[SBE] automating sports broadcasts

[Matthew Steck]

I can only comment as someone on the receiving end.  We do not originate
anything.  Our stations receive closures only at this point.  We have no
decoders in operation currently.  We get both specific "end of game"
closures on some networks and just a total number of breaks (last one is
end of game) from others.  Personally I prefer the specific "end of game"
closures because the system is always ready to end and revert to normal
programming.  If we get off a break, the system will sit on that source all
night.  Most games end late and there isn't always someone ready to correct
a missed last break.  Sending multiple break closures at the end is a great
idea, provided the receiving stations have an automation system running
some sort of event log and also a way of ignoring your closures once the
end of game process is triggered.

For example, our stations run RCS Nexgen.  For sporting events we program a
event log.  Our switchers (ACU-1's) are wired up using a multiplex scheme
that allows only certain closures to be active when a given source is on.
When the last break hits it contains a macro (a small batch-like program)
that changes from the game source to the regular program source along with
other unrelated things.  When the game source switches off, all closures
from that source are ignored.  This way, your extra break closures wouldn't
go through and mess with the breaks in our regular programming.  Games with
their own end of game closure simply map the closure to that same style
macro.

The macros contain a command to end the event, thus aborting the game and
immediately returning to normal programming.

I'm thinking what you're doing now should be fine, at least from my
standpoint.  I can't comment on other automation systems.  Hope that
answers something.


On Tue, Apr 2, 2013 at 6:52 PM, Tim Berry <timb447457 at aol.com> wrote:


> To all of the braintrust,

>

> Please forgive the multiple posts if you are subscribed to more than one

> radio-related listserver. I am need of some answers from the collective

> group.

>

> I am responsible for a major university's sports broadcasts as the Chief

> Engineer of the Radio Network and also of the flagship station. At present,

> we are using a circuitwerks tone encoder to send 25/35/combined tones to

> the affiliates via ISDN and then to satellite. As I'm sure you know, this

> method works well as long as the level and pass filters are OK on our end,

> and the affiliates have the levels set to their decoder properly. We will

> at some point be required to switch to closures with the new generation of

> receivers (XDS, Max receiver, DG receiver, etc) but for now the subaudibles

> work ok. I monitor the tones back thru a decoder that is connected to the

> satellite receiver that receives our originated broadcasts to insure there

> is nothing wrong with what we send out.

>

> My question is two-fold: If you are using automation (of any kind) to

> control your sports broadcasts, how do you handle the end of game? Do you

> have a closure programmed to drop the game broadcast and go straight back

> to "normal" programming, or do you depend on a "local adjacency" (playing a

> local commercial at the networks last segment and then dropping back to

> 'normal' programming?  How does the originating network signal to you that

> they are ending? If you can answer this question for your station, which

> kind of automation are you using?

>

> If you are originating a sports broadcast, how do you signal the "end of

> the broadcast" to your affiliates? Do you just send a "local break" closure

> at the end of your network broadcast and then expect the affiliate to get

> themselves back to "normal," or do you send a particular "end of game"

> broadcast?  And if you are using closures only, is there any way to delay

> the closures as you do the audio in order to match the TV delay?

>

> The reason for my line of curiosity is this: I have just found out that my

> producer has been sending several "local break" closures (25 Hz tones)

> repeatedly at the end of our sports network broadcasts, and then after

> doing that, sends an "end of game" closure 25/35 tone).  Before I tell him

> to STOP doing that and just do the "end of game" closure I wanted to ask

> the listserver members how they do it elsewhere. I know how our Scott

> Studios machine would handle this, but I don't know how the other

> manufacturers' automation systems would react under this circumstance. His

> reason is to allow stations to "catch up" in their logs if they missed a

> break command...my contention is that it screws up the many to try to

> accommodate the few (that line is partially borrowed from a Star Trek

> movie, BTW).  Also, if I must change to one of the newer platforms that I

> mentioned above, I am need to see if there is any way that I can continue

> to use a precision delay to match the TV feed and delay the break closures

> as well. Right mow I can pass the 25/23/combined tones thru our precision

> delay and not distort them to the point that they are unusable.

>

> Sorry for the long post, but I would really appreciate any input from you

> if you are in either one of these scenarios. Private reply is great. Thanks

> in advance!

>

>  Tim Berry

> timb447457 at aol.com

>

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-- 
Matthew J. Steck
Chief Engineer / Operator
Forever Broadcasting
109 Plaza Drive
Johnstown, PA 15905
(610) 858-5682
MatthewJSteck at gmail.com
Msteck at foreverradio.com <msteck at foreverradio.com>
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