The VDS Promotor system which is used for
automated promos and graphics now supports the Harris graphics
and branding systems including IconStation, ChannelONE and Inscriber G7.
Promotor is a suite of
applications that provides extensive capabilities for the automatic playback of
graphic and audio promos.
Promotor constantly
receives timing information from automation systems such as the Harris
ADC. It also retrieves metadata and content information from Traffic and
the Promotor database which can include external or manually entered data as
well as metadata extracted from the automation playlist.
By automating the
repetitive manual processes currently used to generate television broadcast
promos and branding, Promotor significantly streamlines the process of
generating these promos. This enables the broadcaster to reduce costs of
operation and make more efficient use of graphics, promotions and
engineering resources. In addition, as promos can now be generated
without the potential errors of current methods and with much less effort,
broadcasters can realize great flexibility and speed in their daily promos.
With Promotor, graphics
creation is reduced from several hundred combinations of graphic elements, show
names and time slots, to one template per graphic type with all dynamic content
inserted by Promotor in a just-in-time fashion.
Promotor also eliminates
the need to program the other secondary events such as keyer events and audio
mixers to support the graphics events.
The tightly integrated
Promotor interface to the facility station automation system allows for the
triggering of complex graphics in a timely manner as graphics and audio promos
can be cued in advance of their scheduled airing. In addition, timing,
calendar and other rules for the display of these graphics can be set by using
the Promotor authoring station.
"Promotor answers the
needs of broadcasters who regularly generate graphic and audio promos",
said Larry Mincer, President of VDS. "It is the only rules based promo
system with an interface to station automation and traffic."