WINNER
Trinity Broadcast Network
Category
Station automation
Submitted by
TV Magic
Two years ago Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) needed to find a way to comply with new FCC regulations for digital television. TBN also wanted to use this upgrade to enable affiliate stations to receive network feeds and insert local programming and interstitials.
The exceptional size and scale of the project led the network to seek out help from systems integrator TV Magic. TV Magic designed an inexpensive but flexible automated master control system that supports five DTV channels and allows for unattended operation. TV Magic also installed that system across all 32 of the network's affiliate stations throughout the United States. The time frame from design to installation for the project was 18 months.
For each unique TBN affiliate, a separate full-power master control system was designed, built, tested and configured. TV Magic coordinated its field crews with stations to ensure timely receipt of gear, installation, cutover and training. TV Magic crews traveled from site to site to install the new systems into each station, often working around obstacles including limited space and ongoing operations. The systems integrator performed on-site operator training as part of the install, and TV Magic engineers provided telephone-based technical support for any operations or engineering issues at the affiliate stations.
Each system includes a multichannel server with ingest and playout, branding with squeezeback, a character generator and logo insertion, plus EAS and other FCC compliance — controlled through a flexible automation system. A customized Sundance Digital Titan automation system enables the unattended operation capability desired by TBN. The integrated broadcast system also incorporates Miranda terminal gear and Imagestore channel branding processor, Masstech loggers, 360 Systems or Omneon media servers, and Keywest Technology secondary logo insertion and EAS systems. The system is housed in two full-sized APW racks.
TBN stations will continue to do some local ingest and production, as well as develop remote monitoring capabilities.
