TSL helps streamline on-air productions
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In response to its customers changing requirements, TSL Products’ Flex Control Network continues to be adopted by broadcasters and station groups across the U.S. to streamline operation in the modern-day newsroom.
At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, senior technology management at one of North America’s leading television station groups identified a pressing requirement to replace “weak link” news playout systems across multiple stations with more streamlined control room workflows. The station’s MOS Rundown Playout System’s control engine is based around TSL’s Flex Control Network, enabling it to connect and control a near-universal catalogue of video servers, production switchers graphics systems, signal routers and more.
“Ultimately, the station’s feedback helped us make MOS Rundown a much better system; one more focused on complexities of the newscast and the hands-on operator’s workflow,” says Randy Rodriguez, product manager at TSL Products. “The station gained a more polished on-air ‘look,’ with fewer on-air errors and a less stressful atmosphere in the control room.”
The Flex Network is deployed across a complete station group hub, allowing the ability to select and remotely route primary or back-up automation to air in case of a failure or a break into the affiliate’s programming, should essential national or regional coverage take precedence.
With many TSL customers working remotely, rather than in-studio, the company also added a feature called Web Keys to the Flex Control Network for some USP control panels, which allows users to control major hub and spoke installations across the United States from home. “The first request we received when the pandemic struck was for a web app and web keys so customers could manually insert commercial breaks and stop the automation remotely,” says Tom Dickinson, president of TSL Products’ U.S. division.
“Going forward, everything we’re developing involves virtualisation and cloud-based technology. We can no longer assume newscasters will have a person in a room hitting a button all the time.”
