Tag: bitcentral

Bitcentral Shows Latest Newsroom, Automation and Master Control Innovations at NAB 2017

Newport Beach, Calif. – April 10, 2017 – Bitcentral, a provider of digital and broadcast video workflow solutions, will demonstrate the latest features and capabilities of its award-winning portfolio of newsroom workflow, automation and master control automation solutions at the NAB 2017 tradeshow.

CORE:news™, Bitcentral’s flagship news production suite, offers several new enhancements, including:

  • Updates and enhancements to its Oasis™ user interface (UI) that enable easier searching for content across various stations through various device types such as mobile devices, which improve collaboration and maximize the usage and value of news assets and packages.
  • Support for Apple Mac-based workflows. Apple Final Cut Pro X and Adobe® Premiere® Pro CC will be demonstrated running on Mac systems with Precis™ Attach integration allowing seamless workflow by eliminating the need to switch between applications to edit in these leading NLE’s while leveraging CORE:news to achieve efficient and collaborative news production workflows.
  • Integrated connected camera workflows across the three main broadcast news camera platforms that support wireless file upload – JVC, Panasonic and Sony – thanks to the enhanced Create™ ingest and editing utility in CORE:news. File naming and sharing is demonstrated to simplify, speed up and automate file ingest operations.
  • NRCS integration between Precis and the Ross Inception system, which expands CORE:news already class leading level of integration.

Bitcentral will demonstrate the CORE:news integration with Adobe Premiere Pro on Windows and the Mac OS. Adobe Premiere Pro is a great option for editing in the field as exported files can be contributed back to the station through Bitcentral’s browser-based Contribution Portal. The pre-configured H.264 export options in Adobe Premiere Pro CC and Adobe Media Encoder CC – both part of Adobe Creative Cloud® – allow editors to choose quality level and file size based on codec parameters. This determination is made based on the available time before a story goes to air; more time allows higher quality levels to be utilized. Bitcentral’s Contribution Portal and Precis Transcode features work in tandem to facilitate the seamless publishing of the story to the Precis playout’s newsroom computer system with no manual intervention needed inside the station.

Bitcentral’s Central Control™ master control solution has received several enhancements in the areas of syndication content processing and advanced Join In Progress (JIP) operation. Notably for NAB 2017, Central Control is now available in application-specific versions that offer superior price-performance while preserving Central Control’s rich functionality combined with targeted, intuitive operation based on simplified UIs. Complementing the “Full” version of Central Control are the following additions to the product lineup: “Light Edition,” “Ad Insertion with Graphics,” “Channel Branding” and “Studio,” which is optimized for live production.

Demonstrations of the company’s award-winning OTT solution Continuum™ will showcase the mixing of live production and automation-driven playlists with support for ad insertion – all vital capabilities as broadcasters continue to innovate with digital story first news production workflows. Additionally, the partnership with Brightcove is highlighted by Continuum sending a 24/7 linear feed to the cloud for adaptive bitrate transcoding, packaging and content distribution to mobile devices, showcasing apps that can be quickly customized to expand broadcasters’ brands to mobile and OTT audiences.

“These latest enhancements to our award-winning family of newsroom workflow and master control automation solutions are based on feedback straight from our customers, wNews Production suite, offers several new enhancementsho have deployed them in over 250 stations across the U.S. and power over 400 channels globally,” said Bitcentral CEO Fred Fourcher. “We are committed to providing solutions with the features, functionality and reliability that meet the real-world needs of newsroom. Complementing our cutting-edge products isthe industry-leading service and support we provide customers, because failure is not an option for news broadcasts – the show must go on!”

Please visit us at NAB 2017 – booth # SU2610 – in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 24-27, to learn more about our solutions.

 

About Bitcentral

Bitcentral provides solutions that maximize the value of media workflows. Our reliable and flexible product offerings represent our close partnering and intent listening to customers and world class support to back them up. Since 2000, we have gained a trusted partnership reputation with news and media customers, providing them with efficient media workflows that result in higher productivity – all while helping them increase their audience reach and competitive market position. We design forward looking, pragmatically designed and exceptionally reliable media solutions in news, master control and emerging-platform content.

We are dedicated to creating a culture of proactive sharing and listening to understand to stay close to our customers and partners as we solve real-world problems and an environment that attracts and retains the right talent. See how at www.es.bitcentral.com

 

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 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.

Local TV News Still Matters

Lots of people are cord-cutting these days – but there’s only so much cord to cut. Lots of folks are asking if local news still matters, but there is mounting evidence towards a resounding yes. A free press is the best sign of a thriving democracy and a myriad of bloggers with their own agendas (often paid agendas) will have a hard time connecting to local communities hungry for objective local news. We can’t lose local news and there’s a growing amount of research supporting this view.

