeSpeak II has significantly improved our on-air communication reliability. The audio quality is excellent, the flexibility of antenna placement has expanded our coverage area, and the beltpack features, such as independent volume controls, have been well received by our users. The system has already proven itself as an essential tool for our daily live broadcasts.”
Brian Chow, Clear-Com regional sales manager, concluded: “NBN has been an early adopter of Clear-Com’s IP workflows, and their confidence in FreeSpeak II reflects the system’s ability to deliver mission-critical communications in both studio and OB environments. We are proud to work alongside our trusted partner MTC in supporting NBN’s continued innovation in broadcast communications.”