Broadcast automation
Encyclopedia
Broadcast automation incorporates the use of broadcast programming technology to automate broadcasting
operations. Used either at a broadcast network
, radio station
or a television station
, it can run a facility in the absence of a human operator
. They can also run in a "live assist" mode when there are on-air personnel present at the master control
, television studio
or control room
.
The radio transmitter end of the airchain
is handled by a separate automatic transmission system
(ATS).
authorities required a licensed board operator
to run every station at all times, meaning that every DJ had to pass an exam to obtain a license to be on-air, if their duties also required them to ensure proper operation of the transmitter. This was often the case on overnight and weekend shift
s when there was no broadcast engineer present, and all of the time for small stations with only a contract engineer on call.
In the U.S., it was also necessary to have an operator on duty at all times in case the Emergency Broadcast System
(EBS) was used, as this had to be triggered manually. While there has not been a requirement to relay any other warning
s, any mandatory messages from the U.S. president would have had to first be authenticated
with a code word
sealed in a pink envelope sent annually to stations by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
Gradually, the quality and reliability of electronic equipment improved, regulations were relaxed, and no operator had to be present (or even available) while a station was operating. In the U.S., this came about when the EAS
replaced the EBS, starting the movement toward automation to assist, and sometimes take the place of, the live disc jockey
s (DJs) and radio personalities.
Early automation systems were electromechanical systems which used relay
s. Later systems were "computerized" only to the point of maintaining a schedule, and were limited to radio rather than TV. Music would be stored on reel-to-reel
audio tape. Subaudible tone
s on the tape marked the end of each song. The computer would simply rotate among the tape players until the computer's internal clock matched that of a scheduled event. When a scheduled event would be encountered, the computer would finish the currently-playing song and then execute the scheduled block of events. These events were usually advertisements, but could also include the station's top-of-hour station identification
, news, or a bumper
promoting the station or its other shows. At the end of the block, the rotation among tapes resumed.
Advertisements, jingle
s, and the top-of-hour station identification required by law were often on "carts". Short for cartridges, these were endless tapes similar to 8-track tapes, and looked nearly identical as well. A primary difference between carts and 8 track deals with the pinch roller and capstan. The roller was self-contained in an 8-track; carts had a slot for a pinch roller on a spindle which was activated by solenoid upon pressing the start button on the cart machine. This allowed for nearly instantaneous playback start without artifacts. Mechanical carousel
s would rotate the carts in and out of multiple tape players
as dictated by the computer. Time announcements were provided by a pair of dedicated cart players, with the even minutes stored on one and the odd minutes on the other. This meant an announcement would always be ready to play, even if the minute was changing when the announcement was triggered. The system did require attention throughout the day to change reels as they ran out and reload carts. It became obsolete when a method was developed to automatically rewind and re-cue the reel tapes when they ran out, extending 'walk-away' time indefinitely.
Radio station WIRX
may have been one of the world's first completely automated radio stations, built and designed by Brian Brown in 1963 when Brown was only 10 years old. The station broadcast in a classical format, called "More Good Music (MGM)" and featured five minute bottom of the hour news feeds from the Mutual Broadcasting System
. The heart of the automation was a 8 x 24 telephone stepping relay
which controlled two reel-to-reel tape decks, one twelve inch Ampex
machine providing the main program audio and a second RCA
seven inch machine providing "fill" music. The tapes played by these machines were originally produced in the MWF's Madison, Wisconsin production facility by WSJM Chief Engineer Richard E. McLemore (and later in-house at WSJM) with sub-audible tones used to signal the end of a song. The stepping relay was programmed by slide switches in the front of the two relay racks which housed the equipment. The news feeds were triggered by a microswitch which was attached to a Western Union
clock and tripped by the minute hand of the clock. and then reset the stepping relay. Originally, 30-minute station identification was accomplished by a simulcast switch in the control booth for sister station WSJM-AM, whereupon the disc jockey in the booth would announce "This is WSJM-AM and... (then pressing the momentary contact button) ...WSJM-FM, St. Joseph, Michigan." This only lasted about six months, however, and a standard tape cartridge player was wired in to announce the station identification and triggered by the Western Union clock.
A different technology appeared in 1980 with the analog recorders made by Solidyne, which used a computer-controlled tape positioning system. Four GMS 204 units were controlled from a 6809 microprocessor
, with the program stored in a solid-state
plug-in memory module. This system has a limited programming time of about eight hours.
Satellite programming often used audible dual-tone multi-frequency
(DTMF) signals to trigger events at affiliate
stations. This allowed the automatic local insertion of ads and station IDs. Because there are 12 (or 16) tone pairs, and typically four tones were sent in rapid succession (less than one second), more events could be triggered than by sub-audible tones (usually 25 Hz and 35 Hz).
