26 TVBEurope ForumChannel in a Box Committed to automation
Automation and CiaB — have these technologies totally converged or does each have its own relevance? By Tom Gittins, sales director, Pebble Beach Systems
THESE ARE interesting times in the world of broadcast playout automation. The proliferation of Channel in a Box devices is still making headlines, whilst the number of ‘traditional’ playout automation vendors continues to decrease. As one of the few specialist industry players that continues to invest and innovate in both spaces, Pebble Beach Systems is well placed to offer an informed perspective on the relevance of the different technologies, and examine
Gordon Bell, KCET LA, sitting by a Marina UI. This was the first Marina installation in the US
whether both approaches have a valid role to fulfil in the mission- critical field of channel playout. While it is true that the lines between conventional broadcast
automation and Channel in a Box technology are blurring, the concept of automation traditionally refers to an overarching control layer which is
independent of the underlying technology, while dedicated Channel in a Box technology is usually a complete playout solution from one vendor.
This relatively new technology undoubtedly fulfils a real requirement but it will not meet the need many broadcasters have for an independent control system. Our experience of this hotly contested space is that the market is currently organising itself into three areas. Firstly, there are still a significant number of broadcasters and service providers whose complex playout requirements feature multiple best of breed devices across a diverse range of channels. With sales of discrete specialist devices still providing significant revenue streams for broadcast vendors, it seems clear that the issue of interfacing to these best of breed devices is not going to go away overnight. Many broadcasters are simply not in a position to plan projects without integrating specialist playout technology as well as legacy equipment that still has usable value. It is equally clear that the number of specialist
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For an honest, open, simple explanation of how it all works, talk to OASYS. We will give you the facts you need to make an informed decision. We won’t throw unverified statistics, confusing terminology, or marketing subtleties at you, we will just provide you with information and help. Our software is mature, proven, reliable and exceptionally well supported, and we welcome the opportunity to prove this to you.