RHINELANDER, Wis.—WJFW-TV, the Rockfleet Broadcasting-owned NBC affiliate serving Rhinelander, Wis., has deployed a third PlayBox Neo AirBox Neo-20 server for playout of the station’s primary channel. The system joins two previously installed AirBox New-20 servers used to manage playout of the station’s Antenna TV and COZI-TV digital subchannels.

“Our PlayBox Neo servers have been rock solid for us as has the company’s support,” said Marty Mangerson, technical director at WJFW.

“We’ve got best-of-breed equipment across the board here, and we didn’t want to downgrade at all for our secondary channels. Thankfully, we didn’t have to,” he added.

“By simply adding another server, we’re 100% ready for 24/7 broadcast of our secondary channel—COZI-TV. And the price tag was well within our budget. The PlayBox Neo set up is exactly what we were looking for and what we need for our new channel.”

The new server replaced an existing AirBox New-20 in use at the station for the primary channel, which was then reassigned to managing playout of COZI-TV.

WJFW uses its PlayBox Neo system for program and commercial playout, as well as live pass through streaming and graphic overlays for all three channels. All three AirBox Neo servers interface easily with the station’s existing Wide Orbit trafficking system. 

The station first installed an AirBox Neo server and TitleBox Neo CG in 2006. It added a second server in 2011 for playout of Antenna TV.

More information is available on the PlayBox Neo website.

BANGKOK, Thailand—PSI Broadcasting, a supplier of broadcast playout facilities in Thailand, recently acquired PlayBox Neo’s AirBox Neo-20 Channel-in-a-Box TV playout system to be assigned to tvN Thai, which PSI transmits on behalf of Korean partner CJ ENM.

The AirBox Neo-20 can combine media files to be combined into a single transmission playlist with support for simultaneous multiple SDI/IP streaming UHD/HD/SD outputs. Files can be trimmed, edited or repositioned at any time prior to being aired, PlayBox says. In addition, playlists can be scheduled in advance; gaps and time overlaps are automatically corrected; and protection is offered for continued operation when content files or schedules are missing.

This is the 19th AirBox Neo system PSI has, and will enable PSI to supplement the tvN Thai channel with full backup redundancy, including automatic switchover between primary and secondary feeds, said Rattana Taipong, PSI Broadcasting technical manager.

With the addition of the new AirBox Neo system, Taipong says that tvN will now be able to deliver UHD, HD and SD from a single server.

All of PSI’s servers have upgraded to the Neo-20 software, which includes a web-based multiviewer with a resource monitor, SRT output support for video streaming via the internet, connectivity with third-party devices and the ability to output in a variety of video standards and frame rates.

For more information, visit www.playboxneo.com.  

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—PlayBox Neo has shared new updates to its AirBox broadcast playout system’s 1U and 3U Neo servers and the IP-based Cloud2TV that are designed to provide additional operating features and increased connectivity.

As part of the update, AirBox Neo has added SRT output support. SRT is designed for fast and reliable file transmission at the application layer with User Datagram Protocol (UDP) as an underlying transport layer. This enables reliable and secure streaming of high quality content via the public internet, PlayBox says. SRT support also offers new Caller, Listener and Rendezvous modes that support connection to the AirBox Neo playout server for more than one location. There are also latency parameter controls and 128/256 bit AES encryption.

An integrated in/output application is also being introduced, which can be shared between AirBox Neo servers and Capture Suite. Connectivity features include NDI output, AJA output plug-in and AJA input plug-ins plus an HLS input. Simultaneous outputs can be delivered in a choice of video standards and frame rates. On the fly interactive control over any input/output plug-in is also provided.

In addition, PlayBox is offering a web-based multiviewer for AirBox Neo that accepts UHD/HD/SD sources and provides support for AJA, BMD and NDI protocols. The multiviewer includes a dashboard with a built-in resource monitor. Other new features include an NDI input plug-in, internal clock handling and a new device manager for handling live feeds.

PlayBox has also announced seven new enhancements for its Cloud2TV software-centric virtual channel playout system. They include:

• Auto import function updated with the ability to recognize files that are still under upload; 
• Auto import function automatically recognizes each media file and places it in a related container; 
• Purge task implementation automatically clears all deleted assets and media files from “default storage;” 
• Improvements to transcoding of files, with all newly created media files becoming “default” automatically; 
• Clear labeling of playlists that contain media files that have not been QC checked; 
• Audio normalization after QC check is now implemented for AirBox Neo playout; and 
• Password history implementation to prevent prolonged use of one password 

For more information, visit www.playboxneo.com.  

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—PlayBox Neo was the multichannel playout system of choice for PMCM-TV stations WNWT in New Jersey and WJLP in New York City when it was time to upgrade their playout and channel branding capabilities, PlayBox shared.

WJLP and WNWT share transmitter facilities in midtown Manhattan. WNWT is currently online with PlayBox Neo, WJLP is set to be after its site at Freedom Tower comes online later this year.

The setup at WNWT features PlayBox Neo AirBox Channel-in-a-Box servers in content ingest, master playout and backup configurations. Each is configured with AirBox Neo-19 playout software. The AirBox Neo servers are being used with TitleBox Neo character generators for fully interactive 4K UHD/HD/SD channel branding at each station. This gives each station the capacity for file-based video playback, live pass through streaming and graphic overlays, PlayBox says.

According to Jim McGowan, TV/IT engineer at PMCM-TV, the PlayBox Neo server allows for flexibility to run multiple type of signal formats, mix codecs, schedule content for automated playout and switch between programmed and live broadcasts.

Part of the stations’ choice of PlayBox Neo was its compatibility with Dual Tone Modulated Frequency triggers and the stations’ existing traffic and billing platform.

For more information, visit www.playboxneo.com.  

WILMINGTON, DE.— Serving as the MeTV affiliate station for the Philadelphia area, KJWP has installed the latest AirBox Neo servers from PlayBox Technology to upgrade its broadcast playout system. Two AirBox Neo servers were installed at that station’s Wilmington, De., headquarters to serve as a master and backup.

The two servers are both configured for closed caption text processing and play out in 720p HD to the Philadelphia region terrestrial digital network, as well as cable. Each server comes in a 3RU chassis.

The AirBox Neo is able to support UHD, HD and SD playout and is designed for 24/7 unattended operation; it can also be operated manually, including the ability to handle live-to-air throughput. It features parallel outputs that enable the running of two or more SDI or IP streaming SD/HD feeds simultaneously. Changes to the playlist can be made while on-air, including individual clips, though not the one currently playing. Live productions are facilitated by a live show clipboard that allows insertion and/or execution of various events or live streams.

Additional features for the AirBox Neo include the ability to manipulate on-air graphics and titling capabilities live; pre-constructed graphic components; video resizing; window-style display; and website content ingest.