Network News Service (NNS) has acquired a Solid State Logic MediaWAN Gravity with 20 encoders and 32TB of video storage on a fully mirrored server for use in its distribution of news content to network affiliates.
NNS, jointly owned by ABC, CBS and Fox News Channel, distributes news content to more than 500 affiliate stations. SSL customized the Gravity solution to meet the needs of NNS by creating custom links to databases for news and satellite operations and developing the tools to allow third-party craft editors to operate with the Gravity system.
Gravity displays real-time incoming content across a client's entire IP network. This feature allows monitoring of multiple live feeds. Live feed monitoring lets users select multiple incoming feeds and display them on the desktop at the same time, thus eliminating cable and monitor infrastructure. Using the multimonitor function, operators can create up to four additional windows that look at any of the 20-plus incoming feeds.
Live Edit, a live timeline, will let NNS work on a timeline within an editor that continues to expand as more content is streamed into the file. Users will not be required to reload the clip or refresh the screen to see additional video. In a fast-paced news environment, Live Edit's ever-growing timeline is critically important.
NNS will use the system to prepare content for distribution from about 30 workstations within the facility. An additional 30 workstations nationwide connect to the client's network via SSL's Backhaul video distribution solution.
The Gravity Web client featured in this MediaWAN Gravity solution allows producers to access, playback and manipulate content remotely from their bureau or via personal computer at any location. Solid State Logic has also created a custom module that allows all metadata to be transmitted to NNS news production servers at its numerous headquarters.
At the headquarters, NNS can use MediaWAN Gravity editors to create finished pieces for distribution to affiliates. NNS partner networks can then automatically schedule the transmission of these clips for distribution to their affiliates, using the Gravity automated scheduling software.
For more information, visit www.solid-state-logic.com.
