The workflow flexibility of the PlayBox Neo multi-channel playout system and its solid history with PMCM-TV stations WNWT (home of the New Jersey News Network) and WJLP (serving New York City) led the station group to select PlayBox Neo technology when the time came to its upgrade playout and channel branding capabilities. WJLP and WNWT share transmitter facilities at 4 Times Square in midtown Manhattan.

WNWT recently installed PlayBox Neo AirBox Channel-in-a-Box servers in content ingest, master playout and backup configurations. Each is configured with the latest generation AirBox Neo-19 playout software. AirBox Neo servers are being used with TitleBox Neo character generators for fully interactive 4K UHD/HD/SD channel branding at each station. Utilizing both AirBox Neo and TitleBox Neo, each station has the capacity for file-based video playback, live pass through streaming and graphic overlays.

“With PlayBox Neo, we’ve got the flexibility to run our stations using whatever workflow works best for us,” said Jim McGowan, TV/IT Engineering, PMCM-TV. “We’re currently running in 720p but we upgrade to any signal format we like. We can mix codecs, take an SD signal and make it HD. We can schedule programs, commercials and promos for fully automated playout. Or we can just run programs with commercial blocks, or switch to fully live broadcasting at any time. If we decide to monitor our streaming output, we can also do that within our PlayBox Neo system. The freedom it provides for now and the future provides great peace of mind.”

Two motivating factors behind the switch to PlayBox Neo were the system’s ability to work smoothly with Dual Tone Modulated Frequency (DTMF) triggers and the stations’ existing traffic and billing platform.

“We had a really good working relationship previously with PMCM and their stations,” said Van Duke, Director of U.S. Operations. “We knew going in that we could solve any issues they were having with DTMF triggers and with any communication errors between playout and their traffic and billing system. That flexibility is what sets PlayBox Neo apart from competitive technology. Stations can set up their workflow in any way they want, and we can accommodate it.”

PlayBox Neo solutions provide a seamless workflow to keep channels on-air by combining scheduling, ingest, playout, CG and interactive graphics within one box and remote tools to enhance QC checks, preparation and monitoring. The output can be SDI or IP streaming and is suitable for a variety of applications including traditional broadcast TV, pay-TV, playout centers, satellite operators, etc.

AirBox Neo can mix a variety of media files in one playlist and provides multiple SDI/IP streaming UHD/HD/SD outputs simultaneously. Media can be trimmed, edited or repositioned. 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 allows playlist scheduling for weeks ahead.

TitleBox Neo provides considerable flexibility in its operations. It offers the ability to mix unlimited layering in realtime, such as: text, roll/crawl; logos, animated image sequences, clocks, countdowns, timers, 2D objects, DVE, in/out transitions, pictures and banners, video object, playback, etc. Each CG object can be edited while on-air. On-air changes can be made directly to the on-screen objects or within a dedicated preview output and then applied to the master output.