, where all of the music, jingles, advertisements, voice tracks, and other announcements are stored. These audio files may be either compressed
or uncompressed, or often with only minimal compression as a compromise between file size and quality. For radio software
, these disks are usually in computers, sometimes running their own custom operating system
s, but more often running as an application
on a stable OS like GNU
/Linux
, Windows NT
or others.
Scheduling
was an important advance of these systems, allowing for exact timing. Some systems use GPS satellite receivers
to obtain exact atomic time, for perfect synchronization
with satellite-delivered programming
. Reasonably-accurate timekeeping can also be obtained with the use of Internet protocol
s (IP) like Network Time Protocol
(NTP).
Automation systems are also more interactive than ever before with digital audio workstation
(DAW) with console automation
and can even record from a telephone hybrid
to play back an edited conversation with a telephone caller. This is part of a system's live-assist mode.
The use of automation software and voice tracks to replace live DJs is a current trend in radio broadcasting, done by many Internet radio
and adult hits
stations. Stations can even be voice-tracked from another city far away, now often delivering sound files over the Internet. In the U.S., this is a common practice under controversy for making radio more generic and artificial. Having local content is also touted as a way for traditional stations to compete with satellite radio
, where there may be no radio personality
on the air at all.
A commercially-available, for-sale product named Audicom
was introduced by Oscar Bonello in 1989. It is based on psychoacoustic lossy compression, the same principle being used in most modern lossy audio encoders such as MP3
and Advanced Audio Coding
(AAC), and it allowed both broadcast automation and recording to hard drives.
automation
is also becoming more practical as the storage space of hard drives increases. Television shows and television commercials, as well as digital on-screen graphic
s (DOG or BUG), can all be stored on video server
s remotely controlled by computers utilizing the 9-Pin Protocol
and the Video Disk Control Protocol
(VDCP). These systems can be very extensive, tied-in with parts that allow the "ingest" (as it is called in the industry) of video from satellite networks and electronic news gathering
(ENG) operations and management of the video library, including archival of footage
for later use. In ATSC
, Programming Metadata Communication Protocol
(PMCP) is then used to pass information about the video through the airchain to Program and System Information Protocol
(PSIP), which transmits the current electronic program guide
(EPG) information over digital television to the viewer.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
operations. Used either at a broadcast network
Broadcast network
A broadcast network is an organization, such as a corporation or other voluntary association, that provides live television or recorded content, such as movies, newscasts, sports, Public affairs programming, and other television programs for broadcast over a group of radio stations or television...
, radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
or a television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
, it can run a facility in the absence of a human operator
Operator (profession)
An operator is a professional designation used in various industries, including broadcasting , computing, customer service, physics, and construction. Operators are day-to-day end users of systems, that may or may not be mission-critical, but are typically managed and maintained by technicians or...
. They can also run in a "live assist" mode when there are on-air personnel present at the master control
Master control
Master control is the technical hub of a broadcast operation common among most over-the-air television stations and television networks. It is distinct from a production control room in television studios where the activities such as switching from camera to camera are coordinated...
, television studio
Television studio
A television studio is an installation in which a video productions take place, either for the recording of live television to video tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for post-production. The design of a studio is similar to, and derived from, movie studios, with a few amendments for the...
or control room
Control room
A control room is a room serving as an operations centre where a facility or service can be monitored and controlled. Examples include:*in television production, the master control is the technical hub of a broadcast operation common among most over-the-air television stations, television networks...
.
The radio transmitter end of the airchain
Airchain
In broadcast engineering for radio or television, the airchain or transmission chain is the path or route an audio or video signal takes on its way through a radio station or television station.The airchain begins with cameras, microphones, CD players, turntables, telephone hybrids, video tape...
is handled by a separate automatic transmission system
Automatic transmission system
An automatic transmission system is an automated system designed to keep a radio transmitter and antenna system running without direct human oversight or attention for long periods.-History:In the early days of radio, an operator, technician or electrical engineer...
(ATS).
History
Originally, in the USA, many (if not most) broadcast licensingBroadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
authorities required a licensed board operator
Board operator
A board operator or board op is a particular type of operator at a radio station, television studio, or at a live production such as a theater or concert venue and provides live event support...
to run every station at all times, meaning that every DJ had to pass an exam to obtain a license to be on-air, if their duties also required them to ensure proper operation of the transmitter. This was often the case on overnight and weekend shift
Shift work
Shift work is an employment practice designed to make use of the 24 hours of the clock. The term "shift work" includes both long-term night shifts and work schedules in which employees change or rotate shifts....
s when there was no broadcast engineer present, and all of the time for small stations with only a contract engineer on call.
