WTAP, an NBC, Fox and UPN affiliate in Parkersburg, W.V., recently purchased master control and routing switchers from Utah Scientific to outfit its new production system as the station transitions to HD broadcasts. The installation included four Utah Scientific MC-2020 SD/HD master control switchers and a 144x144 UTAH-400 routing switcher.
WTAP, the first station in West Virginia to offer HDTV, says it selected Utah's products for their flexibility, overall design and ease-of-use, as well as their ability to process the various feed formats entering the facility for its four broadcast streams serving the mid-Ohio Valley.
The UTAH-400 HD routing switcher at WTAP handles analog, SDI, and HD formats and has been set up to route the various signals to format converters when necessary. The HD/SD-2020 digital master control switchers provide WTAP with a full range of mixing and keying functionality, and drive all the switching and routing functions within the station's master control facility.
In addition to the Utah Scientific gear, WTAP has also outfitted its facility with Omneon Spectrum video servers and Harris automation.