A recent survey by Melody Kramer1 on Poynter got to the heart of what local news brings to its community and the answers might surprise you. Said one participant, “national correspondents swoop in and provide two minutes of a story, whereas local reporters can revisit a story multiple times to make sure that we, the listeners, fully understand it and its impact on us, if there is one.”

The growing consensus is that it’s important to have professionals/journalists cover the news as opposed to often-biased bloggers reporting what they think truth is that day.

Another participant responded: “The purpose of the local paper or station is to see, know, care about and understand your community in ways your neighbors don’t and then share what you find. It’s to be perpetual tourist in your town with a side helping of too much empathy.”1

The Local News Research Project investigated how the content, amount and spatial patterns of local news coverage in mainstream and ethnic media portray people and places in the Greater Toronto Area. They report that “local news matters because it helps shape how people see the place where they live, what they think about, and how they interpret events and see other people. It’s also important because it provides people with the information they need to become engaged in their communities and to influence what happens there.”2

Research from Los Angeles shows that the more dense the web of storytelling, the more engaged people become in their communities. “News media does more than just convey fact. It constructs a reality.”2

A Pew Center study of local news in three different U.S. cities determined one clear winner in the competition for top local news provider — TV.  The three cities studied include Denver, Macon, Georgia and Sioux City, Iowa.  What’s particularly notable is that TV is such a dominant source for news in a large market like Denver, which has 143 local news providers, according to Pew.3

According to the study “nearly nine-in-ten residents follow local news closely—and about half do so very closely.” The Pew report also offers interesting details on the topics of news people pay attention to — a fifth or more of people in all three cities studied say they closely track news about weather, crime, schools and education, as well as government and politics. This study serves to highlight that local stations should continue to focus their news coverage to better serve their communities and maintain their audiences.3

Which leads us to another response from Melody Kramer’s survey. “Local newspapers provide folks an accurate, honest and curated introduction to their neighbors and to the issues about which their neighbors are passionate. They frame the conversation in a community. Usually, that’s as simple as shifting the conversation to be centered on others instead of on ourselves. That’s something social media can’t do well.”1

One last reason local news is so important comes from David Pierce at The Verge.com. He says that TV news now has a new role of great importance. “We don’t need to know what’s happening — Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, and our favorite blogs handle that just fine — but we desperately need to know which of the ten thousand stories we hear every day is most important, and why. TV news’s opportunity is to ignore fake stories, the non-stories, and the trivial stories, and tell us what really matters.”4

The headline is that the headlines aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

1http://www.poynter.org/2015/why-does-local-matter-lets-ask-our-audience/352419/

2http://localnewsresearchproject.ca/2014/01/15/369/

3http://www.advancingthestory.com/2015/03/05/the-local-in-local-tv-news-matters-more-than-ever/

4http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/16/3652794/future-of-tv-news

KMID Goes Live with CORE:news™

Nexstar Broadcasting’s Odessa, TX station KMID is now producing news with CORE:news.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – December 7, 2015 – Today, Bitcentral announces the successful launch of Odessa, TX station KMID on its news production suite, CORE:news. KMID now has a complete news production, media management, media collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news. Bitcentral welcomes the staff to their 200-plus North American broadcasters as well and 1000-plus facilities worldwide.

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production tool that combines content capture, editing, play out, publishing, collaboration, sharing, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow.

Bitcentral extends its congratulations and gratitude to the staff at KMID for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner each day.

About Bitcentral: Bitcentral creates simply efficient workflow solutions for broadcast and digital media. Our news production and master control and automation solutions power over 200 North American broadcaster operations and 1000 facilities worldwide.

WBRE Goes Live with CORE:news™

Nexstar Broadcasting’s Wilkes Barre, PA station WBRE is now producing their news programming with CORE:news.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – October 16, 2015 – Today, Bitcentral announces the successful launch of Wilkes Barre, PA station WBRE on its news production suite, CORE:news. WBRE now has a complete news production, media management, media collaboration and archiving solution in CORE:news. Bitcentral welcomes the staff to their 200-plus North American broadcasters as well and 1000-plus facilities worldwide.

CORE:news is an easy-to-use modular news production tool that combines content capture, editing, play out, publishing, collaboration, sharing, asset management and archiving into a single unified workflow.

Bitcentral extends its congratulations and gratitude to the staff at WBRE for their partnership throughout the implementation process and looks forward to being a valued partner each day.

About Bitcentral: Bitcentral creates simply efficient workflow solutions for broadcast and digital media. Our news production and master control and automation solutions power over 200 North American broadcaster operations and 1000 facilities worldwide.