Broadcast automation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In broadcast engineering, broadcast automation is the use of technology to automate broadcasting operations. Used either at a station or a network, it is used to run a facility in the absence of a human operator. They can also run in a "live assist" mode when there are on-air personnel present in the studio.
The transmitter end of the airchain is handled with a separate automatic transmission system (ATS).
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[edit] History
Originally, many (if not most) radio licensing authorities required a licensed operator to run every station at all times, meaning that every DJ had to take an exam and pass it to be on-air. Gradually, the quality and reliability of electronic equipment improved, regulations were relaxed, and only a single operator had to be present (or at least available) while a station was operating — mainly to monitor the transmitter. This led a slow march toward automation, to help supplement (and now in many cases supplant) the live on-air talent.
[edit] Early analog systems
Early automation systems were computerized only to the point of maintaining a schedule.
Music would be stored on reel-to-reel audio tape. Subaudible tones on the tape marked the end of each song. The computer would simply rotate among the reel-to-reel players until the computer's internal clock matched that of a scheduled event.
When a scheduled event would be encountered, the computer would finish the currently playing song and then execute the scheduled block of events. These events were usually advertisements but could also include the station's top of hour legal ID or news. At the end of the block, the rotation among reel-to-reels resumed.
Advertisements, jingles and the top of hour legal ID were often on carts (short for cartirdges and were endless like eight-tracks). Mechanical carousels would rotate the carts in and out of multiple tape players as dictated by the computer.
This system did require attention throughout the day to change reels as they ran out and reload ad carts.
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[edit] Modern digital systems
Modern systems typically run on hard disk, where all of the music, jingles, advertisements, voice tracks, and other announcements are stored. These computer files may be either compressed or uncompressed, or often with only minimal compression as a compromise.
Scheduling was an important advance of these systems, allowing for exact timing. Some systems use GPS satellite receivers to obtain exact atomic time, for perfect synchronization with satellite-delivered programming.
Automation systems are also now more interactive than ever with digital mixing consoles, and can even record from a telephone hybrid to play back an edited conversation with a telephone caller.
The simplest arrangements can even be done on software as basic as Winamp.
There is also a trend in radio to use voice-tracking production techniques which make the live presenter in the studio, less critical in the overall broadcast.
[edit] Consequences
The consequences of automation in broadcasting have been both good and bad. While it allows shows to be run very smoothly and professionally, it has also led radio to become less personalized, particularly in the United States. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 flung the door wide open, allowing almost total consolidation of the industry there, and leading to massive cumulative layoffs exceeding 10,000 workers. This has left many stations with almost no staff, except to sell advertising.
On the upside, many college radio stations depend on automation to fill-in during breaks and overnight, when they previously went off the air.
