Last year WNJU-TV Channel 47 decided it was time to upgrade its newscast production. The Teterboro, N.J.-based station, owned and operated by NBC since April 2002, is part of the Telemundo Communications Group - the fastest-growing television network in the United States, providing Spanish-language programming to 88 percent of the country's Hispanic viewers. WNJU technicians agreed that streamlining their video clip playout system would help provide for better playback of news bumpers and openings for their nightly newscasts, which require simultaneous playback of Fill and Key clips.

The station turned to DNF Controls' 2034-CL-O-PBIO Instant Access Clip Management system for a solution after having brought on a Kalypso switcher and Leitch video server a year ago, and it hasn?t looked back since. Before deploying the 2034-CL-O-PBIO, WNJU's production crew was manually loading separate tapes to insert animated clips. When the tapes began to degrade from usage, it became clear that it was time for the station to make the shift to a digital system.

"The addition of the DNF clip access system allows us to work using a single button to recall clips. Now we can just call up the clip, and then roll it - without the need for manual intervention," says Len Griffin, WNJU electronic maintenance technician.

DNF Controls? 2034CL-O-PBIO includes the company's ST300 controller with Clip management software as well as DNF's ST420 Shotbox. The Shotbox system simplifies clip playout by giving operators one-button access to as many as 300 clips or clip combinations. The operators load clips for the newscast onto the video server and then use the 2034CL-O-PBIO to roll clips out of the server.

The technical director loads and triggers all DNF operations - including all news opening and background animations - from the Grass Valley Kalypso switcher. The server audio is linked to the audio board to provide any accompanying audio clips.

"The best thing about this system has been how simple and straightforward it is," says Griffin. "All of the 2034's features are practical. It does what it says it will do. It offers a very easy way to roll clips out of the server."

WNJU tested its new systems during nightly newscasts for a week, simultaneously rolling tape just in case a backup was needed. "After the first week, operators felt comfortable running the clip system without the tape backup," adds Griffin. "The training period was short; operators sat down and within minutes learned how to call up clips."

The complete playout system, including DNF's clip access solution, has been in operation since the beginning of March, and according to Griffin, "It works like magic."