All-in-One Workflow

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Viz Multichannel integrates with existing systems used in the traffic department and master control room. The application utilizes schedules from the scheduling and automation systems and is able to import any fixed format text file like XML, CSV, or Microsoft Excel with Playlist Importer. With Integrations Hub network update and schedule fetching from automation systems with the standard HTTP REST protocol can be implemented.

After importing the schedule and its data, a new Multichannel playlist, including a graphic layer, is automatically created. If the playlist is continuous, the playlist will be updated to relfect the new data received.

Pages are graphic elements ready for playout that can be manually or automatically added to the Multichannel playlist. Pages are created from Templates that a graphic artist creates in Viz Artist. The templates (and therefore, pages created from templates) can have fields or elements that Multichannel fill in based on the current playlist data. This will typically be information such as “What is the name of the next film?” or “When does the next film start?”.

Adding a predefined page to an event in the playlist can either be achieved by dragging the page from the Templates and Pages list and dropping it onto a primary event in the playlist or by allowing the graphic elements to be created automatically, based on predefined Rules. The latter is especially convenient for non-technical personnel in traffic departments who can prepare pages for playout without actually having to work with them. The possibility to predefine rules can describe a variety of playlist rules, such as adding graphics with a relative offset to a primary event with a predefined length.

To streamline workflow as much as possible, Viz Multichannel contains two layers of automation:

  1. The first layer is Viz Multichannel’s capability to read schedules. By analyzing the schedule, the application can automatically launch graphics at a defined offset. This can be the beginning, the credits or the end time of a specific event, according to pre-defined rules.

  2. The second layer of automation is the linkage between the different properties of objects from graphics (texts, images, geometry, etc.) and the information as it exists in the imported schedule. This linkage can be customized to create a fully automatic system that “decides” which graphics to use and add to which primary event, and what data to take from the schedule and insert to the matching object of that graphics. In other words: Viz Multichannel is capable of automatically choosing the right graphics and filling it with adequate content.

After receiving the updated schedule from the scheduling system, the automation system takes control during playout. Using standard protocols like VDCP and intelligent interface, the automation system then triggers when certain events should be run. With the Broadcast eXchange Format (BXF) Viz Multichannel also provides an interface mechanism that allows broadcast systems to exchange mission-critical data.

Last minute changes to existing playlists are common in everyday broadcasting: sports events go overtime, live shows do not keep their planned time schedule, and breaking news events demand their own space in the playlist.

Viz Multichannel has been designed to maintain full control over its playlist up to the very last minute before playout. Graphics that are connected to a specific event will collect information like program name and start time automatically. In case any changes to the playlist occur, the graphics will update all the relevant information.

In addition, an automatic error check makes sure, that changes in the original schedule do not corrupt the imported playlist. Viz Multichannel offers advanced error protection features that alert about animations overlapping, mismatches or any other deviations from the schedule.

Multichannel works with relative time codes. Offsets for graphics are given, based on the timecode of a specific event rather than an absolute time of day. Updates in the playlist do not affect the secondary events (e.g. graphics, video clips or a combination of the two) in the playlist, simply because the relative start point of such an event in relation to the primary event always stays the same.

Viz Multichannel integrates with Viz One that enables the operator to search and browse for Video Clips stored in the Viz One from within the Viz Multichannel user interface. Video clips that are used in the playlist are automatically transferred to the relevant Viz Engines by Viz One. Video clips can either be added as full screens, or embedded into the graphics.

Finally, the playlist can be populated with graphics effects from all sources that follow the ODBC standard.

Viz Multichannel allows the promotion of programs and shows across multiple channels. This is made possible by accessing the playlist of other channels and cross referencing the content with the primary channel.

Viz Multichannel can also make use of Viz Engine for local preview of graphics and graphics with embedded video clips. The preview functionality is an essential tool for operators in the master control room to monitor graphics before taking it to air.

See Also