ALLENTOWN, Pa.—Owned by Maranatha Broadcasting Co., WFMZ-TV is an independent station based in Allentown, Pa., that also operates Maranatha-owned MeTV affiliate WDPN-TV Philadelphia. We are a unique operation, airing more than 10 hours of local news daily, covering the northern tier of the Philadelphia DMA and 12 total subchannels across our stations.

As sponsorships have become more graphics-intensive, we realized that our old automation was showing its limitations. Managing playout and graphics across multiple facilities and monitored channels also became increasingly inefficient with our existing system. We needed a cohesive platform from a single vendor that could handle automation and graphics with ease.

Linked Deployments
Imagine Communications offered exactly that. We adopted the company’s ADC automation and Versio Graphics solutions, deploying the automation across three sites: our main studios in Allentown, a disaster recovery site, and a separate onsite disaster playout server at the MeTV transmitter site in Philadelphia.

With the Imagine solution, we gained a unified workflow that aligned perfectly with how we already created content. The built-in Adobe After Effects integration was especially valuable.

Once we chose Imagine and went online, the benefits were immediate. Our syndicated content comes from sources such as Extreme Reach and Pitch Blue. For years, we segmented shows manually, a slow process of recording and segmenting each program by hand.

That changed with Imagine’s Motion feature, which reads BXF metadata from syndicators to segment programs automatically. Even when issues arise, we can reingest and resegment within minutes. The improvement in efficiency and reliability has been tremendous.

Versio Graphics has also transformed how we engage with our viewers. We now use a wide range of on-screen graphics, L-bars, snipes and more in our newscast and sponsored snipes on various channels. Each month, we partner with a local client for an awareness campaign tied to that month’s theme.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, for example, we created educational snipes with rotating facts about Hispanic history and culture. The system randomized which fact appeared, keeping content fresh and engaging.

We realized another example of the system’s flexibility when our Reading, Pa., newsroom celebrated the 30th anniversary of its “Berks Edition” newscast. Using Versio Graphics, we created a dynamic on-screen bug that animated from our standard logo to reveal the anniversary emblem. With the dynamic branding feature, the automation recognized when the Berks Edition newscast was live and automatically switched to the special bug, no reprogramming required.

That same efficiency extends to our weather channel, which runs nearly 300 graphics, all based on a single Adobe After Effects template that lets us quickly swap in client logos and publish updates. The process saves hours of production time and keeps every graphic consistent with our design standards. Versio Graphics made it easy to maintain, even with the many updates we manage each week.

Earlier this year, the platform played an instrumental role in overhauling our weather channel, enabling us to replace a complex system of external machines and contact closures. The system’s new “play from folder” feature lets us integrate video playback directly into the graphics engine, turning what could have been a costly rebuild into a quick, affordable transition.

Versio Graphics
Choosing Imagine for our operations was absolutely the right move. Versio Graphics and ADC automation have brought reliability, flexibility, and creativity to everything we do. Viewer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and Imagine’s support team has been outstanding. Whether troubleshooting or tracking down the source of issues, they’ve always been responsive and professional, even during late-night calls.

As an independent station preparing to celebrate our 50th anniversary during Thanksgiving week of 2026, we continue to chart our own path, guided by a forward-looking management team that’s always planning for growth. Our infrastructure gives us room to expand, and with Versio Graphics and ADC automation at the core, we’re well-positioned to keep innovating and delivering high-quality local content.

More information is available at https://imaginecommunications.com/.

ALLENTOWN, Pa.—DirecTV has announced that its streaming customers, including DirecTV satellite-free and DirecTV Stream, now have access to the Philadelphia metro region’s independent station WFMZ-TV. 

WFMZ-TV, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an independent television station serving the Lehigh Valley, Berks County and the greater Philadelphia area.  Owned by locally based Maranatha Broadcasting Co., WFMZ has consistently carved out a strong showing among local news viewers against top station competitors owned and operated by ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and Nexstar, among others, DirecTV reported. 

With the deal, DirecTV streaming customers gain immediate access to WFMZ’s comprehensive local news, weather updates, and a wide variety of programming, including community events, sports, and entertainment shows.

“We are very pleased to provide WFMZ-TV to our DirecTV streaming subscribers and expect this station to have the same great level of engagement for our streaming subscribers as it has always proven with our satellite homes,” said Dallia Kim, vice president of content and programming at DirecTV. “This addition reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with more choices and access to the local news and entertainment that matters most to them.”

