The Automated Television Station

Abstract

The history and the inevitability of broadcast automation in general and the nature and operation of the Central Dynamics APC-610-200 station automation system in particular are described. This television station operating system is a stored-program, real-time computer system designed to provide automatic control of real-time operations such as switching, mixing, starting and logging of television master control equipment. In addition the system provides key/disc operation, on terminals, for the traffic operations of building, maintaining and analyzing the station schedule, over an extended period of time. The system accepts as inputs data from traffic operations (and/or the EDP equivalent), stores and manipulates it as required, and then employs it at the appropriate time to perform technical operations. As the system performs its work, logs of operations in both legal and accounting formats are generated along with records of discrepancies and last minute changes from the control room. The APC-610-200 performs these tasks essentially simultaneously and with minimal interference between data inputs, data outputs and technical operations. Only one method of schedule construction is discussed. The overall effects of automating a station have not been considered.