Re: How will the US local area stations commerate the end of System-M?

On Fri, 2 May 2008 15:50:55 -0700 (PDT), Albert Manfredi
<bert22306@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>> We're all looking into the hardware, software and automation changes
>> required, but there doesn't seem to be any way to meet the May 30
>> deadline. The manufacturers aren't ready. This is the extension we're
>> looking for.
>
>How does this work? Is an automatic scheme necessary, or can the times
>be changed manually? For example, if a program is going to un 30
>minutes longer, and the station decides to ****ft the rest of the
>evening's schedule by 30 minutes, is it difficult to change the times
>manually?
>
>Bert


Changing the EIT entries manually can be achieved, I think, but it's a
clumsy process in some cases (I'm going by the system we use). You
have to understand that TV stations don't operate like they have in
the past. Staffing has been cut and in cases such as ours, we don't
even have a master control operator on site. We are fed from a "hub"
in a distant city and during some hours of the day there are no
operators around. Hiring someone to enter PSIP data is out of the
question so we have to rely on an automated system to handle it.

Originally the EIT was to be a static table - it did not change. Two
years ago it was ordered that a dynamic PSIP be implemented that would
show a minimun of 9 hours ahead and ideally 3 days or so of correct
program info. This is the system we use now. Every night the editor
goes out and collects the Tribune xml file and updates the PSIP
generator. It's automated and works fine. Now this has to change and
I'm not sure there's anything out there that will work seamlessly with
our current system.

But it's not just changing the times. The mandated "accurate
information" will have to include titles in the case of breaking news
or other specials. And consider sliding a whole evening's schedule
because s****ts ran long. Newscasts are sometimes collapsed or
eliminated. It can really pile up and get to be a chore. Information
from the playback server's automation is the key but is still under
development.

DM