Network Television Schedule Management via Master and Localized Switchers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current broadcasting systems lack the ability to provide different advertisements to cable operators' own subscribers, resulting in wasted advertising opportunities as the same spots are aired to all subscribers regardless of their service provider, leading to reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A network television schedule management system that allows for selective insertion of alternative spots for specific television service providers by utilizing a master control switcher, localized switchers, and an air server to manage and distribute video feeds, enabling different content to be aired based on the schedule and service provider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same advertising spot is aired to all subscribers regardless of service provider, then the broadcasting system maintains simplicity and uniformity, but the advertising effectiveness is reduced because cable operators cannot reach their own subscribers with targeted content
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcasting system is segmented into multiple distribution paths: a main distribution path that carries the common broadcast signal to all service providers, and separate localized switchers for each service provider that can insert provider-specific content. This allows cable operators to have dedicated insertion points for targeting their own subscribers while maintaining the common signal flow for other providers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality by allowing each service provider to have customized content insertion capabilities at their specific location in the distribution network. Cable operators can insert targeted advertising spots for their own subscribers at their localized switcher, while other service providers receive only the main broadcast signal without these provider-specific insertions.
2Productivity
If localized switchers are added to enable provider-specific content insertion, then advertising effectiveness increases by allowing targeted spots for specific subscribers, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Localized switchers act as intermediary devices between the main broadcast signal and the cable operator's distribution network. These switchers receive the main broadcast signal, allow for insertion of provider-specific content in controlled time slots, and then output the combined signal to the cable operator's subscribers. This intermediary approach enables targeted advertising without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses preliminary action by pre-scheduling specific time slots in the broadcast signal where service provider-specific content can be inserted. The localized switchers are configured in advance to insert targeted advertising spots during these predetermined time windows, ensuring that the main broadcast schedule remains intact while allowing for provider-specific content insertion at appropriate moments.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques to selectively provide a video feed to broadcasting equipment are disclosed. A master control switcher may receive video feeds from video servers containing video content. The master control switcher may select one of the video feeds to output. At least one localized switcher may also receive video feeds from the video servers and select one of the video feeds to output. One of the video feeds supplied to the localized switcher(s) is the output from the master control switcher. An air server may receive video feeds from the master control switcher and the at least one localized switcher and out put the video feeds to separate broadcasting equipment. The video feeds may be arranged to reflect a schedule of programming for a local television station. Other embodiments are described and claimed.