DNF Controls releases Flex Network Station Playout system

DNF Controls today released its new Flex Control Network Station Playout System, a cost-effective, on-air commercial and program playout system for television broadcast stations. This newest addition to the Flex Control Network, DNF Controls’ modular, Ethernet-based, real-time machine control product line, provides control over video server channels for on-air playout and video clip ingest. It also controls a source VTR for ingest, supports segmented program playout, generates an As-Run log, and offers a redundant playout option.

“The Station Playout System was designed to meet the playout needs of small market stations, as well as disaster recovery systems,” said DNF Controls President Dan Fogel. “The goal was to offer a simple, easy-to-use system that provides reliable and repeatable on-air control.”

The Station Playout System plays out a list of clips, under manual control by an operator, at the press of a key or GPI trigger. Playout of each element in the list continues automatically, one after the other, until a BREAK element or the end of the list is reached. The standard Station Playout System supports one playout channel and a playlist of up to 2000 elements to support a typical broadcast day.

Playlists may be imported from a traffic system or other automation system, or created on the fly on the playout channel. During playout, the playlist may be edited — clips inserted, appended, or deleted — and a new playlist appended. An As-Run log provides a list of previously aired clips including air time and duration. The Station Playout Systems’ ingest function controls a VTR and video server channel, simplifying the movement of video content from source VTR into the video server.