A. F. Associates Links Vendors To Design Digital Digs For WWSB

When WWSB goes on-air from their new 21,500 square foot digital server-based facility in November 2001, it will be the culmination of a complex partnership of vendors formed by A. F. Associates, Inc. to develop and integrate cutting-edge technology for the ABC affiliate. WWSB's new building in Sarasota, Florida is being designed from the ground-up specifically for television production. A. F. Associates, Inc. (AFA), a leading systems integrator, serves domestic and international clients from headquarters in Northvale, NJ.

"After an extensive evaluation process, we selected A. F. Associates, Inc. to serve as the Systems Integrator for WWSB's new digital facility," said Manny Calvo, general manager of WWSB. "AFA's reputation is stellar in the industry and when we visited their plant in Northvale, New Jersey, it was evident that they were interested in more than just a vendor/customer relationship. They were enthusiastic about forming a partnership to develop our facility.

"Other key elements for selecting A. F. Associates and all the vendors was the ease of integration of each and every product. This complement of equipment will make us an extremely efficient, high-quality operation poised for datacasting, multicasting, or any other direction technology takes us, " Calvo continued.

On behalf of WWSB, David Linick, senior project manager at AFA organized numerous product demonstrations and thoroughly researched various equipment's ability to support and interact with other equipment. Linick subsequently assembled a technology team of vendors to participate in the design of the efficient, flexible and streamlined operation.

"WWSB was technically open-minded and willing to look at all possibilities," said Linick. "We spent considerable time and energy assessing concepts and ideas that would enable WWSB to transition to a server-based facility under automation control, within their budget."

Sundance Digital, Inc. was selected to provide an automation package that includes satellite and news modules for total control of all operational elements, from satellite acquisition through on-air playout and news playback. Sundance is also working with WWSB and AFA to develop the next generation of News Playout System which will interface with the station's Newsroom system for streamlined control and playback of stories from the server.

Omneon Video Networks Networked Content Server will be used for playout of pre-recorded syndicated programming, commercials and news. The Omneon system was chosen because the system's unique design philosophy combines linear scalability, redundancy and cost effectiveness. In addition, the system's use of the IEEE1394 interface for audio, video and control works well with WWSB's decision to use DVCPRO-25 for their news acquisition format. Transfer of data from server to editor and back as well as control will be implemented in the 1394 format, eliminating multi-generational encoding and decoding from SDV to/from DV.

In addition to its network and syndicated programming, WWSB produces a significant amount of local news programming. Ingest, editing and repurposing of elements for WWSB's multiple newscasts often result in unnecessary downtime for editors sharing common source material. To facilitate the efficient and rapid workflow required in a news environment, WWSB chose FAST Multimedia's "Purple" non-linear editing system to interface with Omneon's Network Content Server. Media will be captured to the server from a satellite feed, live studio production or VTR source, and named at ingest. Clips are available to users for viewing and editing 5 seconds following the start of the ingest process. The edited clips will reside on the server, readily available for playback.

An Oxtel Presmaster Master Control Switcher will operate under Sundance automation control. A Philips Venus Routing Switcher will provide the requisite core of serial digital, AES and control routing.

WWSB will install a Vinten Robotic Camera System with Philips LDK-100 triax-based digital cameras.

A suite of Pinnacle equipment, including a 3 channel FX DEKO Character Generator, Lightning Still Store, DVE Extreme Digital Effects and Philips DD35-3 Production Switcher will round out WWSB's new production facility.

WWSB is currently in the process of converting field acquisition equipment to Panasonic DVCPRO.

"Instead of telling us what they have, every vendor asked us what we need. I think that is a terrific way to do business," Calvo concluded.

AF Associates, Inc., 100 Stonehurst Court, Northvale, NJ 07647. Tel: 201-767-1200; Fax: 201-784-8637.