SALT LAKE CITY -- Jan. 21, 2008 -- Utah Scientific today announced that Hearst-Argyle-owned WTAE in Pittsburgh has augmented its existing Utah Scientific UTAH-400 routing switcher with the company‘s MC-2020 master control system, configured with one SD and one HD channel. Because the MC-2020 uses the crosspoints in the UTAH-400 frame, WTAE can attain full-featured master control switching without purchasing, powering, or maintaining an additional matrix. In other words, the MC-2020 squeezes more work out of the UTAH-400, leveraging WTAE‘s initial investment.
The Pittsburgh television market is technologically competitive, requiring stations to maintain up-to-date production and transmission equipment. WTAE, however, successfully used an analog router from Utah Scientific for nearly three decades until making the transition to digital.
“We commissioned our analog router from Utah Scientific in 1981, and it is still going strong,” said Dave Kasperek, director of engineering at WTAE. “The company‘s products are well supported, reliable, and so bulletproof that they just keep on working. It was only natural that when we finally had to invest in a digital routing switcher and master control switcher, we went back to Utah Scientific.”
WTAE, Pittsburgh‘s ABC affiliate, broadcasts 44 hours of local news each week. The station broadcasts on three channels: WTAE-TV (analog), WTAE-DT (HD Simulcast), and a new digital SD channel devoted to traffic and weather. WTAE‘s noon news show is streamed live to the Web, as are breaking news stories. The new Utah Scientific master control system, which integrates seamlessly with Harris automation, will afford additional flexibility, redundancy, and breaking news capacity when it is up and running in early 2008.
“Repeat customers like WTAE are a testament to our reputation,” said Tom Harmon, Utah Scientific president and CEO. “And our reputation is built on manufacturing equipment that works as advertised for a long, long time.”
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About Hearst-Argyle
Hearst-Argyle Television owns 26 television stations and manages an additional three television and two radio stations in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The company‘s television stations reach about 18 percent of television households in the United States, making Hearst one of the largest U.S. television station groups. The company owns 12 ABC affiliates, including WTAE, 10 NBC affiliates, and two CBS affiliates.
About Utah Scientific, Inc.
Utah Scientific, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of analog, digital, and HDTV routing switchers, master control switchers, and related products including a full range of software for controlling and managing switching systems. The company has been serving the broadcast industry for 30 years with industry-leading products and best-in-class service and support as recognized by Frost & Sullivan with its 2005 Customer Service Leadership Award and demonstrated by the industry‘s first 10-year warranty. Additional information about the company can be found at www.utahscientific.com.
