Harris Corporation expands H-Class ADC playout automation and Broadcast Master airtime sales and scheduling platform at MBC

Under the agreement, Harris has installed its Broadcast Master™ airtime sales and scheduling system and H-Class™ ADC™ playout automation system at MBC. The project at the MBC facility, which includes upgrading Broadcast Master™ to the latest version 8 software, involves a significant expansion of the existing Harris solution that supports the broadcaster's tapeless workflow from content intake through programme production and on-air playout.

"We have been using Broadcast Master™ airtime sales and scheduling system for many years, as it provides a complete, modular, scaleable business system that allows us to efficiently and cost-effectively manage our commercial processes from planning to playout," said Omran Abdullah, operations manager, MBC.

"The system provides us with specialist application modules to manage planning, content and material acquisition, presentation, scheduling and library management at our facility. Because our business systems are now completely automated, Broadcast Master™ has enabled us to realize substantial cost benefits."

Abdullah continues, "The close integration of the ADC™ playout automation system with Broadcast Master™ version 8 scheduling and airtime sales application allows us to maintain data consistencies and improve data movement throughout our digital workflow — from production to playout. The upgrade and expansion have provided us with greater flexibility and efficiencies across all our operations."

Broadcast Master™ version 8 offers enhanced features such as auto-schedule of programmes, secondary events, commercial spots and interstitials, as well as support for sponsorships, alternate event periods, programme and interstitial placeholders, programmes-in-programmes, virtual programmes and high-definition (HD) channels. In distributed digital production environments, enhanced integration among Broadcast Master™, the playout server and the ADC™ playout automation application automatically reconciles data sets for improved efficiency and accuracy. The integration of these Harris applications helps prevent instances of "dead air," where a black screen appears in place of the scheduled broadcast.

"MBC has been a champion of our Broadcast Master airtime sales and scheduling system and ADC playout automation system, and this recent expansion has made MBC one of the largest Harris software installations in the region," said Dave Dougall, vice president of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa for the Harris Broadcast Communications Division. "We are pleased that the close integration of our two products has enabled us to provide MBC with a truly automated business solution that has provided commercial results."

ADC™ is a premier production room tool for automated dubbing, content management and program playout. The application is capable of controlling a full range of devices, including all the latest integrated switchers, servers and branding equipment, and of managing complex effects and playout tasks. Each preconfigured ADCADC™ system can be customised to add channels or device controls with the option of expansion as a station's needs grow.

MBC's channels include MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 3 and MBC 4, as well as MBC Action and Al-Arabiya, MBC's 24-hour news channel. The company's programming line-up include movies, soap operas, cultural programs, news, public affairs, live coverage of local and national elections and community events, sports, science, children's shows, family entertainment and how-to programs. MBC TV also showcases the best Arab drama and film productions, as well as independently produced programs.