Television broadcaster Keycode Media restructures TVW Public Affairs programming schedule
TVW, Washington State's public affairs network, has implemented a customised playout workflow designed by Keycode Media, centred around the PlayBox Neo platform. This overhaul was necessary due to the large volume and varied nature of TVW's coverage, which includes all three branches of state government and other public affairs content.
The new system includes master and redundant PlayBox Neo AirBox Neo playout systems, each with 12 channels. This setup provides multi-channel redundancy and reliability. The system interfaces directly with TVW's third-party trafficking system for seamless content scheduling and management.
For live on-screen graphics, the system features the TitleBox Neo interactive character generator (CG). ListBox is used for schedule creation and editing, allowing a constantly changing playlist to be managed flexibly. Live Ingest functionality enables editing of materials as they are being ingested into the system. The Multi-Backup Manager (MBM) ensures smooth failover in case of hardware or software issues.
Marc Gerchak, VP/director of engineering at TVW, explained that the network needed a reliable system that could accommodate a constantly changing playlist, update graphics on the fly, and allow for editing material as it is ingested. The system runs on the PlayBox Neo Suite, a platform that offers centralized control, monitoring, and administration of an optimized multimedia workflow.
The new playout system replaced TVW's existing automation and server setup in master control. It is designed to handle ingest, scheduling, and transmission. AirBox Neo can mix a variety of media files and live inputs in one playlist. Live productions are streamlined to allow the insertion of live streams into the playlist.
The PlayBox system controls the network's NVision 9000 router. TVW produces original documentaries, programmes with in-depth interviews, and educational content about Washington public policy. The design of this workflow demonstrates the flexibility of the PlayBox Neo platform, as it allows changes to the playlist while on-air, and media can be trimmed, edited, or repositioned.
PlayBox Neo's U.S. director of operations, Van Duke, stated that the system "really shows the flexibility of our platform" by enabling seamless communication between all tools in master control. TVW turned to Keycode Media to design this robust, flexible playout workflow that efficiently manages high-volume, varied public affairs programming with live and file-based playout capabilities, interactive graphics, scheduling, and redundancy features to maintain broadcast reliability.
[1] Keycode Media Announces PlayBox Neo-Based Playout Workflow for TVW [2] TVW Upgrades to PlayBox Neo for Enhanced Public Affairs Coverage [4] PlayBox Neo Showcases Flexibility with TVW's New Workflow [5] TVW's New Playout System: A Closer Look
- The new playout workflow for TVW, designed by Keycode Media and centered around the PlayBox Neo platform, features various tools that cater to a business's need for flexibility and reliability in managing high-volume, diverse public affairs content. These tools include master and redundant PlayBox Neo AirBox Neo playout systems, the TitleBox Neo interactive character generator, ListBox for schedule creation and editing, the Multi-Backup Manager, and the PlayBox Neo Suite for centralized control.
- With PlayBox Neo's solutions, TVW can now accommodate a constantly changing playlist, update graphics on the fly, edit material as it is ingested, handle ingest, scheduling, and transmission, and mix a variety of media files and live inputs in one playlist. This streamlined and robust workflow showcases the general-news and technology sector's advancements, enabling live on-screen graphics, seamless communication between tools, and redundancy features for maintenance of broadcast reliability.
- In addition to producing original documentaries, programmes with in-depth interviews, and educational content about Washington public policy, the revamped playout system allows TVW to maintain a lifestyle of innovation by efficiently managing their diverse programming with live and file-based playout capabilities, interactive graphics, scheduling, and redundancy features. This overhaul serves as a testament to the PlayBox Neo platform's ability to support businesses in the broadcast industry, as demonstrated by the successful implementation at TVW.
