Broadcast automation is critical in today's economy
Jul 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Sid Guel
The keys to survival are automating processes, lowering staff count, smartening efficiencies and doing more with less.
Centralization
Lexington, KY, NBC affiliate WLEX-TV recently converted its automated master control system to HD, which included the installation of a Harris IconMaster switcher and IconStation advanced channel branding station.
Centralization or centralcasting is once again a focus for station groups. Many have already installed solutions to control multiple remote broadcast stations. Centralized and centralcasting systems are quickly advancing as Internet and internal networks are increasing bandwidth, transcoders are lowering bit rates, and Internet applications are becoming more sophisticated. At this year's NAB Show, one company's executives noted centralization and centralcasting installations as one of its biggest revenue generators. BEC (Broadcast Engineering Conference) hosted a session during NAB featuring centralization systems installed at one of the major U.S. broadcast groups.
There are a multitude of master control automation companies that have advanced systems to control a hub and spoke operation. A few of the standard automation manufacturers have centralized systems that use internal peer-to-peer networks for master control operations, ingest and databasing operations in which programming is ingested and timed once, and the metadata and rich media is distributed to all stations that need it on the network.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, review the areas of your broadcast facility and determine how they interconnect with each other. Identify the workflow holes. Ask yourself, “What are the workflow processes, and how many people do we have doing these tasks?” Also, determine what applications are running in these areas and how they really provide an automated workflow.
Upgrading or changing applications may prove to be a quick return on your investment. There are automation solutions for each area of a broadcast facility. Solutions are available for large and small station groups. Look for smarter systems that can interconnect and interact better than others. If you're not pleased with the interconnectivity of varying systems, the industry has many glue companies with sophisticated applications designed to tie varying systems together. There are several long-standing companies that specialize in gluing systems together. Look for companies that have OEM partnerships. These companies tend to be more responsive with less finger-pointing when a situation arises. Find the right applications to streamline your operation.
Broadcasters are demanding more interconnectivity with variable systems, but it seems the broadcast manufacturing industry is moving slowly in bringing interconnectivity solutions forward. Beware: Many manufacturing companies talk a good story, but open interconnectivity appears to be slow in developing.
Sid Guel is the president and founder of Broadcast Automation Consulting.
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