Pro-Bel Provides Central Infrastructure For Digital Migration at WTVR/WUPV
Melville, NY, US – February 5, 2008: Pro-Bel has supplied a wide range of automation, routing and master control technology to Raycom owned station WTVR and the shared services operation of Southeastern Media’s WUPV – Richmond, VA – to facilitate the move to digital with a clear migration path to HD.
WTVR provides CBS-6, a CBS affiliate that broadcasts in HD (pass through from CBS – upconverting local origination) as well as an SD 24-hour weather channel. WUPV – which uses a much higher percentage of server-based content – is a CW affiliate broadcasting in HD and analog.
The facility has selected and installed a two-channel Morpheus automation and playout system from Pro-Bel to handle all of the automation requirements. This includes Morpheus Acquisition ingest stations and Morpheus File Gateway Delivery technology to interface with Pathfire’s Digital Media Gateway™ (DMG) electronic content delivery platform.
“Pro-Bel technology is clearly central to our operation here and its routers now handle all of the station’s requirements. New Sirius routers manage the cross conversion between NTSC analog and digital with the two TX family switchers driving the line outputs to the NTSC and HD upconverters,” explains Donald Cox, Chief Engineer. The Pro-Bel switchers are located in master control and are connected to router sources and destinations driven by Morpheus automation. The Morpheus automation controls the switching on both HD channels between the upconverted NTSC lines and true HD sources and is used extensively for scheduled satellite recordings.
“The cross-conversion capabilities of the Sirius routers are an essential element in integrating the various analog and digital sources and destinations needed to service our multi-format plant. The TX switchers and their automation allow the delivery of a consistent look with a powerful set of tools to service our needs. The aforementioned Pathfire Gateway and the full Morpheus feature set provide massive strides in power and efficiency,” continues Cox.
Although only at the tip of the iceberg in terms of the usage of Morpheus Control and Monitoring (MCM) – Pro-Bel’s extensive software-based control and monitoring system is being used alongside the more traditional Aurora router control - Cox highlights the potential of the technology to allow control at non-traditional locations and to control and monitor other functions.
“It is particularly gratifying when a customer returns and that is the case with WTVR. This has been a complex project and, as with all our customers, we view this as a partnership moving forwards to allow the station to continue to develop its capabilities and fully exploit the power of our products,” says Neil Maycock, President, Pro-Bel Americas.
About Pro-Bel
The Pro-Bel name is synonymous with innovative automation, media management and master control solutions as well as outstanding routing, control and signal distribution systems - all designed to be flexible and scalable, protecting the investment of the customer. With three decades of service to the international broadcast, post-production, cable & satellite communities, Pro-Bel has a unique understanding of broadcast workflow, and is an established leader in the provision of cost-effective solutions that compromise neither performance nor quality.
Contact Information:
Company contact:
Katharine Guy
Pro-Bel Ltd
Tel: +44 1189 214 294
katharine.guy@pro-bel.com
Press contact:
Jennie Evans
Manor Marketing
Tel: +44 1635 44991
jennie@manormarketing.tv
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www.pro-bel.com/news_and_events/c/Press Information/