Avid Delivers Avid iNEWS Command for Improved Newsroom Efficiency

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced the immediate availability of the Avid® iNEWS® Command system version 1.0, offering precise automation control over news playout devices; including video servers, still stores, and character generators. The system integrates with virtually any newsroom computer system (NRCS), allowing operators to make last minute changes within seconds of broadcast, and to trigger playout events based on rundowns from the Avid iNEWS NRCS or any other MOS-enabled newsroom playlist.

“The iNEWS Command system provides robust, on-air reliability without requiring investment in costly full station automation. The system is targeted specifically for playout operations and is the ideal solution for broadcasters that want to link together multiple on-air devices and workflows, and reduce transmission errors,” said Johnathon Howard, director of on-air product management, Avid. “Avid’s success with broadcasters over the years has been based on our track record of helping smal grating iNEWS Command in a news production workflow enables broadcasters to prevent a single point of failure with a backup system that takes over automatically when one component becomes unavailable. Plus, iNEWS Command tightly synchronizes all playout devices to ensure that last minute changes are reflected accurately on air – a critical factor in the news business, where every second counts.”

The iNEWS Command system can function as an automation device for controlling both Avid playlists and playout servers within an Avid end-to-end news production environment – or within facilities that use a wide range of third-party NRCS systems. In addition, the iNEWS Command system offers native control of the Avid Deko® family of graphics-creation systems and the Avid Thunder® line of clip- and still-store servers, providing seamless integration within an Avid broadcast workflow environment. Specific features of the system include:

Flexible Playlist Functionality: enables playlists to load from the newsroom computer system or manually within Avid iNEWS Command; playlists can even be embedded within other playlists.
Manual and Automated Triggering: allows items to be manually played back by the operator; triggered via GPI; linked with other clips to block play; or automatically played based on the time of day for total integration with the facility, its systems, processes, and staff.
Mirrored Playback: allows a single play command to initiate playback on two channels simultaneously.
Advanced Playback Features: enables users to automatically cue items as needed if and when playlists change, and provides simultaneous playback while video files are still being transferred, for increased time savings and status awareness.
Open Integration: provides easy configuration to control any combination of Avid Thunder, Avid AirSpeed®, and Avid Deko systems that are operating in an NRCS environment.
Intuitive Interface: provides visual tools that show time elapsed and time remaining, and channel assignments for easy identification of transmission paths, and color-coded status indicators that illustrate the inventory of assets based on availability and playability on all devices.
Instant Status Display: provides a range of powerful visual tools, including clocks that show time elapsed and time remaining, channel assignments for easy identification of transmission paths, and color-coded status indicators that illustrate the inventory of assets based on availability and playability on all devices.
Comprehensive Training for iNEWS Command
Avid’s award-winning training department, Avid Training Services, is now offering two courses on Avid iNEWS Command. The Avid iNEWS Command Basics course provides a system overview and covers topics including iNEWS or ENPS integration, playout control and basic troubleshooting. More in depth, the Avid iNEWS Command Advanced Administration course covers the ‘Basics’, as well as configuration (iNEWS, Deko MOS, GPI, etc.), framework, licensing, and in-depth troubleshooting. For more information about these courses, visit http://www.avid.com/training/.

Pricing & Availability
Avid iNEWS Command is available now. Base pricing for the system begins at $15,000 USMSRP; a sample configuration with software for a single control workstation and two viewing workstations, and licenses four video and two graphics channels is $30,000 USMSRP. Additional video and graphics channels can be added for $1,000 to $2,000 USMSRP per channel. For more information please visit www.avid.com/avidinews.