WTNH-DT and WCTX-DT, two LIN stations in New Haven, Conn. (DMA 30) are going with the Broadcast Pix Slate 1000 integrated production system to produce high school football and other local sports in Connecticut in HD.
ABC affiliate WTNH-DT and WCTX-DT, a MyNetworkTV outlet, operate as a duopoly from the same facility, serving the greater Hartford/New Haven market.
LIN TV said it had decided many months ago that covering high school sports — especially in HD — was a sound competitive move that would reap benefits in a variety of ways. After evaluating comparable systems (as well as rental options), the local broadcasters went with the Slate 1000 from Broadcast Pix, which functions as a video switcher with file-based and network-based workflow software, and includes various aspect ratio/format conversion options.
The stations said they assembled a small (20-foot) Markertek VPTR-1 production trailer with uplink and microwave capabilities — and using the Slate 1000 as the centerpiece — the LIN properties rounded out their equipment buys with three Sony HD camcorders (model PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX) and three Sony HDV/DVCAM VTRs (model HVR-1500A).
A Mac Book Pro (with Final Cut Pro) records HD footage directly from the Slate 1000 to external drives for editing.
