Station FAQ

ContentDepot Getting Started FAQ for Stations (Updated 03/07/07)

ContentDepot Getting Started FAQ for Stations

The following are some frequently asked questions that may come up as you begin using the ContentDepot portal. For more detailed information, please refer to the "See ContentDepot Run" user guide that was mailed to your station during the summer or refer to the online guides at http://www.prss.org/contentdepot/guides.cfm. The Help system in the ContentDepot portal will also provide valuable information in using the system. Simply click on the "Help" link from any page in the ContentDepot portal.

I do not think I received a username and password. How do I login?

Every station has designated one or two ContentDepot administrators. When those administrator accounts were set up, emails were sent to the administrator with his or her login information. If you are the administrator, and you did not receive your username and password or can no longer locate it, please use the "Forgot Password" link on the portal login page.

When you click on that link, you will be prompted to enter the email address that was associated with your account. When you input your email address, two emails will automatically be sent to that address: The first will have your username and the second will contain a randomly-generated password that you will be asked to change when you first access the portal.

If your email address has changed or you do not receive any automatic emails, please contact our PRSS Help Desk at 800.971.7677 or prsshelp@npr.org.

If you are not the administrator for your station, you will not receive login information until your station administrator creates your account. When your administrator creates your account, you will be automatically sent an email with your password. Please contact your station administrator regarding your account set up.

Please Note: The login info for your ContentDepot receivers is not related in any way to your login for the portal.

What is the ContentDepot portal and how do I get to it?

The ContentDepot portal is the web interface for the ContentDepot. Please note that the ContentDepot portal is NOT the current PRSS Catalog or WebDACS. Your existing logins for those systems will not work in the portal.

Your station personnel will use the portal to set up users, receive messages, and subscribe to programs. You must subscribe to programs to receive them in the new system. The URL for the portal will be posted to www.prss.org on November 1, 2006.

When must I have my users and subscriptions set up?

On November 1, 2006, the ContentDepot transition started. We encourage you to set up your users and subscriptions sooner rather than later, and to begin testing use of the system in your local operations. However, if you rely on the Catalog now to download programs, you must have your subscriptions to those programs set up by November 7, 2006, to be able to download those files from the portal. After that, you can choose to transition to the new system on your own pace, provided that you are ready for the old system to turn off with 60 days notice.

How are users created?

Your organization's ContentDepot administrator will set up user accounts for anyone at your organization that should have portal access. Please refer to the ContentDepot administrator guide for the steps to create a new user. http://www.prss.org/contentdepot/guide_administrator.cfm

You must provide a unique email address for each user that you create. Once a user account is created, his or her login information will be emailed automatically to the individual directly.

If an individual that you need to set up already exists in the portal, that person probably was imported into the ContentDepot during data migration from the previous systems. Three things to look out for with migrated users:

1. If the user requires a login to the system, you will need to update the person's account to include "Access to the ContentDepot."
2. You will need to correct the 'dummy' email address that was intentionally populated in the system to prevent "spam" messages from being sent during testing.
3. When the user receives his or her password message, the password may be blank. This is a known defect in the system and can be resolved simply by requesting a new password using the "Forgot Password" feature on the portal home page.

How can I download files over the Internet like I used to do in the Catalog?

The ContentDepot portal will take the place of the PRSS Catalog. Episodes that were previously available in the Catalog will be available in the portal effective November 1. All you need to do to download from the portal is:

1. Create any users that need download ability in the portal; and
2. Subscribe to those pre-recorded programs for which you need downloads. Once those two steps are complete, authorized users can download files from the portal the same way they did from the Catalog. You can then set up your ContentDepot receivers and automation systems separately to automate the receipt of those programs for the future.

In what format will portal files download?

Audio files downloaded from the ContentDepot portal will be in broadcast wave (.wav) format. The file includes the original MP2 audio file plus metadata that is added (wrapped) for use by station automation systems. This is the same format that will be delivered via satellite. It is not possible to download a raw MP2 file from the portal. All other files will be downloaded in their native (unaltered) format.

How will I receive DACS starting November 1?

The existing DACS and WebDACS systems will continue to send messages to stations that have not made the transition to the ContentDepot portal through the end of dual operations. When you begin using the ContentDepot portal, you may access all messages via your ContentDepot inbox. However, during the early stages of the rollout beginning on November 1, we encourage stations to continue to rely on the DACS and WebDACS systems as the primary system for receiving messages.

The DACS system will be discontinued when the dual operations period ends.

Where do I go to receive rundowns and other messages?

If you are still using the DACS system, you will continue to receive messages via DACS until you make the transition to the ContentDepot. If you are using the ContentDepot portal, rundowns and other messages will be delivered to your inbox in the ContentDepot.

How do I subscribe to programs?

Once the individuals responsible for subscribing to programs have been set up by the station administrator and emailed their login information, the subscription process can begin.