“We have worked with DirecTV since 2002, when they originally launched local-into-local service via satellite. We are very pleased they continue to recognize the value of our station’s news coverage and decided to make us available to their growing number of DirecTV streaming customers. This addition is especially important when Pennsylvania – a key swing state in the upcoming Nov. 5 election – is at the forefront of national politics and the presidential candidates are frequently visiting our region,” said Barry Fisher, president of WFMZ-TV. 

More information is available at www.directv.com and wfmz.com.

ALLENTOWN, Pa.—WFMZ-TV is a small independent TV station and yet we can boast running a lot of well-known, high-end systems that are on the cutting edge of technology. The Black Box Emerald KVM systems we’ve deployed over the years are just one example.

In 2017 when we upgraded the WFMZ-TV studio, we installed Emerald KVM units to support our weather department. In addition to using Black Box copper-to-fiber converters to support signal transport over longer distances, we had already been using KVM technology to enable remote access to PCs and reduce clutter across our master control and news operations. We turned to the newer Black Box Emerald units to reduce bandwidth utilization and more effectively manage network resources.

Freeing Up Bandwidth
With an incremental upgrade of our legacy KVM systems to Emerald units over subsequent years, we ultimately achieved a 90% reduction in network utilization, freeing up bandwidth for critical tasks such as internet connectivity and video editing. Because we consolidated PC and Black Box units onto the same switches, we kept infrastructure management straightforward while optimizing operational efficiency.

By 2023, we had more or less standardized on the Emerald KVM units across our operations. During the NAB Show I visited the Black Box booth and saw a demo of the company’s new Emerald DESKVUE receiver, and I immediately thought of the many places we could use it. I was so excited about what DESKVUE could do within our master control department that I put in one of the first orders for the product after the show.

DESKVUE is a KVM-over-IP receiver that allows users to simultaneously monitor and interact with up to 16 systems, whether physical, virtual, or cloud-based. Working closely with the Black Box team to navigate setup and configuration, we got DESKVUE up and running for monitoring in master control. Once again, I was impressed that the Black Box system maintained high video quality, even for monitoring multiple systems, while keeping bandwidth requirements low.

Once we figured out how best to utilize DESKVUE, we were able to seamlessly monitor four key systems across our main and disaster recovery site. We have configured the system with hotkeys assigned to different profiles so that each operator has instant access to the right systems for their job. By giving our operators the ability to view multiple systems at a glance, DESKVUE has proved to be a powerful tool for quickly fixing on-air problems; it’s easier to spot any issues faster because different rundown playlist computers are right there, front and center.

Nearly 10 Hours of Daily News
WFMZ-TV operates 11 channels, including a primary channel with 9.5 hours of news coverage per day, a 24-hour automated weather channel, and several subchannels. Black Box systems support both daily operations and special events.

For instance, we rely on the company’s fiber extenders for signal extension during our broadcast of the local FREDDY Awards for musical theater in area high schools, as well as our annual coverage of the Philadelphia Mummers Parade — a folk parade held every year since 1901 — for MeTV2 on our sister station, WDPN-TV. We now also count on DESKVUE to help minimize recovery time in the event of any issues, in turn reducing any negative impact.

Being one of the very first DESKVUE users, we have appreciated the proactive support from Black Box. For a smaller station like ours, it makes a difference to receive individualized support along with the sale. Overall, this approach has allowed us to leverage the latest in KVM technology, and to manage our existing technical and human resources more effectively to serve our viewers. l

Henry Crush has been IT director since 2022 and has been with WFMZ since 2005. He is responsible for installation and maintenance of new and existing IT/IS hardware and software. He can be reached at HenryC@wfmz.com.

More information is available at www.blackbox.com.

DALLAS—WFMZ-TV, an independent television station in Allentown, Pa. is deploying Black Box’s  Emerald DESKVUE receiver in its master control room to enable efficient operator interaction with more than a dozen sources across multiple screens. Emerald DESKVUE simplifies connections to physical, virtual and cloud-based systems within a single personalized workspace, the company said. 

"When I saw the Black Box demo of the Emerald DESKVUE at the NAB Show, I immediately thought of all the different places we could use it," said Henry Crush, IT director at WFMZ-TV. "We've been looking forward to getting the system installed here at the station, where we'll use it as a cost- and space-saving replacement for multiple operator stations in master control. If the Emerald DESKVUE works in our environment the way we expect it to, then we'll expand from there and deploy the system in other areas as well. The possibilities are phenomenal."

