WJFW Relies On PlayBox Neo Servers

Longtime PlayBox Neo customer, WJFW, an NBC affiliate in Rhinelander, Wis., just added its third AirBox Neo-20 server to handle content and master playout. The latest addition to its PlayBox Neo complement is assigned to WJFW’s primary channel. Two other AirBox Neo-20 servers manage playout for the station’s digital subchannels — Antenna TV and Cozi TV.

WJFW uses its PlayBox Neo system for program and commercial playout, as well as live pass through streaming and graphic overlays for all three channels. All three AirBox Neo servers interface easily with the station’s existing Wide Orbit trafficking system.

“Our PlayBox Neo servers have been rock solid for us,” Marty Mangerson, WJFW technical director, said, “as has the company’s support. We’ve got best-of-breed equipment across the board here, and we didn’t want to downgrade at all for our secondary channels. Thankfully, we didn’t have to. By simply adding another server, we’re 100 percent ready for 24/7 broadcast of our secondary channel — Cozi TV. And the price tag was well within our budget. The PlayBox Neo set up is exactly what we were looking for and what we need for our new channel.”

WJFW first installed an AirBox Neo server and TitleBox Neo CG in 2006, with consistent software upgrades along the way. A second server was added for Antenna TV, now on ch. 12.3 in May 2011. Antenna TV airs popular TV shows from the 1950s through the ’90s. The station’s previous server for the main channel is now used by WJFW’s newest secondary channel, ch. 12.2, Cozi TV. NBC-owned Cozi TV airs a library of programs from the 1950s through the 2000s.

“As the programming choices increase on dot channels and stations promote their availability to their audience, they’re seeing a big bump in viewership,” said Van Duke, director of U.S. operations, for PlayBox Neo. “WJFW wanted to get Cozi  TV up and running as quickly as possible with zero change to their workflow at a budget-friendly price. We’re confident the addition of a third AirBox Neo-20 server provides exactly that, and we’re thrilled we could come through for WJFW.”

AirBox Neo-20 provides automated content streaming and broadcast playout for any kind of TV channel: cloud-based, satellite, cable head-ends, over-the-air broadcasters, corporate TV, or internet-based TV. Via its multi-format parallel output playout/streaming engine, AirBox Neo-20 can mix a variety of media files in one playlist and provides multiple SDI/IP streaming UHD/HD/SD outputs simultaneously.

Live productions are streamlined to allow insertion and/or execution of various events or live streams into the playlist. For automated playout/streaming AirBox Neo-20 allows playlist scheduling weeks in advance. Gaps and time overlaps are automatically resolved for continuous operation even when there are conflicting timed events.

AirBox Neo-20 provides automated content streaming and broadcast playout for any kind of TV channel: cloud-based, satellite, cable head-ends, over-the-air broadcasters, corporate TV or internet-based TV. Via its multi-format parallel output playout/streaming engine, AirBox Neo-20 can mix a variety of media files in one playlist and provides multiple SDI/IP streaming UHD/HD/SD outputs simultaneously.

Live productions are streamlined to allow insertion and/or execution of various events or live streams into the playlist. For automated playout/streaming AirBox Neo-20 allows playlist scheduling weeks in advance. Gaps and time overlaps are automatically resolved for continuous operation even when there are conflicting timed events.

AirBox Neo-20 features include, among others:

• Cloud and in-premise based installation
• Mixing different media formats, frame rates and resolutions in a single playlist
• Supported output video standards: 4K UHD / HD / SD
• Multiple simultaneous outputs — IP and SDI at the same time
• Live Input: UHD/HD/SD SDI, IP stream — MPEG-2 TS (UDP/RTP), HTTP(S), RTMP, MMS(H), NDI input
• Output: UHD/HD/SD SDI and UDP/RTP/RTMP stream output in accordance with DVB and ATSC standards
• Closed caption playout support (embedded or external MCC 1.0/2.0) for EIA 608, EIA 708 and XDS