Category
Station automation
Submitted by VCI Solutions Design Team KEYE: Dusty Granberry, dir. of broadcast op. and eng.; Art Smith, chief eng.; George Todd, broadcast eng.; Javier Jimenez, IT mgr.; Mark Soto, master control supervisor Technology at work CompuSat satellite
control
Harris Leitch Lydia CG
Panasonic DVCPRO
HD video server
Pathfire
DMG Server Connect
DMG Automation
Connect
Omneon Spectrum server
Telestream FlipFactory
Utah Scientific
HD/SD-2020 master
control
SqueezeMax effects
UTAH-400 router
VCI autoXe automation
KEYE-TV upgrades its highly customized legacy system with VCI autoXe
One of the biggest challenges a station can face is taking an existing DOS, highly customized legacy system and replacing it. This is exactly what KEYE-TV had to do this past year in upgrading its facility from the CBS Group-W-designed TMRT system.
There were the usual considerations like master control features, functionality and scalability. Additional system requirements for KEYE included content delivery integration and satellite integration. But, the true test of a system would be its flexibility to integrate and comply with a workflow that was already highly customized.
After an exhaustive search, KEYE found not only everything that it needed, but everything that it wanted in the autoXe automation system from VCI Solutions. “The master control functionality and flexibility is there — and then some. I’m a computer-oriented person so when we started talking about SQL, SOA and true relational databases, I knew the system was carefully thought out with a true understanding of what today and tomorrow’s broadcast environment was going to be like,” said George Todd, KEYE maintenance engineer.
A few of the capabilities that the team at KEYE really likes are Video Spy, logging capability, vertical and horizontal view of the delivery manager, and the versatility of the workstations because they can do all jobs.
Dusty Granberry, director of broadcast operations and engineering for KEYE related that he really wanted to modernize the automation architecture with a system that incorporates true relational functionality. “Many companies talk about how their automation product can be installed and work seamlessly with an existing system, but once you start working with them, you find that there are a lot of extra steps to go through. As we all know, this increases number of hours in working with the system and the room for error,” said Granberry.
Aside from the enhanced functionality, one of the true selling points of autoXe to Granberry is that operators are able to “jump right in and use it because of the intuitiveness of the graphical user interface. They were even working with it during the demo.” This significantly reduced the amount of training and re-upstart time for the station.
KEYE master control workflow transition to the new autoXe automation was seamless and easy to achieve because of the well-thought-out and integrated approaches for many functions, but especially the content and satellite delivery. “In developing the autoXe architecture, we always kept in mind that the system has to be reliable and functional in any fast-paced broadcast environment. We’re pleased that we’ve been able to deliver on those goals for KEYE,” said John Price, director of product marketing, VCI Solutions, Automation Division.