In the U.S., it was also necessary to have an operator on duty at all times in case the Emergency Broadcast System
Emergency Broadcast System
The Emergency Broadcast System was an emergency warning system in the United States, used from 1963 to 1997, when it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System.-Purpose:...
(EBS) was used, as this had to be triggered manually. While there has not been a requirement to relay any other warning
Warning system
A warning system is any system of biological or technical nature deployed by an individual or group to inform of a future danger. Its purpose is to enable the deployer of the warning system to prepare for the danger and act accordingly to mitigate or avoid it....
s, any mandatory messages from the U.S. president would have had to first be authenticated
Authentication
Authentication is the act of confirming the truth of an attribute of a datum or entity...
with a code word
Code word
In communication, a code word is an element of a standardized code or protocol. Each code word is assembled in accordance with the specific rules of the code and assigned a unique meaning...
sealed in a pink envelope sent annually to stations by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC).
Gradually, the quality and reliability of electronic equipment improved, regulations were relaxed, and no operator had to be present (or even available) while a station was operating. In the U.S., this came about when the EAS
Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System is a national warning system in the United States put into place on January 1, 1997, when it superseded the Emergency Broadcast System , which itself had superseded the CONELRAD System...
replaced the EBS, starting the movement toward automation to assist, and sometimes take the place of, the live disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s (DJs) and radio personalities.
Early analog systems
Repeater
A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
s. Later systems were "computerized" only to the point of maintaining a schedule, and were limited to radio rather than TV. Music would be stored on reel-to-reel
Reel-to-reel audio tape recording
Reel-to-reel, open reel tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette....
audio tape. Subaudible tone
Subaudible tone
For the use of subaudible tones in Two-way radio see: CTCSSA subaudible tone is a tone that is used to trigger an automated event at a radio station. A subaudible tone is not inaudible; however, it is usually at a low level that is not noticeable to the average listener at normal volumes...
s on the tape marked the end of each song. The computer would simply rotate among the tape players until the computer's internal clock matched that of a scheduled event. When a scheduled event would be encountered, the computer would finish the currently-playing song and then execute the scheduled block of events. These events were usually advertisements, but could also include the station's top-of-hour station identification
Station identification
Station identification is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name...
, news, or a bumper
Commercial bumper
In broadcasting, a commercial bumper, ident bumper or break-bumper is a brief announcement, usually two to 15 seconds that can contain a voice over, placed between a pause in the program and its commercial break, and vice versa...
promoting the station or its other shows. At the end of the block, the rotation among tapes resumed.
Advertisements, jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s, and the top-of-hour station identification required by law were often on "carts". Short for cartridges, these were endless tapes similar to 8-track tapes, and looked nearly identical as well. A primary difference between carts and 8 track deals with the pinch roller and capstan. The roller was self-contained in an 8-track; carts had a slot for a pinch roller on a spindle which was activated by solenoid upon pressing the start button on the cart machine. This allowed for nearly instantaneous playback start without artifacts. Mechanical carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
s would rotate the carts in and out of multiple tape players
Cassette deck
A cassette deck is a type of tape recorder for playing or recording audio compact cassettes. A deck was formerly distinguished from a recorder as being part of a stereo component system, while a recorder had a self-contained power amplifier...
as dictated by the computer. Time announcements were provided by a pair of dedicated cart players, with the even minutes stored on one and the odd minutes on the other. This meant an announcement would always be ready to play, even if the minute was changing when the announcement was triggered. The system did require attention throughout the day to change reels as they ran out and reload carts. It became obsolete when a method was developed to automatically rewind and re-cue the reel tapes when they ran out, extending 'walk-away' time indefinitely.
Radio station WIRX
WSJM-FM
WSJM-FM is a radio station broadcasting a simulcast of WSJM 1400 AM, a News-Talk-Sports station. Licensed to Benton Harbor, Michigan.-History:...
may have been one of the world's first completely automated radio stations, built and designed by Brian Brown in 1963 when Brown was only 10 years old. The station broadcast in a classical format, called "More Good Music (MGM)" and featured five minute bottom of the hour news feeds from the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
. The heart of the automation was a 8 x 24 telephone stepping relay
Stepping switch
In electrical controls, a stepping switch, also known as a stepping relay, is an electromechanical device which allows an input connection to be connected to one of a number of possible output connections, under the control of a series of electrical pulses. It can step on one axis , or on two axes...
