Station FAQ
Subscribing to Programs (Updated 03/07/07)
Q: What is the mechanism for receiving programming in the ContentDepot?
A: In the ContentDepot, every station subscribes to the programs it needs. For live programs, the subscription process includes assigning the specific decoder port to which the audio will be routed. Once a subscription is established, the station will receive every episode of a program as it is transmitted. You will also receive promos, rundowns, and web modules (if provided by the producer) as part of the subscription package.
Q: Can I assign a live program to more than one output?
A: A station may assign the same feed to a second port on a different decoder (maximum of two ports) for backup purposes or to service additional network feeds.
Q: Can I stack up adjacent programs on the same output?
A: Adjacent programs can be assigned to the same decoder port back-to-back. The major producing networks such as American Public Media, PRI, and NPR have been reviewing their programs to include a five-second silence at the end of a program to accommodate program switching. However, we do NOT recommend that you try to "hot switch" back and forth between a program and insertions on the same decoder and port (e.g., from a program to a newscast or from Morning Edition to Marketplace).
We encourage you to map out your live program decoder assignments.
Q: How do I subscribe to programs that are delivered in both live and file formats?
The ContentDepot has the capability of recording a live stream and redistributing the program as a file. The program will be segmented around any cues or contact closures in the program stream. The use of this feature is at a program producer's option. A program that is live with subsequent file is treated as a package. Therefore, you would need to subscribe to the live program (and thereby assign a decoder and port) to receive the live program in order to also get the files.
Q: How is breaking news handled in a subscription model?
A: Stations that wish to receive Breaking News/Special Events Coverage in the ContentDepot at any time and without manual intervention will need to dedicate a decoder and port. NPR has established an NPR Special Events Coverage/Breaking News program to which your station must subscribe if you intend to take breaking news. In working with NPR, this is the most flexible solution that will require the least amount of station "real-time" activities. More information about breaking news is available.
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When something significant in the world is happening that program producers want to put on the air with very little (if any) advance notice, stations have to be notified and be able to switch over to the coverage.
Typically, breaking news programming is characterized by:
- Little or no advance notice
- Not necessarily starting at a typical time post
- Interrupting programming currently on local air (subject to local programming decisions)
- Few (if any) cutaways for local content insertion
- Breaking the format "clock" of the program currently being transmitted on that stream
- Unknown end time
Breaking news in the ContentDepot
During the first year of ContentDepot operations, the basic theory of breaking news will be unchanged. Voice cues and signaling will still be provided via the squawk channel and program audio will be delivered through existing resources piggybacking on existing bookings. The squawk channel's satellite frequency will change, however, to accommodate the planned expansion of the ContentDepot streaming carrier. Significant advance notice will be provided to stations about the move as details are available.
ContentDepot Breaking News Operations
The current view of breaking news support is outlined in the following steps.
- To receive breaking news programming in the ContentDepot, stations must subscribe to the designated "Special Coverage/Breaking News" programs created by the program producers.
- Since breaking news can occur at any time, a decoder audio output (port) must be dedicated by stations to receive breaking news. Depending on the amount of live programming used by a station, a station may need to purchase another decoder (two stereo audio outputs) to dedicate to these services.
- When breaking news occurs, the program producer schedules the news event with the PRSS for satellite transmission.
- Additional messaging via the ContentDepot portal will announce the breaking news event and contain operational informational. NPR News may activate the squawk channel.
- When the event coverage begins, program audio is routed by the Network Operations Center to the breaking news stream and the program start relay is activated. If it is part of an ongoing program, program audio is also routed to the existing program stream.
If NPR activates SquawkNet, the designated relay for "station routing" is activated on the breaking news channel. Transmitters switch from regular programming to the breaking news decoder. Stations that do not use the contact closures associated with the squawk channel to select the breaking news stream will need to manually switch to that decoder to put it on air.
- At the conclusion of the news event, audio returns to normal programming. On the breaking news stream, the "end" relay is activated, which signals the end of the coverage and in the event of a SquawkNet activation, releases the transmitter for normal operations.
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