Controversy In the Edit Suite: Final Cut Pro X
The new, lower-priced version of Apple’s popular editing software has resulted in a firestorm of reaction. Many professional craft editors don’t like a lot of the changes, especially the inability to transfer projects from Final Cut Pro 7 to the new version. But for many television stations — on a mission to lower costs and hire less skilled personnel to spread video content to a wide array of new platforms — the $299 price tag means it may live alongside server-based news editing systems from companies such as Avid and Grass Valley.
Back Office Is Front Of Mind At Cox Stations
Sterling Davis of the Cox Media Group talks about what’s on this year’s tech to-do list at his 15 stations. In addition to upgrades and replacements, the big push will be consolidating the back-office business operations and the IT facilities as part of a multi-year project. Other priorities include rolling out the BXF interface between traffic and master control and extending mobile DTV capability to a few more stations.
Mobile DTV Repeater Shows Promise
A test of a single-frequency repeater in Washington this summer and fall indicates that it may be what broadcasters need to fill in coverage gaps in their mobile DTV service when they roll it out next year. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” says OMVC’s Sterling Davis (left).
The last day of this year will be Davis’ last day as VP of technical operations at the Cox Media Group, but he plans to stay on as a consultant for another year and continue to represent the multimedia company on industry committees, including the technical arms of the Association for Maximum Service Television and the Open Mobile Video Coalition.