which controlled two reel-to-reel tape decks, one twelve inch Ampex
Ampex
Ampex is an American electronics company founded in 1944 by Alexander M. Poniatoff. The name AMPEX is an acronym, created by its founder, which stands for Alexander M. Poniatoff Excellence...
machine providing the main program audio and a second RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
seven inch machine providing "fill" music. The tapes played by these machines were originally produced in the MWF's Madison, Wisconsin production facility by WSJM Chief Engineer Richard E. McLemore (and later in-house at WSJM) with sub-audible tones used to signal the end of a song. The stepping relay was programmed by slide switches in the front of the two relay racks which housed the equipment. The news feeds were triggered by a microswitch which was attached to a Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
clock and tripped by the minute hand of the clock. and then reset the stepping relay. Originally, 30-minute station identification was accomplished by a simulcast switch in the control booth for sister station WSJM-AM, whereupon the disc jockey in the booth would announce "This is WSJM-AM and... (then pressing the momentary contact button) ...WSJM-FM, St. Joseph, Michigan." This only lasted about six months, however, and a standard tape cartridge player was wired in to announce the station identification and triggered by the Western Union clock.
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
, with the program stored in a solid-state
Solid-state drive
A solid-state drive , sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block i/o hard disk drive...
plug-in memory module. This system has a limited programming time of about eight hours.
Satellite programming often used audible dual-tone multi-frequency
Dual-tone multi-frequency
Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling is used for telecommunication signaling over analog telephone lines in the voice-frequency band between telephone handsets and other communications devices and the switching center. The version of DTMF that is used in push-button telephones for tone dialing is...
(DTMF) signals to trigger events at affiliate
Affiliate
An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity.- Corporate structure :A corporation may be referred to as an affiliate of another when it is related to it but not strictly controlled by it, as with a subsidiary relationship, or when it is desired to avoid...
stations. This allowed the automatic local insertion of ads and station IDs. Because there are 12 (or 16) tone pairs, and typically four tones were sent in rapid succession (less than one second), more events could be triggered than by sub-audible tones (usually 25 Hz and 35 Hz).
Modern digital systems
Modern systems run on hard diskHard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
, where all of the music, jingles, advertisements, voice tracks, and other announcements are stored. These audio files may be either compressed
Data compression
In computer science and information theory, data compression, source coding or bit-rate reduction is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation would use....
or uncompressed, or often with only minimal compression as a compromise between file size and quality. For radio software
Radio software
Almost all radio stations today use some form of broadcast automation. Although some only use small scripts in audio players, a more robust solution is using a full Radio Automation Suite...
, these disks are usually in computers, sometimes running their own custom operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s, but more often running as an application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
on a stable OS like GNU
GNU
GNU is a Unix-like computer operating system developed by the GNU project, ultimately aiming to be a "complete Unix-compatible software system"...
/Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Windows NT
Windows NT
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
or others.
Scheduling
Scheduling (broadcasting)
Broadcast programming or scheduling is the practice of organizing television shows or radio programs in a daily, weekly, or season-long schedule. Modern broadcasters use broadcast automation to regularly change the scheduling of their programs to build an audience for a new show, retain that...
was an important advance of these systems, allowing for exact timing. Some systems use GPS satellite receivers
Receiver (radio)
A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
to obtain exact atomic time, for perfect synchronization
Synchronization
Synchronization is timekeeping which requires the coordination of events to operate a system in unison. The familiar conductor of an orchestra serves to keep the orchestra in time....
with satellite-delivered programming
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
. Reasonably-accurate timekeeping can also be obtained with the use of Internet protocol
Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite...
s (IP) like Network Time Protocol
Network Time Protocol
The Network Time Protocol is a protocol and software implementation for synchronizing the clocks of computer systems over packet-switched, variable-latency data networks. Originally designed by David L...
(NTP).
Automation systems are also more interactive than ever before with digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
(DAW) with console automation
Console automation
Modern digital audio consoles or mixers use automation. Automation allows the console to remember the audio engineer's adjustment of faders during the post-production editing process. A timecode is necessary for synchronization of automation.- Types of Automation :...
and can even record from a telephone hybrid
Telephone hybrid
Telephone hybrids are an essential functional component of the Public Switched Telephone Network . The term also describes the piece of equipment used in broadcast facilities to enable the airing of telephone callers....
to play back an edited conversation with a telephone caller. This is part of a system's live-assist mode.
The use of automation software and voice tracks to replace live DJs is a current trend in radio broadcasting, done by many Internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
and adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
stations. Stations can even be voice-tracked from another city far away, now often delivering sound files over the Internet. In the U.S., this is a common practice under controversy for making radio more generic and artificial. Having local content is also touted as a way for traditional stations to compete with satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
, where there may be no radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
on the air at all.
