Category: Core News

4 Top Local News Channels for Amazon Fire

When it comes to media, there is an abundance of options that are constantly vying for our attention. At the one of the top things on everyone’s mind with increasing frequency is…the news.

So if you’re at a coffee shop reading, and are suddenly struck with the desire to see what the latest headlines are, what can you turn to? Of course, the Amazon store is filled with apps that include the big networks such as CNNgo, NBC, CBS and Fox. There are international news orgs like the BBC and newspapers like the Wall St. Journal and USA Today.  But when it comes to the news that is the most relevant for your local community, there are also local channels. We’ve put together a small list for you to check out whenever you’re bitten by the breaking local headline bug so in no particular order:

Action News 2 WSB-TV2

Based in Atlanta, this ABC-affiliate was where Tom Brokaw got his start. The app live-streams actual newscasts as well as broadcasts the TV commercials that go with them. This gives the audience something to watch instead of a graphic card that reads “Unable To Air At The Moment” (the easiest thing to make someone turn to a different app).

WCVB NewsCenter 5 Boston News and Weather

If you’re a Boston native, this one’s for you. This app allows you to watch live streaming breaking news when it happens and get live updates from reporters.

You can check out current Boston weather conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts wherever you might be. And like some of the other apps, this one allows you to submit breaking news, news tips or email your news photos and videos right to their newsroom that could be featured on air. The news here covers all of New England, not just Boston.

FOX13 – KSTU Salt Lake City

This is the official Amazon Fire TV channel for Fox 13 News KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah. With this app, you can see the latest local news, weather, sports, digital exclusives, and segments from Utah’s #1 morning newscast, Good Day Utah. Follow the adventures of Big Budah, watch ‘3 Questions with Bob Evans’ for interviews with local newsmakers and celebrities, and visit with the people and places that make the Beehive State unique with their weekly feature, ‘Uniquely Utah.’

KCCI 8 Des Moines News, Weather

This app doesn’t just deliver the news – it focuses a lot on the weather and the locals love that option, especially the radar. Interactive radar lets you zoom in and out to street level and watch storms as they approach. You can also move the map around to see major weather activity.

The above is just a small handful of what’s out there. Head here to the Amazon store to see them all for yourself and find out what works best for you in your area!

Visit Bitcentral at SVG Summit Booth 58!

Come and visit Bitcentral at the Sports Video Group Summit at the New York Hilton Midtown December 12-13, 2016!
We will be showcasing our CORE:sportsTM, CORE:newsTM and ContinuumTM 24/7 production solutions at Booth 58.

Leveraging our recent expansion into the sports production market, we look forward to connecting with friends old and new across the community and are especially fired up about our all-new CORE:sports platform! CORE:sports is a comprehensive sports production software suite featuring ENPS/iNews integration, field-based workflows, group-wide collaborative functionality and a unified streamlined design.

Attendees are invited to stop by the Bitcentral Booth (58) for demos showcasing our workflow solutions that currently power over 1,000 facilities worldwide, including those at Sky/Fox, Hearst, CNN, Telemundo, Scripps, and Televisa.

Why Your Newsroom Needs Facebook

Is your newsroom using Facebook or Facebook Live yet? Many in the TV news industry are slow to market, especially when it comes to new technologies that they aren’t familiar with. But that kind of thinking is going to leave you even further in the past. Today we’ll discuss why Facebook should be one of your top resources.

First up; why do you need it? Well, according to Mediashift, the cliff is approaching; indeed, they say “a person with his or her eyes open can see it coming from a mile away.”

  • The latest numbers from Nielsen show TV viewership amongst 25-34 year olds (you know, the demo) is down 24 percent from 2010. That percentage continues to grow every quarter.
  • The University of Florida released data in February 2015 that show 4 percent of young people consider their primary news source as either an online-only news site, the website of a traditional news organization, Facebook, Twitter, or some other social network. Broadcast TV came in at only 4.5 percent.
  • What’s even more troubling for TV newsrooms? Ask young people how many of them still pay for cable or satellite. Then ask how many consume a majority of their media on mobile platforms (see the MediaShift special on cord cutting here). The answers aren’t good for the status quo in TV news.1

One fear expressed by the TV news industry is spending money and resources on something they don’t think will benefit them financially. But you really don’t have to do that much more. Again, according to Mediashift, when all TV stations do is post video teases to Facebook, they’re thinking short-sighted and missing gigantic opportunities to provide relevant content where their consumers already exist. Instead of teasing the story, post a Facebook-specific video version of the story. Post video of some sound that didn’t make the cut. Post a recap from the reporter about what surprised him or her about the story. Do anything other than a standard 15-second video tease pushing to the legacy medium.1

Case in point is KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Arkansas – a small station with a huge social media footprint.  In fact, the station, which is in the 180th television market (out of 210) in a metro area with a population somewhere around 150,000, has found ways to gain about the same number of fans and followers as some of the country’s top newspapers.2

Monday through Friday, a “Hot Topic” related to the news of the day is posted by one of the anchors at 4:30 a.m. for people to comment on. KAIT News Director Hatton Weeks says it’s rare to have less than 50 comments by 7. During the show, the anchors talk on the air about the question and user responses.

