Fox Nets Use Snell Morpheus For Disaster Recovery

Fox Networks has purchased Snell Morpheus Automation and Morpheus ICE (Integrated Content Engine) for disaster recovery systems in California and Texas.

“Morpheus is an unusually powerful, flexible, and scalable broadcast automation solution that, with Morpheus ICE, provides both the system density and fully resilient architecture that our disaster recovery project requires,” said Richard Friedel, EVP-GM, Fox Networks Engineering and Operations. 

The Morpheus systems being used by Fox for disaster recovery are controlling a number of ICE units to mirror on-air playout and to perform baseband ingest when required. Supporting a fully mirrored 24/7 playout recovery model, the systems operate in the background, providing the ability to switch to backup operations at a moment’s notice with no inventory loss.

Morpheus ICE brings together a video server, graphics, switchers, channel branding, captioning, and subtitling in a convenient 3RU package, all managed by Morpheus automation. ICE offers a low-cost solution for start-up channels as well as a cost-effective building block for distributed operations supporting activities such as regional program management and remote disaster recovery. The system works seamlessly with either SD or HD source material, managing all of the processes required to prepare pictures, sound, and ancillary data for the highest-quality HD playout.

Rather than air evergreen programming or a day-of-air inventory in the event of channel failure, Fox will be able to switch the signal output instantly and seamlessly from its primary automation playout system to Morpheus.