WWTV Bridges 48 Miles With Bold IP Studio Upgrade, Powered By Clear-Com

Northern Michigan broadcaster WWTV recently completed a transformative IP-based broadcast workflow connecting its new Traverse City studio with its control room in Cadillac, separated by nearly 50 miles. Spearheaded by systems integrator Key Code Media, the ambitious project included the installation of a new Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station, enabling fully distributed communications across the two sites with unprecedented reliability and flexibility.

WWTV has served the region as both a CBS and FOX affiliate since 1954, moved into a new, compact Traverse City studio to consolidate operations and modernize its broadcast capabilities. The station faced a unique challenge: operating a live, on-air studio with no on-site engineers while keeping all technical staff based at its Cadillac control room.

Key Code Media delivered an end-to-end IP infrastructure, integrating networked cameras, audio, video routing, and control systems between the two facilities. At the heart of the communications upgrade was the Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station, which replaced WWTV’s decades-old party-line system.

Arcadia’s scalability and Dante integration were instrumental in Key Code Media’s design, helping WWTV to route intercom audio alongside video and control signals with minimal latency. This modernized intercom backbone ensures that talent and production staff remain in sync across geographically separated facilities.

The project also included robotic Sony PTZ cameras, Autoscript prompters, Sennheiser wireless audio, Planar LED displays, and a Ross Ultrix router, all tied together through a robust IP network architecture.

The WWTV project stands as a blueprint for regional broadcasters navigating geographic challenges with IP-based solutions. With Arcadia at its core, WWTV now operates with streamlined communications, enhanced production efficiency, and the flexibility to scale for future needs.

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