Weeks goes on to suggest four starting points for your newsroom to take advantage of.

1 – Get Everyone Involved.

2 – Post items a minimum of 4-5 hours before the news begins to push to the newscast.

3 – Find an internal social media guru and let that person lead the charge.

4 – Make sure your website is updated often and stories are shared on the appropriate social media.2

“It has almost revolutionized the way we cover news,” Weeks says. “Our audience, en masse, can communicate with us as we cover stories. Our audience is engaged more with our product, their voice is heard, and they feel like they’re part of the news.”2

With that in mind, don’t you think it’s time you embraced the technology before you’re left in the dust? Bitcentral CORE:news offers industry-leading discovery, asset management and editing capabilities as a perfect complement to a newsroom Facebook strategy. When it comes to maximizing Facebook, we can help get you up to speed in no time!

1http://mediashift.org/2015/04/how-tv-newsrooms-should-use-facebook-and-why/

2http://www.poynter.org/2010/how-a-small-arkansas-tv-station-uses-facebook-twitter-to-drive-audience-to-newscasts-website/111781/

NEWS RELEASE: Bitcentral Will Show at Annual NAB Show New York November 9-10, 2016

Bitcentral, Inc., a provider of streamlined video workflow solutions for broadcast and digital media, today announced its planned exhibition at the National Association of Broadcasters Show New York at the Javits Convention Center on November 9-10, 2016. The company will be showcasing its CORE:newsTM news production, CORE:sportsTM sports production and ContinuumTM 24/7 automated news channel software at Booth 860.

Ron Rosenthal, vice president of global sales for Bitcentral, explains the importance of the show and why he believes the company’s asset management, playout and collaboration products represent a unique opportunity to serve a diverse group of content stakeholders in attendance. “Bitcentral has been making the broadcast industry more efficient for over 16 years,” Rosenthal said. “While we have a deep heritage and competence in broadcasting, we’ve always pushed the envelope as a software tech company. Bitcentral built America’s first IP-based satellite news distribution network, is currently driving local television into the connected age as the #1 News Production System provider and as an emerging expert in master control automation and sports production. We’re looking ahead to bridge MCNs, OTT players, and other digital producers seeking to serve hyperlocal markets with existing local TV operations infrastructure.  As such, we’re committed to delivering the most advanced, intelligent and efficient solutions for evolving broadcast media that are rock solid and simply work. We’re happy to be growing and excited to showcase our latest technology at NAB New York”.

Leveraging its reputation for renowned customer support and momentum from a recent expansion into the sports production market, Rosenthal is pleased with the company’s position and breadth of offerings, including the all-new CORE:sports product.  CORE:sports is a comprehensive sports production software suite featuring ENPS/iNews integration, field-based workflows, group-wide collaborative functionality and a unified streamlined design.

Bitcentral is offering interested parties a complimentary exhibits-only pass with redemption code NY2242 when registering at www.nabshow.com, good through November 8. Attendees are invited to stop by the Bitcentral Booth (860) for product demonstrations showcasing Bitcentral video workflow solutions that currently power over 1,000 facilities worldwide, including those at leaders Sky/Fox, Hearst, CNN, Telemundo, Scripps, and Televisa.

NEWS RELEASE: Bitcentral Announces Two Bonten Media Stations Go Live with CORE:news™

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Sep. 14, 2016– Today, we announced the successful launch of both Greenville, NC station WCTI and Bristol, VA station WCYB on their news production suites, CORE:news with Wellspring. Bonten Media-owned WCTI and WCYB now have a complete news production, media management, collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news and deep archive system with Wellspring. WCTI currently produces an average of 40 hours of news per week and WCYB an average of 46.5 hours per week, and both stations are #1 in news in their respective markets.

wcti_wcyb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonten Media’s WCTI and WCYB launch with Bitcentral CORE:news with Wellspring archive.

“All the Bonten Media Group stations have Bitcentral news systems,” said Tom Cupp, vice president of engineering for Bonten Media Group. “This is the second generation of Bitcentral News Systems at both WCYB and WCTI. We have found Bitcentral to be very reliable, innovative, and user friendly for our news staff.”