The Emerald DESKVUE receiver allows users to simultaneously access, monitor and interact with up to 16 physical or virtual systems across up to four 4K screens, which connect to the small-form-factor device along with a keyboard and mouse, audio, and other USB 3/2 devices. Giving users access to distributed physical systems, virtual machines via RDP, PCoIP, PCoIP ultra, H.264/H.265 sources, and Virtual Network Computing (VNC), Emerald DESKVUE enables efficient handling of numerous sources. These sources and systems can be freely positioned across screens as movable windows, and instant switching simply requires moving the mouse between these windows.

While Emerald DESKVUE is a KVM-over-IP receiver, the system eliminates the need to switch from one system to the next or to run client software to access virtual machines. Rather, the receiver provides anywhere, anytime access to physical and virtual machines, along with extremely low bandwidth usage and HD/4K video interoperability, according to Black Box.

"Over the years we've been working together, WFMZ-TV has always been ready to take advantage of innovation to drive greater efficiency and flexibility across its operations," said Ed Krach, senior solutions architect at Black Box. "This investment in the Emerald DESKVUE—an NAB Show Product of the Year Award winner—is a great example of the station's continuous improvement to its connectivity and control capabilities. We look forward to seeing how WFMZ-TV takes advantage of this new solution."

The Emerald DESKVUE receiver is the latest addition to the Emerald KVM systems deployed at WFMZ-TV. The station also relies on Emerald systems in its news and weather departments, as well as in master control, for seamless remote desktop connectivity and point-to-point control of computers—across the station and satellite locations—with optimal use of network resources. The Boxilla KVM system management platform from Black Box allows for comprehensive control of all Emerald KVM devices.

ALLENTOWN, Pa.—WFMZ-TV 69 is an independent VHF station serving the Lehigh Valley and Berks County of eastern Pennsylvania. At 80.6kW ERP, WFMZ’s over-the-air signal penetrates the Philadelphia market to the south, east into New Jersey, and several counties north and west.

After the repack ended in 2020, WFMZ moved from its 800kW UHF Channel 46 to WBPH Bethlehem’s 80 kW Channel 9, also shared by WLVT Bethlehem, which also broadcasts WPPT Philadelphia in SD on its shared space.

Post-Repack Challenge
Post-repack, various technical challenges reduced our signal penetration. The original Channel 9 antenna was a Horizontal polarized six-bay directional antenna with a transmitter TPO of 10kW. The sharing partners agreed to solve the lost signal problem by moving to an omnidirectional, four-bay antenna system with 50% horizontal and 50% vertical polarization and doubling the power of our existing GatesAir 20kW Maxiva VAXTE VHF transmitter to 40kW TPO. 

To my understanding, this is the highest power air-cooled VAXTE transmitter GatesAir has produced, and it has once again powered our signals into the neighborhoods we lost post-repack. 

We had the choice of increasing our transmitter size or starting over with liquid-cooled. We chose the former, and our refurbished Maxiva VAXTE went live in January 2023.  Along with price point and confidence in their longevity and technical support, we stayed with GatesAir because they were a common denominator for all three broadcasters in the channel-sharing agreement.

That importance is amplified by the fact that the transmission systems are on the WFMZ property. WFMZ’s studios and tower are colocated on South Mountain in Allentown, and we have long hosted the other two stations’ transmission systems.

GatesAir and their installation partner managed the original installation and upgrade. We updated the coaxial and electrical infrastructure inside our transmitter building in 2018, and installed a constant impedance filter (CIF) to take the VAXTE signal to the antenna. Rather than replace it in the upgrade, 

GatesAir suggested we add a second CIF to the “new half” of the transmitter and combine the two signals at the output. With 48 power amplifiers in the VAXTE, managing the timing, combining and line lengths for the RF signal, sampling, measuring, and correction is a weighty challenge. Their service team worked through those challenges, and the result has been impressive.

The New Footprint
Our new transmitter footprint spans six cabinets, with eight amplifier modules per cabinet. While that seems big, it is expected for an air-cooled transmitter at this TPO. Full-sized doors on the rear of each cabinet provide access for maintenance. Replacing an amplifier module is simple, with only some quick disconnects required while the transmitter remains on the air.

We use redundant Maxiva XTE exciters in the transmitter. These are ATSC 3.0-upgradeable units that provide stable power and meet all performance specifications for the signal. The VAXTE’s web GUI allows us to monitor exciter performance and drill down to see the voltages, currents and temperatures for each PA module, as well as reflected power and general power output from the transmitter. Connectivity to a remote-control system provides alarming if any power thresholds are crossed.

