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VDS Develops Channels For Maple Leafs, Raptors
By Laura DiBenedetto
March 13, 2002 07:11 AM PST
Video Design Software (VDS), a developer of broadcast automation
software, recently completed the development and deployment of two new
channels for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Toronto. The Leafs
Channel and the Raptors Channel provide continuous information to NHL
and NBA fans through a graphic intensive display filled with team news
and statistics.
"Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV are pleased to have chosen VDS and Chyron
to provide the multi-layer display format," says Duncan Blair,
operations manager, Leafs TV and Raptors TV. "VDS and a single Chyron
Duet have created a look, that in the past would have required a
multi-level video switcher, DVE, character generator and still
store. VDS was able to customize software to meet our needs and turn
our vision into reality. The decision to use VDS and Chyron was also
made easier by the fact that they are both leaders in their fields."
The Raptors Channel utilizes a data video feed provided by NBA TV,
a dedicated channel of NBA news and statistics that originates in the
U.S. Through the appropriate use of graphics generated by a Chyron
Duet located in Toronto, the Raptors Channel overlays certain parts of
the NBA TV broadcast feed with Raptors-specific and other
localized information. Data for all the localized components of the
channel are from a number of sources including the NBA's internal
databases of player and team statistics, as well as via manual entry
of news and promotional items, using software utilities provided by
VDS. The non-localized portions of the channel carry the U.S.-feed of
NBA TV, providing game snapshots and broadcasts from the NBA
facility in Secaucus, NJ.
The Leafs Channel, which provides information for the Toronto Maple
Leafs, also uses a Chyron Duet system for all the channel
graphics. The system provided by VDS generates a complete screen of
information using data received from SportsTicker, the NHL's data and
scoring system, as well as manually entered data. Leafs' game scores,
clock and period information are retrieved via the VDS GameTrak
client/server suite. GameTrak provides broadcasters with the ability
to generate live sports scores and information on character generators
from an external data source. The VDS GameTrak Server parses the live
SportsTicker data and stores all data in a local database. The
contents of all SportsTicker slugs and data errors can be viewed
directly on the server. The VDS GameTrak client section manages all
on-air graphics playout of scores, clocks, game situations, schedules
and statistics on the Chyron Duet.
The GameTrak Suite has the ability to load and purge data at
pre-assigned times. In addition, all game schedules are retrieved
automatically via the SportsTicker feed, so that user intervention is
kept to a minimum.
"The Leafs and Raptors Channels represent the first team channels that
VDS has developed," says Larry Mincer, president of VDS. "With the
ability to re-purpose the league's tremendous data resources, these
teams can provide their fans with very sophisticated and
up-to-the-minute team and player information. And, since the leagues
have already done most of the heavy data lifting for their own channels,
the teams benefit by lowered costs for their channel deployment."
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