1. Hopefully, your station has completed a subscription grid for live programming (http://www.prss.org/docs/sample_subscription_grid.xls). A template grid was emailed to station administrators. If you have not completed it yet, it's not too late. We strongly encourage you to map live programs to decoder ports BEFORE you begin to subscribe in the portal. The ContentDepot portal will not provide an error message if you double book a decoder, so mapping out your assignments will speed the process and improve accuracy.

2. To locate a program to subscribe to, use the search box in the upper left navigation to search for the program title (e.g., Morning Edition). (Reference: http://www.prss.org/contentdepot/guide_station.cfm?guide=station4). When using the search feature, you can narrow your search results by selecting "Programs" from the drop down window above the keyword box. Otherwise, all programs, episodes, messages, and other content for your search criteria will display.

Please note that there is a known defect that can occur when you use the browser back button while reviewing search results and then attempt to proceed to the "next" page of results. This can result in "0 entries" being erroneously displayed. Please be assured that we are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

3. From the search results, select the program that you wish to subscribe to, and follow the subscription procedures from the station getting started guide (http://www.prss.org/contentdepot/guide_station.cfm?guide=station5)

Important Note: The information you input on the subscription page only controls the display of your station schedule on your home page. It does *not* control the subscription deliveries. If you subscribe to a program, you will receive all episodes that are transmitted. For example, if you subscribe to BBC World Service Weekday 1400, your decoders will be tuned to receive Monday through Friday episodes even if you only air it on Tuesday. Designating your air schedule as "Only Tuesday" only controls the display of this program delivery on your station home page.

Once your station has subscribed to programs, you should begin receiving audio on your ContentDepot decoders and receivers with the next episode delivery. For file-based programs, general information is available in the station guide to assist you with automation (http://www.prss.org/contentdepot/guide_station.cfm?guide=station6). For more detailed automation support, please contact your automation vendor. Our PRSS Help Desk is available to assist you with all other audio delivery questions. The PRSS Help Desk can be reached at 800.971.7677 or prsshelp@npr.org.

Why must I subscribe to 24-hour services as individual hours?

Program producers have divided their multi-hour programs into hourly series to offer stations the most flexibility in subscribing. This gives you the ability to subscribe only to the hours that you need without tying up your decoder ports for additional, unneeded hours. You must individually subscribe to every program. The 24-hour services such as Classical 24, BBC World Service, BBC Mundo, Beethoven Satellite Network, and Jazz Satellite Network are divided into weekday (Monday - Friday) programs that must be subscribed to INDIVIDUALLY by the hour, as well as SEPARATE Saturday and Sunday hourly programs. In other words, if you subscribe to Classical 24 Weekday 0800, you will get the 8-9 a.m. feed of Classical 24 Monday through Friday. To receive Saturday at 8-9 a.m., you must separately subscribe to Classical 24 Saturday 0800.

Some NPR series, such as the NPR Newscasts, are divided by DAY (seven days a week) and also by hour. To receive all newscasts, you must subscribe to every program by the hour and by the individual day of the week.

For example:

To receive BBC World Service all day, Monday - Friday, the subscription process would be:

1. Search for "BBC World Service Weekday"
2. Select "BBC World Service Weekday 2300" from the search results
3. Subscribe to "BBC World Service Weekday 2300"
4. Search for "BBC World Service Weekday" (or use your browser back button to return to the original search results)
5. Select "BBC World Service Weekday 2200" from the search results
6. Subscribe to "BBC World Service Weekday 2200"
7. Repeat steps 1-3 22 more times for the individual programs representing hours 0000 to 2100.

Why do I have to subscribe to NPR Newscasts every day and hour of the week?

Program producers decided on the configuration of their programs. In the case of the NPR Newscasts, this gives stations maximum flexibility in selecting only the newscasts they air by dividing the programs into day and hour.

How can I tell which decoder is which when I subscribe?

The convention NPR Distribution used in assigning your decoders is that the lowest serial number device is decoder 1, the second lowest is decoder 2, and so forth. The serial number is the bottom number on your streaming decoder's rear panel label.

How do I set up to receive breaking news?

To receive breaking news programming in the ContentDepot, stations must subscribe in advance to the designated "NPR Special Coverage/Breaking News" program. You cannot subscribe to receive a program in progress.

1. Since breaking news can occur at any time, a decoder audio output (port) must be dedicated by stations exclusively to receive breaking news.

2. When breaking news occurs, the program producer schedules the news event as an "episode" under the Special Events Coverage/Breaking News program for satellite transmission. By subscribing to the Special Events Coverage/Breaking News program, you are automatically subscribed to all episodes, whenever they occur.

3. Additional messaging via the ContentDepot portal will announce the breaking news event and contain operational information. NPR News may also activate SquawkNet.

4. When the event coverage begins, program audio is routed by the Network Operations Center (NOC) to the breaking news stream and the program start relay is activated. If event coverage is part of an ongoing program, program audio is also routed to the original program stream.

5. If NPR activates their SquawkNet system, the designated relay for "station routing" is activated on the breaking news channel. Depending on individual station configurations, transmitters switch from regular programming to the breaking news decoder or stations will need to manually switch to that decoder to put it on air.

