9 Network affiliate NWS9 of Adelaide, Australia, has installed a joint solution from DNF Controls and Pinnacle Systems to support time-delay playout and commercial insertion in a new mixed HD/SD environment.

NWS9 receives HD and SD program content simultaneously, rebroadcasting it with a delay of approximately half an hour, depending on the length of breaks inserted by the network. To insert HD and SD spots into incoming content within the half-hour delay, NWS9 must segment both program streams quickly and make them available for playout by automation.

Together, a set of specially enhanced 4000CL‑L clip management systems from DNF Controls and Pinnacle Systems' MediaStream 900si create and ingest clips to two HD and two SD ports across a primary and a back-up server, while simultaneously creating sub-clips across all four channels - all at the touch of a single button. The operator marks the in and out points on the first clip, and the system does the rest, making all the SD and HD sub-clips available to be played out via the network's Harris automation system in primary and back-up mode.

"Different manufacturers of video servers typically have handled HD and SD content either through separate HD and SD servers, or by using non-standard or dissimilar compression formats," said Matt Klein, chief solutions architect for Palladium Content Delivery Products at Pinnacle Systems. "Operating in combination, DNF's control panel and the MediaStream 900si server platform deliver both HD and SD content, stored as standard MPEG‑2 streams, with added functionality that increases the network's playout capability while reducing demands on time and personnel."

DNF's business is based on building easy-to-use control systems that enable standard components to meet the unique needs of their customers. DNF is able to work closely with Pinnacle in creating a solution that addresses the specific issues facing Channel 9 while streamlining the network's playout workflow.