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production platform that combines content discovery, capture, editing, playout, publishing, collaboration, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow. Bitcentral extends its congratulations and appreciation to the staff of WCTI and WCYB for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner moving forward.

NEWS RELEASE: Bitcentral Announces KTVX Station Goes Live with CORE:news™

Today, we are pleased to announce the successful launch of Salt Lake City, UT station KTVX on its news production suite, CORE:news. Nexstar-owned KTVX now has a complete news production, media management, collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news. KTVX currently produces an average of 8 hours of news per weekday and 3 hours of news every weekend, and its late news, ABC4 Utah News at 10, was recently honored as the Best Newscast in Utah by the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (just 1 of 30 honors the station received in June by the same organization).

KTVX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nexstar’s KTVX launches with Bitcentral CORE:news.

“Optimizing our resources and producing the best content possible are top priorities for us,” said George B. Severson, director of news for KTVX. “Bitcentral’s CORE:news system assists us with being more efficient as well as more effective with managing quality control and the overall review of content before it hits the air. It takes a team to put shows on the air and this system creates a great platform which supports that team effort.”

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production platform that combines content discovery, capture, editing, playout, publishing, collaboration, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow. Bitcentral extends its congratulations and appreciation to the staff of KTVX for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner moving forward.

NEWS RELEASE: Bitcentral Announces WETM Station Goes Live with CORE:news™

Bitcentral, Inc., a provider of digital and broadcast video workflow solutions, today announced the successful launch of Elmira, NY station WETM on its news production suite, CORE:news. Nexstar-owned WETM now has a complete news production, media management, collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news. #1 in its market, WETM currently produces an average of 5 hours of news per day, including an award-winning sportscast and newscast.

WETM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nexstar’s WETM launches with Bitcentral CORE:news.

“The Bitcentral implementations team was wonderful and the team was fun, professional and very helpful,” said Don Hunt, director of engineering for WETM. “Post-install has been flawless and advanced prep really helped in making the go-live smooth. System has been excellent. The Bitcentral system has helped to simplify our workflow.”

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production platform that combines content discovery, capture, editing, playout, publishing, collaboration, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow. Bitcentral extends its congratulations and appreciation to the staff of WETM for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner moving forward.

Local Sports Media: A National Issue

Local television is doing an admirable job holding its own against the stiff competition that is mobile and digital, but it still needs a lot of help. It’s an industry that has been on the decline ever since newspapers realized that advertising revenue wouldn’t be enough to support a team of writers to cover local sports teams. So when regional newspapers began to cut costs the sports desk was often the first to go – especially since national brands like ESPN were already offering similar content.4

Of course, no problem is ever as simple as having just one reason for it and so there are other mitigating factors. Contracts are one sticking point. In 2014, the Sharks – a Bay Area Hockey team – decided that its contract with Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area was giving them $7 million per season and still had 14 more seasons at that price to go. Thing is, as Mark Purdy, sports-blogger, pointed out “according to Forbes’ magazine and website, the Toronto Maple Leafs receive $41 million per season in local TV rights. Several other teams – the Rangers, Canadiens, Red Wings – bring in more than $30 million per season. The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks have $20 million-plus-per-season deals, as do Dallas and New Jersey and the New York Islanders.”1

Adds Purdy, “Needless to say, this puts the Sharks at a disadvantage. Do the math. Over the next five years alone, the Kings and Ducks will have a minimum of $65 million more than the Sharks to push payroll up to the salary cap limit and/or buy out contracts and/or turn a profit. The team says it isn’t making one now.”1

And according to Ben Koo “Combined with an expiring lease or a below average stadium or arena, bad television contracts now may destabilize a team to the point where they might have to flee the area. Or at least that’s what they’re selling the league and apparently in the Sharks scenario, it’s working.”2

Another sticking point is the lack of current options for local sports viewing.  Cord-cutters are abandoning cable TV (and, to a degree, local TV if they don’t have an HD antenna) in droves for the web. And cord-cutters are rewarded for that decision: Every major sports organization offers some kind of streaming package, from MLB.TV to NFL Live to NBA League Pass. These services are expensive compared to streaming subscriptions, and can cost between $100 and $200 per year.3

If you’re a die-hard sports fan in general, a cable subscription is probably worthwhile for that content alone. But if you follow only one or two teams in one or two sports, you can probably get away with paying $15 to $20 per month — much less than traditional paid TV.3

An interesting twist in the story appeared as recently as July 8, 2016, when TechCrunch reported on a new start-up called The Athletic. The athletic launched 6 months ago in Chicago – they hired the top sportswriters in the city on a full-time basis, and have them write a total of five to ten quality pieces of content a day. The startup is credentialed by all five sports teams in the city, and mixes in traditional sports reporting with inside access and exclusives from team executives and agents of the hottest players.4

But an even bigger twist comes in the form of Continuum; it’s a broadcaster solution that allows local TV stations to take control over their own destiny and not be slave to the business whims of countless cable companies and/or cord-cutters. If you’re a station, Continuum takes the sports, news and advertising you already have to automatically produce a polished 24/7 linear digital channel reaching new audiences across online, mobile + OTT.

