KPTS Reenergizes With NVerzion
KPTS is a public broadcaster serving Wichita, Kan., and its environs since 1970. A PBS affiliate from its founding, KPTS carries all the beloved national programs one expects in addition to producing its own locally popular content — like the round-table discussion “Kansas Week,” and a local news program with an uplifting message, “Positively Kansas.”
NVerzion worked with station personnel to craft a solution to replace end-of-life automation and video servers. The goal was a system that would address their core needs while maintaining flexibility for future expansion.
This new solution turned out to be an ambitious one for the station, consisting of three new NFinity broadcast video servers and a comprehensive NVerzion automation system, with four workstations running NVerzion control and automation software.
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KPTS decided to go with NVerzion equipment for its flexibility and numerous options; all delivered at competitive prices with world-class customer service, according to the station.
According to station staff, the servers’ ability to handle audio sensing and mapping, graphics/bugs, EAS, and that it allows local content playback along with live pass-thru for each of their three channels, was an unbeatable package.
This new NVerzion workflow will be used as the primary on-air broadcast system. They will have automation running three playlists, and the NFinity servers performing record and playback — from local content with live pass-thru — with graphics, bugs and EAS. NFinity also gives production staff the ability to remotely play spots during production.
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Jessica Rye, KPTS Broadcast Engineer, identified some major improvements over the existing system: “The automation interfaces with the new Myers BXF traffic system, whereas our outdated system did not. The servers have proven to have enough capabilities to handle more than just record and playback ... and the ability to use it as a channel with the option to switch between live and recorded content ... NVerzion’s Automation system has been a solid foundation with consistency, functionality, and reliability.”
Susan Ashworth is the former editor of TV Technology. In addition to her work covering the broadcast television industry, she has served as editor of two housing finance magazines and written about topics as varied as education, radio, chess, music and sports. Outside of her life as a writer, she recently served as president of a local nonprofit organization supporting girls in baseball.