Chelmsford, Massachusetts – Broadcast Pix™ today announced Metro Nashville Network, the government access channel for Nashville, Tenn., added BPNet™ Rapid CG software to one of its new Mica™ integrated production switchers to enhance its Election Night coverage on Nov. 8. For the first time, the station presented real-time results with animated graphics with candidate images.
Unlike other stations that offer live commentary and field reports, MNN’s election coverage only presents the results. In the past, its election returns have been very basic, just a scroll showing candidate names and vote tallies with information keyed in manually.
For 2016, four candidates were featured on each screen as MNN delivered local, state, and presidential results. “We were really able to make it look very professional compared to what we’ve done in the last five years,” Chris Singleton, MNN division manager.
During Election Night, a team from the city’s Information Technology Services Department was on location with the election commission. When the commission received an update, a file was provided to the team and the information uploaded so the returns could be automatically imported and updated. MNN ran its results for more than 10 hours in a loop starting at 8:45 p.m.
Singleton said the station received a lot of positive feedback for its upgraded election coverage. “What’s most encouraging is that it was our first attempt at using Rapid CG, and there’s a lot of potential to do even more,” he added. “We have a lot of ideas to utilize so next time we can make it even better.”
Compatible with all Broadcast Pix switchers including the recently announced Broadcast Pix Commander™ systems, Rapid CG is part of the BPNet ecosystem of network and cloud-based workflow tools. Rapid CG uses simple drag-and-drop operation to automatically integrate databases, RSS feeds, scorekeeping, and other information into templates for customized graphics with significantly less manual effort. Ideal for sports and election coverage, it automatically updates information in specific fields within the graphics templates, so no re-keying of data is required. Plus, Rapid CG lets the audience become part of the production by connecting to Twitter and other cloud-based data sources.
According to John Ferguson, MNN operations manager, the station upgraded to a full HD infrastructure earlier this year. Central to the new workflow are two Mica integrated production switchers – one in the courthouse and the second in an office building at the station’s headend – as well as a Roadie™ mobile production switcher that is used for meeting and event coverage on location.
One of four PEG (public, education, and government) cable channels in Nashville, MNN is operated by the IST Department. It is available locally on Comcast and AT&T U-verse, with live streaming available on the city’s website and recorded coverage posted on a dedicated YouTube channel. MNN primarily focuses on coverage of various Nashville and Davidson County government meetings, but also produces PSA, training videos, and event coverage.
