KBVO Delivers Local Sports Coverage with Broadcast Pix
Billerica, Massachusetts - Broadcast Pix(TM) today that KBVO, the MyNetworkTV affiliate serving Austin, Texas (DMA #47), is using a Granite(TM) 1000 Video Control Center(TM) to produce local high school football and basketball games. Granite is a key component in the station's 20-foot box production trailer, because its built-in Fluent(TM) workflow tools allow a two-person team in the trailer to produce a professional broadcast.
"I love the Granite system. It's very easy to use," said Korey Wisland, production manager, who directs almost every local sports program. "We wouldn't be doing this the old conventional way - it costs too much. The Granite makes it possible. With a larger production crew, the numbers don't work."
Owned by LIN Television Corp., KBVO is co-located with sister station KXAN, the local NBC affiliate, and KNVA, the CW affiliate with which LIN has a local marketing agreement. Last year, station officials decided to rebrand KBVO as a local sports station. The strategy included a new on-air look, broadcasting San Antonio Spurs basketball and Texas Rangers baseball, expanding coverage of Big 12 college basketball and SEC college football, and producing coverage of local high school football and basketball.
The HD production trailer, purchased through Markertek in 2010, is being used for its third season of high school football. The Granite was purchased from Omega Broadcast Group in Austin. Beyond high school sports, KXAN has also used the production trailer for town hall events, and will use it for news coverage of upcoming Formula 1 racing events.
During high school football season, KBVO usually produces two games each week, a Thursday night game that is broadcast live and a Friday night live-to-tape game that is broadcast during the weekend. Games are also available for online viewing at www.kxan.com.
Fluent-View provides multi-view capabilities for the trailer's four 20-inch LCD monitors. Wisland has created several customized layouts for football, basketball, and news coverage. For game coverage, Fluent Clip Store is used extensively for commercials and sponsor billboards, as well as promos and show opens. In addition, the station's graphics department creates backgrounds and lower-third graphics, and Granite's built-in Inscriber CG is used to add text for each contest.
On game day, a typical five-camera setup includes two high cameras and two field cameras, plus one robotic camera in the booth that is controlled through the Granite. During the game, one crew member is responsible for video replay and audio, while the second crew member handles directing, graphics, and clips.
With a skeleton crew in the trailer, Wisland said Fluent Rapid CG(TM) 2 is a "critical" tool during football and basketball coverage. "We have to use it for sports, especially 'down and distance' stats," he explained. "It's the only way we could keep up with the score. It's a simple as it could possibly be."
An option for Granite and Mica(TM) systems, Fluent Rapid CG 2 streamlines data-intensive CG graphics creation by automatically integrating databases, RSS feeds, and custom actions like scorekeeping into templates. The result is customized graphics with significantly less manual effort. Fluent Rapid CG 2 also supports Daktronics scoreboards, which saves Wisland from having to set up an additional camera at most sites to shoot the scoreboard clock.
About Broadcast Pix The leader in live video production systems, Broadcast Pix was founded in 2002 and has customers in more than 110 countries. Its Video Control Centers(TM) combine an integrated switcher, clip server, CG, and device control software with patented control panels, unique touch-screens, and exceptional displays that enable operators to create with confidence. That confidence is further enhanced with rock-solid stability, patented technologies to maintain lip sync, and great technical support. Systems range from compact systems controlled by touch-screen or voice automation to sophisticated 2 M/E control panels. Customers include leading broadcast, corporate, education, religious, government, webcast, entertainment and mobile studios. Learn more at www.broadcastpix.com.
Robin Hoffman
Pipeline Communications
Cell: (917) 763-8069
robinhoffman@pipecomm.com
Skype ID: robin-hoffman
PR Contact:
Mark J. Pescatore
Pipeline Communications
Tel: 561-531-3106
mark@pipecomm.com
