Viz Channel Branding User Guide

Version 5.0 | Published July 10, 2023 ©

Glossary

Viz Channel Branding Terminology

A number of glossary items in the table below refer to one another. If a definition contains an unfamiliar term, check for its explanation in the same table.

Term

Definition

Action

An action can be a GPO command, Viz Engine command or a Viz Ticker command. See Actions.

Automation system

The system that manages the assemblage of broadcast systems, meaning the camera, graphics, prompters, etc. for broadcast. During playout, the system sends control commands to Viz Channel Branding.

Broadcast day playlist

Viz Channel Branding supports two types of playlists; broadcast day and continuous playlists. A broadcast day playlist must be switched based on day switch settings.

Channel

A channel is a defined broadcast channel. A channel holds all the information needed for playout of that channel’s program content. This involves how to import and map playout schedule(s) to a single continuous playlist or multiple broadcast day playlists.

Control Room

Room serving as an operations center where a facility or service can be monitored and controlled. A control room generally serves a single show at a time.

Continuous playlist

Viz Channel Branding supports two types of playlists: continuous and broadcast day playlists. A continuous playlist does not have to be switched based on day switch settings.

Device channel

A device channel is basically a list of playout devices assigned to a Channel. This can be one or multiple Viz Engines for graphics playout and video devices for full screen video playout.

DVE

Digital Video Effects. Video that is played through the Viz Engine and that can have 2D animation.

Event

A playlist element. Can be a primary or secondary event.

Event ID

For primary events, this field serves as the index on which the playlist updates are done. This identifies the primary event, and is the key to knowing which event is to be updated.

Master Control Room

The Master Control Room (MCR) is the technical hub of a broadcast operation, commonly found among most over-the-air television stations and networks. It is distinct from production control rooms in television studios where activities such as switching from camera to camera are coordinated.

Media Sequencer

Media Sequencer is a central software component used by Vizrt client applications. The Media Sequencer is a framework for defining and executing media elements.

Offset

The delay between a primary event starting and its held secondary events starting.

Page

A page is an instance of a template containing data (such as imagery, text, video), and is based on a graphics template. Once added to a playlist, pages are considered secondary events.

Playout device

A playout device is either a Viz Engine dedicated to graphics and video clip playout, or a video device dedicated to full screen video playout, among other things (see device channel).

Playlist

A list of programs, typically for a single day. An external playlist can be imported from an automation or scheduling system. A playlist is composed of primary and secondary events.

Primary Event

A program in a playlist; appears as the parent element. Templates and Viz Commands can be added as secondary events.

Rule

For imported (and subsequently updated) playlists, you can create sets of rules that govern how templates can be automatically associated with certain events within a playlist. Rules are useful when external playlists do not already contain secondary events. Rules are individually defined for each template. Both master and editable templates support rules. Rules can also be applied to Viz Commands (see Working with Actions). Rules are applied when importing a schedule or updating a playlist of external origin.

Scene

A graphic scene that has been built in Viz Artist.

Scheduling department

See traffic department.

Scheduling system

The system used by the traffic department (scheduling department) for scheduling primary events - advertisements in particular - of program material for the broadcast day. The result of this scheduling is a daily schedule. Some scheduling systems also include information for secondary events. Note that a scheduling system is also known as a traffic system.

Secondary Event

A child element of a primary event in a playlist. Can be a Page or a Viz Command.

Template

A graphic scene that has been built in Viz Artist, after it has been imported into Viz Channel Branding. A template is used to create pages that can be added to the playlist. Once added to a, pages are considered secondary events.

Traffic department

The department where the initial insertion of primary and secondary events into the schedule takes place. Once complete, the schedule is transferred to the automation system and Viz Channel Branding in the Master Control Room for the actual playout. Note that the traffic department is also called the scheduling department.

Trigger

A control command initiated from the automation system that tells Viz Channel Branding to execute a certain command on a playlist event, such as LOAD, PLAY or STOP. The automation system uses a known protocol, such as VDCP, CII, GPI etc. to send the command.

Viz Engine

A combination of hardware and software used to render graphics and to play out media such as video.

Abbreviations

The abbreviations below are used in this guide:

Abbreviation

Definition

ADC

Automated Content Management and Distribution

PB

Pebble Beach

PCF

Page Content Filling

PLHM

Playlist History Manager

PLI

Playlist Importer

SCC

Schedule Collector

QS

Quick Scheduler

PF

Promo Factory