A Remote Media Workflow Installation for Gray in Alabama

Apr 27 2020

A post By Radio+Television Business Report. Published here

Bitcentral Inc., the provider of “efficient media workflows” in the U.S. and Latin America, has completed its first-ever remote installation. This involved refreshing hardware for Gray Television‘s NBC affiliate in Montgomery, Ala.

During the station’s launch to a new facility, Bitcentral provided WSFA-12 with what it calls “robust programs” to elevate its operations, including Core Select Precis/Oasis, MediaPoint and PTA/Backup Content Server. The installation of these products officially launched on March 28, along with the new facility.

I am immensely proud of our entire implementation project management (IPM) team, led by Jay Hester, Director of Implementation and Training, for their innovation in installing this hardware remotely during this unprecedented time in our history,” said Sameer Mohiuddin, Bitcentral’s Vice President of Operations. “This team deserves recognition for executing and implementing our IPM business continuity plan with speed and precision and accomplishing tasks remotely we had previously always gone onsite to complete. This moment in history requires unparalleled creativity to get the job done, and our team has found a way to make that happen despite the circumstances.”

To complete this remote installation effectively, Bitcentral relied on information gathered from a previous onsite visit for validation earlier in the year. The refresh itself was conducted completely remotely, with weeks of rehearsals with the new system a core function of helping the WSFA team make the transition.

The IPM team was available to answer any questions about new software features not found on old hardware, giving all parties involved the confidence despite the physical limitations. This launch is the first time Bitcentral has implemented a hardware refresh from a remote basis in its 20-year history.

The products involved in this refresh will heighten WSFA’s operations now and in the future. Core Select Precis is an efficient open news production system and is the cornerstone of Bitcentral’s Core News system.

Oasis, also part of Core News, is a field-centric “story first” tool allowing users to contribute from laptops, tablets and mobile devices using a secure managed file transfer system that is shared across all authorized stations – ideal for remote working environments. Additionally, pairing MediaPoint combined ingest and playback server with the traditional Secondary PTA/Backup Content Server allows customers to reduce system footprint and operating costs, while maintaining high levels of functionality, flexibility and redundancy – features Bitcentral customers have grown to rely on.