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11 questions to ask before investing in news automation

Aug 1, 2007 12:00 PM, BY SCOTT BLAIR

How much have you thought about automating your station's local newscasts? Most stations already use a newsroom computer system to provide automated text and cues for teleprompters, character generators and studio cameras.

To stay competitive, however, more broadcasters are relying on increased automation to add and control more devices without adding headcount, increase control and accuracy during newscasts through dedicated news device playout automation, and streamline routine operations through a common rundown-driven control point. When considering news automation, make sure you're asking the right questions so you get the ideal amount of automation for your needs.

1

Why would I want automation?

By providing common control points for video playout and graphics servers, news automation gives the producer and the control room staff access to both the program rundown and an interface to the devices. Automation systems can handle routine rundown-based tasks as well as rapid-fire and unscripted events, such as news teases and breaking news. With less need for coordinating and monitoring distinct systems, news automation tracks all events in the newscast and is a key component to reducing on-air errors. In addition to fewer errors and improved efficiency, automation can help broadcast stations reduce or redeploy staff to editorial, craft or other operations positions.

2

How much automation do I need?

This is the question to ask yourself — and also to ask your vendors. You certainly don't want more automation than you'll ever need, but you also don't want to cut corners and find that you are unable to meet your goals for improved efficiency.

At its most basic, news automation provides production-assist tools that simplify playout of video clips, stills and animations, and graphics. At the other end of the spectrum, full-blown automation systems integrate control of video switchers, audio consoles and camera robotics.

Assess your goals and expectations realistically: Do you want to reduce errors? Repurpose the CG operator? Or automate the entire newscast?

Measure your goals against your budget requirements. Production-assist systems will enable you to meet many of your goals more affordably than full automation. However, you may find the return on investment provides rationale for full automation. An important consideration is how new systems will interface with your existing equipment, as well as planned future technology and device acquisitions.

3

I have a mandate to add newscasts but not staff. How will automation help me?

Automation should be one of the first things you consider in this case. With central control of multiple playout devices — in addition to routine rundown-based control — production-assist can be the solution to affordably add programming without additional operator needs.

Depending on your immediate needs and budget, automation will help you repurpose or replace your graphics playout staff, for example. If you are transitioning from tape to file-based systems, automation will easily replace the tape operators, freeing them up to edit more stories.

Production-assist automation is scalable, meaning that the size of the crew can be adjusted based on the needs and intricacy of the show. For example, the noon show may have a smaller crew and use more automation than the 6 p.m. show, which has more breaking news and requires more involvement from the crew.

A full-blown news automation system can have a significant impact on your bottom line by enabling a single operator to handle all of the control room functions. All of this can be accomplished regardless of show-by-show differences. Now your morning and noon show can have the same look and feel as the evening shows because the same prebuilt moves and complicated effects are automated.

4

How will this affect the quality of the newscast?

News is obviously a highly competitive operation, and viewers vote on quality — both editorial and production. Viewers don't care that the station is saving dollars by reducing control room staff by one, two or four people. Viewers want the quality they have come to expect, and they will move on if they don't get it.

With or without automation, the producer is constantly rearranging the show to accommodate time, behind-the-scenes changes or breaking news — while making sure that viewers at home see nothing but a smooth, error-free show. Maintaining this kind of flexibility under stressful situations is absolutely essential in considering automation products, and it can make or break the quality of the show.

News automation in the production control room can reduce the number of hands that touch each element in the on-air process — thereby reducing the chance for human error. By automating rapid or repetitive elements, complicated events, such as multi-clip news teases can be executed successfully by all newsroom crews, not just the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. staff, providing a more uniform performance across all shows.

5

We do a lot of breaking news. How does this play into automation?

Think flexibility when considering how news automation systems handle breaking news. As you consider your system choices, make sure you look closely at how well each option handles an unscripted breakaway to live, breaking news and then how easily they resume normal automation and rundown playout. The control room will want the ability to drive the devices manually during the breaking news story.

News automation should take the crew seamlessly to the point of the breaking story — controlling devices based on the script and then, just as effortlessly, relinquishing device control so the director and technical director can control the show in manual mode to accommodate the late-breaking story. Rejoining the rundown after the breaking news should be just as smooth.

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