RTS Telex intercom systems are playing a major part in the new integrated operations of Global Radio, which owns the top rating commercial radio stations, including Heart FM, Classic FM and 95.8 Capital FM. A RTS Cronus digital matrix has been installed at Global's headquarters in Leicester Square, in the middle of London's West End. This system works alongside an older analogue RTS matrix and the two have been linked using an MTM 2000 intelligent trunking system, this offers a bridge between the two operations creating a fully integrated building-wide system. Global Radio was founded by Ashley Tabor in 2007 following the purchase of the radio stations operated by Chrysalis Radio. A year later Global Radio completed the purchase of GCap Media with the two companies merging in December 2008 to become the largest commercial radio group in the UK. Global Radio centralised the different radio brands at the studios in Leicester Square, a project overseen by project manager Tim Lowther who gained valuable experience in bringing together radio station operations through his work on the integration of Capital and GWR. Lowther says the Cronus digital matrix was the best choice to match the scale and complexity of the installation, with 40 studios and booths housed in the building, but similar systems are unlikely to feature at Global's 40 UK local stations. "In reality a system like this… tends to need six or seven key panels for simple operation," he explains. "But the functionality of the Cronus system suits ideally the size and requirement of our Leicester Square operation." The 64-port Cronus matrix has RVON VoIP (Voice over IP) capability, which is being used to link the studios to OB vehicles over an ENG satellite link comprising a 512K data circuit with X21 and IP connectivity.