Continuum allows you to load your local sports coverage up over three dynamic programming modes. It also communicates with master control/automation systems that can build go-to-air and/or streaming playlists. Combined with asset discovery and management solutions like CORE:sports, it’s a comprehensive foundation for local sports producers to remain relevant in today’s distributed media landscape.

However you decide to tackle it, local sports cannot take a back seat to this tech explosion.

Now let’s play catch (up).

1http://blogs.mercurynews.com/purdy/2014/06/17/sharks-bay-area-future-jeopardy-nhl-commissioner-gary-bettman-even-intervened-try-fix-tv-deal-threatens-franchises-local-future/

2http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/can-leagues-step-in-and-save-teams-with-bad-local-television-contracts.html

3http://www.tomsguide.com/us/cord-cutting-guide,news-17928.html

4https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/08/the-athletic-is-bringing-subscription-based-local-sports-coverage-to-a-city-near-you/

NEWS RELEASE: Bitcentral Announces WFFF Station Goes Live with CORE:news™

Bitcentral, Inc., a provider of digital and broadcast video workflow solutions, today announced the successful launch of Burlington, VT station WFFF on its news production suite, CORE:news. Nexstar-owned WFFF now has a complete news production, media management, collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news. WFFF currently produces an average of 6.5 hours of news per day with a small staff.

WFFF Launches Bitcentral CORE:news

Nexstar’s WFFF launches with Bitcentral CORE:news.

“The Bitcentral system allows great flexibility and improved operation with editing and video playback systems that are very efficient,” said Craig Marrs, general manager for WFFF. “Bitcentral professionals worked tirelessly and held our hand through the entire install and training process, resulting in a flawless launch.”

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production platform that combines content discovery, capture, editing, playout, publishing, collaboration, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow. Bitcentral extends its congratulations and appreciation to the staff of WFFF for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner moving forward.

NEWS RELEASE: Bitcentral Announces Four Raycom Media-Owned Stations Go Live with CORE:news™

Bitcentral, Inc., a provider of digital and broadcast video workflow solutions, today announced the successful launch of Lawton, OK/Wichita Falls, TX station KSWO on its news production suite, CORE:news, culminating a larger, four-station rollout for KSWO parent Raycom Media. Raycom Media-owned KFDA, KXXV, KWES and KSWO, serving DMAs in Texas and Oklahoma, now all have a complete news production, media management, collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news.

Raycom Media Using Bitcentral CORE News

Raycom Media’s KSWO using Bitcentral CORE:news

“Rolling out Bitcentral CORE was a top priority for Raycom Media and our news departments,” said David Evans for Raycom Media. “The rollout of CORE with ENPS integration was critical in getting these new stations the support and infrastructure they need to do news the Raycom Media way, and integrate them into our environment. Systems like Bitcentral Create give the newsrooms the ability to manage their content in the most efficient way allowing everyone to log and edit video from their desktop without the need of an NLE. Bitcentral Oasis provides not only a storage solution but also a very powerful platform to push and pull video around their system and share with the entire Raycom Media family. Bitcentral Remote Contribution and Precis Attach from the field have proven invaluable assets to our stations. Getting these systems in place for our new stations was a priority for Raycom Media.”

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production platform that combines content discovery, capture, editing, playout, publishing, collaboration, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow. Bitcentral extends its congratulations and appreciation to the staff of Raycom Media for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner moving forward.

Additional Resources

www.es.bitcentral.com/

About Bitcentral

Bitcentral provides solid and simple video workflow solutions that streamline, unify and extend broadcast and media operations through innovative, easy-to-use technology and an exceptional customer experience. A trusted partner since 2000, Bitcentral enables broadcast and media companies to advance their reach, profitability, and competitiveness through forward-looking, pragmatically designed and exceptionally reliable media solutions for news, sports, and emerging-platform content.  See how at www.es.bitcentral.com.

Bitcentral and the Bitcentral logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Bitcentral, Inc. and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.