Audicom
Audicom stands for: Audio en Computadora . Released in 1989, it was the world's first PC-based broadcast automation system to use audio data compression technology based on psychoacoustics....
was introduced by Oscar Bonello in 1989. It is based on psychoacoustic lossy compression, the same principle being used in most modern lossy audio encoders such as MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
and Advanced Audio Coding
Advanced Audio Coding
Advanced Audio Coding is a standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at similar bit rates....
(AAC), and it allowed both broadcast automation and recording to hard drives.
Television
In television, playoutPlayout
In broadcasting, playout is a term for the transmission of radio or TV channels from the broadcaster into broadcast networks that delivers the content to the audience...
automation
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
is also becoming more practical as the storage space of hard drives increases. Television shows and television commercials, as well as digital on-screen graphic
Digital on-screen graphic
A digital on-screen graphic is a watermark-like station logo that many television broadcasters overlay over a portion of the screen-area of their programs to identify the channel...
s (DOG or BUG), can all be stored on video server
Video server
A video server is a computer based device dedicated to delivering video.Unlike personal computers, being multi-application devices, a video server is designed for one purpose; provisioning video, often for broadcasters. A professional grade video server records, stores, and playout of multiple...
s remotely controlled by computers utilizing the 9-Pin Protocol
9-Pin Protocol
The 9-Pin Protocol is a two-way communications protocol for the RS-422 D-sub electrical connector interface, in which a bi-direction signal is transmitted over a single, four wire, serial cable to allow the remote control of a wide variety of devices including, reel-to-reel type C videotape video...
and the Video Disk Control Protocol
Video Disk Control Protocol
Video Disk Control Protocol is a proprietary communications protocol primarily used in broadcast automation to control hard disk video servers for broadcast television. VDCP was originally developed by Louth Automation and is commonly called the Louth Protocol...
(VDCP). These systems can be very extensive, tied-in with parts that allow the "ingest" (as it is called in the industry) of video from satellite networks and electronic news gathering
Electronic news gathering
ENG is a broadcasting industry acronym which stands for electronic news gathering. It can mean anything from a lone broadcast journalist reporter taking a single professional video camera out to shoot a story, to an entire television crew taking a production truck or satellite truck on location...
(ENG) operations and management of the video library, including archival of footage
Footage
In filmmaking and video production, footage is the raw, unedited material as it had been originally filmed by movie camera or recorded by a video camera which usually must be edited to create a motion picture, video clip, television show or similar completed work...
for later use. In ATSC
ATSC
ATSC standards are a set of standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks....
, Programming Metadata Communication Protocol
Programming Metadata Communication Protocol
Programming Metadata Communication Protocol is a standard for use within digital television broadcast facilities for transfer of the source data used to generate electronic program guide listings and other program-related information...
(PMCP) is then used to pass information about the video through the airchain to Program and System Information Protocol
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
(PSIP), which transmits the current electronic program guide
Electronic program guide
Electronic program guides and interactive program guides provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus displaying broadcast programming or scheduling information for current and upcoming programming...
(EPG) information over digital television to the viewer.
See also
- AudicomAudicomAudicom stands for: Audio en Computadora . Released in 1989, it was the world's first PC-based broadcast automation system to use audio data compression technology based on psychoacoustics....
- CentralcastingCentralcastingIn terrestrial radio and television broadcasting, centralcasting refers to the use of systems automation by which customised signals for broadcast by multiple individual stations may be created at one central facility.- :...
- Community radioCommunity radioCommunity radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
- Emergency Alert SystemEmergency Alert SystemThe Emergency Alert System is a national warning system in the United States put into place on January 1, 1997, when it superseded the Emergency Broadcast System , which itself had superseded the CONELRAD System...
- FidelipacFidelipacThe Fidelipac, commonly known as an NAB cartridge or simply cart, is a magnetic tape sound recording format, used for radio broadcasting for playback of material over the air such as radio commercials, jingles, station identifications, and music. Fidelipac is the official name of this industry...
- Local insertionLocal insertionIn broadcasting, local insertion is the act or capability of a broadcast television station, radio station, or cable TV system to insert or replace part of a broadcast network feed with content unique to the local station or system...
and station identificationStation identificationStation identification is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name... - PlayoutPlayoutIn broadcasting, playout is a term for the transmission of radio or TV channels from the broadcaster into broadcast networks that delivers the content to the audience...
- Radio softwareRadio softwareAlmost all radio stations today use some form of broadcast automation. Although some only use small scripts in audio players, a more robust solution is using a full Radio Automation Suite...