Viewer response to the increase has been positive. A contributor to an online local broadcasting forum recently commented that WFMZ’s signal once again reaches into his neighborhood on the market’s outer edges, and a family member of our staff reports she can now receive the station at her home northwest of Philadelphia. That tells me that the transmitter and antenna system upgrade have fulfilled the purpose of improving our coverage.  

More information is available at www.gatesair.com.

Allentown, Pa., may be a small city, but local television broadcaster WFMZ had big ideas when incorporating cutting-edge AV into its recent studio redesign. Unlike most traditional broadcast sets, WFMZ required that its set have the ability to stretch graphics and video content across multiple displays — without compromising on image quality — during a live broadcast. To build the unique and sophisticated video wall system the WFMZ team had in mind, they called on set-designers Devlin Design Group and integration firm Advanced.

“Our job was to build an AV infrastructure that has no limitations on configuring content across a range of displays from multiple manufacturers,” Advanced executive vice president Mark McPherson said. “We built a video wall system that successfully allows WFMZ to work with an infinite number of display layouts while using a 4K signal. Now, WFMZ is not limited by signal bandwidth in any capacity.”

[Read: Newsrooms Benefiting from Graphic Advances]

Advanced was able to achieve WFMZ’s desired flexibility by building the entire video wall system around a VuWall VuScape video wall controller, which allows the production team to seamlessly configure how display signals are distributed. For the display portion of the integration, Advanced built a six by three video wall using NEC 55-inch Ultra Narrow Bezel S-IPS Video Wall Displays. The video wall is flanked by several smaller displays, including LCD monitors from Sharp and LG. Advanced chose Extron DTP Transmitters and DTP Receivers to extend audio, video, and control.

“The most productive video walls offer simplicity and total flexibility with their content and this is where VuScape excels,” said Maryse Montagne, sales director for North America, VuWall. “Essentially, the video wall now becomes a single blank canvas that can display whatever sources the end user requires, in whatever size and orientation.”

“In order for the flexible content manipulation to work, all displays have to work in portrait or landscape mode,” McPherson commented. “The Advanced and Devlin Design Group technical teams designed the monitors so that they will toggle between the two modes on the fly — an element that is very unique to WFMZ’s broadcast studio.”

It was also imperative that production staff be able to easily configure the content across multiple displays. Conveniently, VuScape’s software includes a birds-eye layout representation of all of the monitors connected to the system. Producers can drag and drop content around to fit the best way across multiple screens. “This feature is an enormous benefit for producers responsible for distributing content on set,” McPherson commented. “It allows them to prepare the scenes before they go into production, which is unprecedented, and it enables them to test out how the image will appear before they go ahead with that configuration.”

According to Advanced vice president of engineering Kevin Linton, the most challenging aspect of the installation process involved the integration of several of the older technological components on set with the newer AV. Particularly, WFMZ wanted to control all presets and video wall layouts from its older, pre-existing production switch. For seamless control, Advanced had to integrate it with the Ross OverDrive system, a network-based control application.

“We had to draft a module to integrate their production switch with Ross and, in turn, control the video wall processor,” Linton commented. “Although it was a challenge, we were ultimately successful in making it work. This is the first time we were able to control the VuScape processor from a production switch.”

Ultimately, Advanced and Devlin Design Group were able to deliver on WFMZ’s request and, in doing so, built one of the most innovative video wall display systems in the broadcast industry. “The entire infrastructure is centered around distributing the highest quality graphics throughout the studio,” McPherson concluded. “We’re proud to provide WFMZ with cutting-edge video integration that is extremely innovative but is still hassle-free for staffers.”

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NEWARK, N.J.—WFMZ-TV is settling into its new studio in downtown Allentown, Pa., with the addition of nine Panasonic AW-HE130 mounted remote control cameras. Five of these pan/tilt/zoom cameras will be set up in the new downtown studio, while the other four will be used at the station’s main studio for newsroom standups, weather and boardwalk shots.

The AW-HE130 measure 7x9x9-inch and incorporates high-sensitivity, low-noise 1/2.86-inch 3-MOS imagers. Additional features include Power over Ethernet+, multistream transmission of H.264 HD video and audio, up to 1080/60p at 24 Mbps. The cameras are all mounted on the ceiling and can be remotely controlled through the station’s main studio.

The station also acquired Panasonic’s 55-inch TH-55LFV50LCD video wall, installed in a 4x4 configuration as a backdrop for its anchors. The LED backlit displays offer 800cd/m2 brightness and contrast for color reproduction. Features for the TH-LFV50 include a built-in cooling fan, a 5.3-mm bezel, and integrated software to manage content on each screen.

This new studio for WFMZ-TV was part of a redevelopment plan for the downtown Allentown area.