Washington DC

October 2006


On October 26, 2006 the DC SMPTE Section visited the new PBS Network Operations Center (NOC) in Springfield, VA. PBS is transitioning to a fully file-based workflow for network and affiliate operations, including ingest, storage and delivery of programming.

Wendy Allen, Director of the PBS Media Operations Center, presented an overview of the complex process that converts incoming finished shows on tape into various high and low-resolution files for storage, viewing and distribution. The PBS implementation involves equipment and software from several different manufacturers that link together digital storage with traffic and automation systems to provide, ultimately, a completely file-based process from tape to air.

Following Wendy's presentation, O'Brian McKinley, Director of the Network Operations Center led a tour of the NOC ingest and master control facility. The NOC not only provides program feeds to PBS affiliate stations in all U.S. geographic areas served by the network, but can also monitor affiliate activities in real-time via internet streaming. In addition. the NOC can remotely interrogate and control affiliate equipment to help diagnose and solve technical problems. Much of this internet-based technology comes from Miranda which also provided the multi-display controllers that drive the primary "monitor wall" of the NOC.

Many thanks from the DC Section to Wendy, O'Brian, PBS's Jim Kutzner and Miranda's Peter Wharton for generous hospitality and refreshments.

-Eric Wenocur, Section Manager and Program Chair



SMPTE members and guests listening to Wendy Allen's presentation





Wendy Allen's Presentation (PDF)