WSKG Makes the Digital Transition with Crispin's System 2000
Traffic Department Utilizes Supervisory View to Control/Monitor Schedule Archive
Manager Helps Digitize WSKG Content Library

Binghamton, NY - November 28, 2005 --WSKG-TV is the public television station serving the Binghamton/Vestal, NY market. In order to continue delivering high-quality education services and programming, we decided to pursue a digital transition this year. We had several goals in mind when beginning this project:

• Create a digital infrastructure to support several program streams, as well as the eventual distribution of HD programming content
• Create greater operational/staffing efficiencies
• Create a digital archive to preserve our locally produced programming

SignaSys was selected as the systems integrator on this project because of their extensive knowledge and experience with other PBS member stations. The core system installed is a Crispin System 2000 automation system controlling an Omneon server and NVISION master control and routing switchers. The new facility went on air September 5th, 2005 after about five weeks of construction.

Crispin's System 2000 gives WSKG the flexibility needed to run multiple playlists in SD and can be dynamically reconfigured to run an HD playlist. A major selling feature in Crispin's System 2000 is Supervisory View, which provides a high-level view of automation functions.

Since WSKG is a small-market television station, operational efficiencies and staffing flexibility is a must for survival. There are now several hours each day when master control monitoring capability becomes the responsibility of the Traffic Department. A monitor on the Traffic Department wall displays Supervisory View and enables the Traffic staff to monitor and correct the on-air playlists for errors and exceptions. This high-level display provides only the needed status information for what is on the air. Audible and visual alerts are provided to notify traffic of any missing media or any exceptions requiring manual intervention. Because this display notifies them only when intervention is needed, the traffic staff is free to perform their regular duties while monitoring master control.

A second Supervisory View screen is also in the actual master control area. This enables master control technicians to also multi-task while monitoring the on-air signal. A single operator is able to make dubs, do quality control checks and other tasks while monitoring multiple on-air playlists. Supervisory View notifies them only when intervention is required (such as for a live pledge break.)

There are also multiple ingest workstations in the facility running Crispin's Dubber software. In the past, all programs were dubbed to tape then delivered to master control to dub into the on-air server. This created a huge work load, as well as a bottleneck in master control. Now, locally produced programming is ingested into the on-air server right from the edit room. This not only eliminates a large portion of the workload, it also increases on-air quality by eliminating generational loss in the tape dubbing process.

The heart of the automation system is Crispin's AssetBase, which resides on a Web server within the facility. Any authorized operator can access this database to manage programming, inventory and satellite feeds...again freeing up a bottleneck in master control. In the past, all this information was placed on paper and then delivered to master control to be manually entered.

Crispin's ArchiveManager application rounded out our requirement to create a digital archive of locally produced programming. WSKG has been producing local documentaries since our inception in 1968. Our library now includes rare historical footage of upstate NY dating back to the turn of the century. Thousands of hour's worth of local programming stored on analog video tape was slowly degrading. Over the next year, this analog tape will be digitized into the Omneon server and then archived to the Crispin ArchiveManager system on RAID drives and removable DVD RAM cartridges. This will not only preserve this old footage, but will make it more accessible by being catalogued in the database.

Crispin's ArchiveManager is the only system that is an integrated part of the automation package and does not require "middle-ware" to manage the actual archive volumes. This is not only a tremendous cost savings, but it simplifies the management and maintenance of the system...both important to a small-market television station.

Crispin's business-critical applications helped streamline our operations, improved our on-air presentation and enhanced our brand. The solution provided us with a greater range of flexibility and most of all, was cost-effective.

ABOUT THE COMPANIES:

WSKG-TV- WSKG-TV is a Binghamton, New York PBS station.

CRISPIN- Founded in 1997, Crispin Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of broadcast automation software, equipment, services and support. Modular in design, Crispin's flexible systems help small to large-scale facilities develop and customize cost-effective solutions designed to connect elements from existing and new systems into one, integrated, easy-to-use solution. Based in Durham, NC, with regional sales offices located throughout the United States, Crispin offers automation solutions to over 370 broadcast facilities worldwide. For more information, contact Crispin at (919) 845-7744 or visit us on the Web at www.crispincorp.com.