TVW Upgrades Playout with Custom System from PlayBox Neo

Enhancing Coverage with a Customized Playout System

TVW Washington’s Public Affairs Network, often compared to C-SPAN at the state level, offers comprehensive coverage of all three branches of Washington state government. This includes live hearings, floor debates, and Supreme Court cases, as well as meetings and discussions by various state boards and commissions. In addition to this live coverage, TVW also produces original documentaries, in-depth interviews, and educational content focused on public policy in the state.

The network handles an immense volume of content, requiring it to manage multiple live events simultaneously. For instance, one production control room might be covering a live hearing for eight hours straight, while another is recording additional hearings or floor debates. A third room could be handling Supreme Court cases, and a fourth might be shooting segments for studio shows. This complex setup demands a reliable system that can handle dynamic playlists, update graphics in real-time, and allow for editing as content is ingested.

To meet these challenges, TVW partnered with Keycode Media, a leading systems integration and media technology company. Together, they designed a new playout workflow tailored to TVW’s specific needs. The solution includes master and redundant PlayBox Neo AirBox Neo systems with 12 channels, which interface directly with TVW’s third-party trafficking system. Additional components include the TitleBox Neo interactive CG, ListBox for schedule creation and editing, Live Ingest, and the Multi-Backup Manager (MBM) for multi-channel redundancy.

This system runs on the PlayBox Neo Suite, a platform that provides centralized control, monitoring, and administration of an optimized multimedia workflow. The “Channel in a Box” products integrate seamlessly with the PlayBox Neo Suite, maximizing existing investments while offering a unified interface for future upgrades. These modular solutions can be customized to fit any scale of channel playout management, from ingest and scheduling to transmission.

“TVW needed the flexibility to change their playlist at a moment’s notice, as well as the ability to schedule programming in advance,” said Mark Siegel, VP of business development at Keycode Media. “They didn’t want to wait until a session ended in eight hours to edit a feed. And playout needed to interface seamlessly with their trafficking system. With a tight timeframe and a lot of multi-vendor communication required, it was a big ask. Thankfully, we’ve got a long history of collaboration with PlayBox Neo and were confident they could provide exactly what TVW was looking for under such a short deadline.”

The new workflow uses AirBox Neo servers for playout, replacing TVW’s existing automation and server setup in master control. The PlayBox system also controls the network’s NVision 9000 router. AirBox Neo can mix a variety of media files and live inputs in one playlist, allowing for changes to the playlist while on-air. Media can be trimmed, edited, or repositioned during live broadcasts. Live productions are streamlined to allow the insertion of live streams into the playlist, and automated playout enables scheduling weeks ahead of time.

“The design of this workflow really shows the flexibility of our platform,” said Van Duke, director of U.S. operations at PlayBox Neo. “We’re particularly proud of the seamless way we can communicate with all the tools in master control. This is a stellar representation of how adaptable PlayBox Neo technology is and how closely we work with clients to meet their particular needs.”

TVW is available statewide on cable TV and through livestreams on tvw.org. The network continues to evolve its systems to ensure it remains a vital source of information for Washington residents.