Integrated with Mediator Content Management and Workflow
The Pharos Playtime playout automation option is integrated with the Pharos Mediator Content Management and workflow, enabling the playlist to display information about the full material workflow. By making the playout operators fully aware of the content management workflow they can easily and quickly view the progress of material alongside status of all events, and actions that are required.
This high level of integration also allows Mediator to be truly playlist aware and able to manage resources efficiently based on the schedule, and any late changes. Integration with the Pharos Pilot Control system also enables the automation system to automatically activate routing functions and transitions based on the schedule.
Unique browser based Playout user interface
The Pharos Playtime option introduces a new web user interface. Playout control can now be managed from multiple remote locations whilst sharing the Mediator central ingest, storage and playout infrastructure. By flexibly locating playout management away from central playout facilities, Playtime allows operations to be distributed to the most convenient location. Talent in the local market can produce and actively manage channels whilst leveraging economies of scale in their central technical infrastructure.
Main: Pharos Playtime browser based user interface showing Now and Next events
Inset: Playtime Dashboard showing the material workflow and transfer status across multiple channels
Responsive playout control
Pharos Playtime handles live events and schedule retiming, to manage fast turnarounds and late-changing material. This makes Playtime a flexible solution, suitable for the vast majority of playout scenarios.
Fully up-to-date with scheduling
Pharos Playtime has bi-directional communication with many scheduling systems, allowing these systems to trigger playlist events, and showing immediate updates from Playtime in the scheduling window. Late changes to the schedule are cued within seconds.
View beyond the playlist
The unique Pharos Playtime Dashboard gives multi-channel transmission operators and supervisors an overview across all channels in the system. This gives confidence that operations are running smoothly, highlighting any actions that are required to ensure continuity at transmission. By providing an overview on a single display, Playtime allows operators to multi-task across all channels, reducing the cost of transmission. The Heads-up Display provides an always available view of the current and next events for each channel along with device status, once again confirming devices are performing as expected.
Multi-language transmission
Pharos Playtime with Mediator provides the tools necessary for the management of multi-language material components. Each language is tracked throughout the workflow and can be scheduled for transmission based on channel profiles.
Alarms and fault tolerance
Playtime has exceptional fault tolerance with complete redundancy of all system components. With Pharos' unique X/Y architecture, the core system can be switched over to perform maintenance, or automatically in the event of failure. The transmission chain can also be replicated multiple times for increased redundancy. Integrated Pharos Exception alarm management alerts the operator with audible and visual alerts in the event of any failure.