Hearst-Argyle-owned WXII-TV12 in Winston-Salem, N.C., has deployed Utah Scientific’s Utah-400 routing switcher and SC-4 Control System along with associated control panels and soft panels, enabling the station to eventually transition to HD. In addition, WXII has deployed Utah Scientific’s HD-2020 master control switcher.
“I look at the station router as the power train in a race car,” said John Norvell, director of engineering at WXII. “It may not cause anybody to ‘ooh’ or ‘ah’, but it’s crucial if you plan on finishing the race.”
An NBC affiliate and one of the oldest television stations in North Carolina, WXII selected the Utah-400 router, a 288 frame (loaded 144 x 196 HD), to replace a Utah Scientific analog router that was still going strong after years of 24/7 operation.
The new digital router is a key component of the station’s improved streamlined workflow, whereby SDI video signals with embedded audio from satellite feeds are routed to an Avid ISIS media server for ingest. The router connections afford edit bays using the Avid NewsCutter NLE easy access to all sources directly.
“We’ve enjoyed a solid relationship with Hearst-Argyle over the years; in fact, I actually sold John some of WXII’s original routing equipment many years ago when I was a regional sales rep,” said Tom Harmon, president and CEO of Utah Scientific.
