TWC Broadens ZEPLAY Rollout
Time Warner Cable (TWC) says it will simplify live sports production and enhance the regional sports viewing experience by using Tightrope Media Systems’ ZEPLAY multi-channel instant replay systems.
The operator plans to install 10 ZEPLAY units across several of its biggest sports markets through late summer, upgrading mobile production trucks in Los Angeles and Milwaukee among other venues. The company will use ZEPLAY for regional high school, college and some professional sports.??
“We were seeking a partner that would listen to us and a product competitive to top instant replay systems but more open and cost-efficient,” explains Peter Buxton, senior remote broadcast engineer at TWC. “ZEPLAY is competitively priced, reliably handles multi-angle replay, allows more collaboration with our Final Cut Pro editing systems and offers a far easier learning curve for new operators. We fully intend to transition other trucks to ZEPLAY moving forward.”??
Three ZEPLAY units are operational today in TWC markets in New York State. Tom White, director of operations for that state, notes that the ability to record four channels at once — and handle multiple other production tasks from the same unit — has elevated his productions to another level.
“ZEPLAY improves the broadcast immensely because instead of rolling out one look, we can offer multiple looks by continuously recording four channels,” he says. “Previously, two of our three locations couldn’t utilize all of these various production elements because they lacked any type of server. The ZEPLAY gives them all the necessary elements and replay looks right at their fingertips. It’s all very intuitive, and it’s really been an improvement.”
White points to the ability to easily build sequences, utilize macros and shortcut keys, tag and edit clips, and pull clips from its archive. He also says the built-in multi-viewer allows his technicians to see all inputs and outputs. ?