6. At the conclusion of the news event, audio on the breaking news stream stops, the "end" relay on the breaking news decoder is activated, which signals the end of the coverage and, in the event of a SquawkNet activation, a separate command on the SquawkNet system releases the transmitter for normal operations.

Through dual operations, BBC breaking news coverage distributed by PRI will be transmitted to an existing Comstream channel--Transponder 3-frequency 53.0. You must leave a Comstream demodulator in place through dual operations for receipt of BBC breaking news.

Does SquawkNet move into ContentDepot?

Not for the first year of ContentDepot operation. The ContentDepot will be able to support "Squawk/SquawkNET" in its current form. Please remember that the Squawk channel and SquawkNET are NPR-specific services. Some of the equipment involved will change: instead of getting breaking news program audio from a ComStream demodulator, you will get it from a ContentDepot streaming decoder output that has been subscribed to the Special Events Coverage/Breaking News program in the portal. During dual operations, the Squawk channel will be available both via an analog demod on frequency B64.9 or via a ComStream ABR700 demod on Transponder 3, frequency 77.0. Either demod can be used to receive Squawk audio and drive your tone decoder. The recommendation is that you take one of your surplus ABR700 demods and use it for the Squawk channel, connecting your existing switching hardware to the audio output of that demod. The channel will function exactly the same as it does now.

Do I have to subscribe to the live feed to receive a live with subsequent file program?

Yes, live with subsequent file programs are a package. You must subscribe to the live feed to be able to receive the files for repeat airing.

Can I start using ContentDepot-delivered audio immediately for air?

The system is ready for use on-air. As with any new system at the station, we strongly encourage stations to subscribe to programs and to test the audio within your operational environment BEFORE relying on ContentDepot delivery. Once you have successfully converted to using the ContentDepot as your primary operating system, it is important that you leave your existing PRSS Comstream system in place as a backup until completion of the dual operations period. The Comstream system will serve as a backup for any unexpected outage or equipment failure at the Network Operations Center (NOC) prior to commissioning of the new backup NOC in Minnesota. Additionally, as with any new system transition, because PRSS staff and program producers will be working out kinks in the early stages of operations, it is important that you have a backup system in place for guaranteed receipt of content.

How will I receive my supplemental audio programs for HD Radio?

You can go ahead and subscribe to the HD Radio programs in the ContentDepot portal at any time. However, audio for the HD programs will only be delivered via the Comstream system through the dual operations period. After dual operations, these programs will migrate into the ContentDepot for delivery.

Where do I go for evergreens?

Program producers have been encouraged to upload evergreen episodes in the ContentDepot portal. When available, these evergreen episodes will be posted on the main program page. You can request evergreen files for download on-demand as needed. For live programs, you must be subscribed to a separate, specifically designated evergreen program to obtain a file-based evergreen episode. Again, it is at the producer's discretion whether an evergreen is available for a particular program.

How will I receive promos?

Pre-recorded promos will be uploaded by producers as part of the episode page. Promos will be delivered via the ContentDepot as soon as they are uploaded. The aggregated promo feeds will no longer be provided as of November 1. You can also download promos from the portal much as you did from the Catalog. Refer to the question above about downloading programs from the Catalog.

How soon can I get rid of my SOSS and Comstream gear?

Not until the end of dual operations at the earliest. Once you have successfully converted to using the ContentDepot as your primary operating system, we strongly recommend that you keep your existing PRSS Comstream system in place as a backup until completion of the dual operations period. HD Radio program services will remain on the existing PRSS system until the end of dual operations. "Squawk" will remain on the ABR-700 demods (and require a downconverter) indefinitely.

How do I set up my messages to forward to another email address or pager?

On your mail profile page (look for the center tab on your profile page), you can specify alternative email addresses or external devices to which messages should be forwarded as well as the types of messages you want forwarded. You can also specify if you want to be notified about new programs in your categories of interest.

Mobile phone and paging address fields will only accept properly formatted email addresses. You must have a text messaging service established with your provider that enables email service to your phone or pager.

Can I forward different messages to my alternative email address versus my pagers?

Each individual's mail preferences only allow one profile for message filter and forwarding to all external devices or addresses. However, (once this service is available for use), you can set up customized filtering rules across your organization. Since each filtering profile accommodates up to three alternative email addresses, your engineer's and operations manager's mail preferences could be configured differently and forward messages to each other's external addresses as appropriate. Alternatively, a secondary account can be created just for specialized message forwarding requirements.

How do I get help setting up my station information?

Documentation to help you get started is available. Please refer to the "See ContentDepot Run" user guide at http://www.prss.org/contentdepot/guides.cfm. The Help system in the ContentDepot portal will also provide valuable information in getting you started. Simply click on the "Help" link from any page in the ContentDepot portal.

If you are unable to find the information you need, please contact our PRSS Help Desk at 800.971.7677, or prsshelp@npr.org.