southern_boy 1 Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Is anybody able to tell me technically how affiliation works? How are the programmes delivered to each affiliate? Do all east coast affiliates opt-in to that networks main station (all ABC affiliates simulcast WABC) and are then given opt-out times for commercials etc.? Also, how do special reports work? Is it an automatic switch, or are all affiliates given warning? Sorry for my ignorance on the topic, but I just find it all rather interesting! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoadStar 364 Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Is anybody able to tell me technically how affiliation works? How are the programmes delivered to each affiliate? Do all east coast affiliates opt-in to that networks main station (all ABC affiliates simulcast WABC) and are then given opt-out times for commercials etc.? Also, how do special reports work? Is it an automatic switch, or are all affiliates given warning? Sorry for my ignorance on the topic, but I just find it all rather interesting! In reverse order: From what I've read in other threads, there's usually a direct intercom from the network to each affiliate to warn them to be ready to pick up the network feed and broadcast it immediately. Depending on the nature of the breaking news, that notice may be fairly short, but enough for the affiliate's master control operator to bring the correct satellite feed up on the router to be ready to switch the broadcast to it on time. In addition, there's a short (~10 second) countdown at the beginning of the special report feed to let the master control operator know to switch over. The network feed is transmitted to the affiliates via satellite. I think most networks have an eastern time zone, mountain time zone, and pacific time zone feed. (Eastern and Central time zones share the same feed and schedule.) The network feed will contain the network programming and national ad. During certain commercial breaks, the local affiliate can broadcast their local ad sales. In addition, there are multiple other satellite feeds that they might use for sending other stuff to the stations, like various news reports that the affiliates might use on their local news programs. The feeds are sent directly from the network, not one of the "flagship" stations like WABC. I don't know this for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if these days the network also makes some stuff available for direct download via a secure internet connection. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130961 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 I believe there are speaker boxes that send audio messages to affiliates when there's a special report or timing change comes up. Some special reports are optional while others are mandatory. If a special report occurs during network programming the station has no other option than to carry it but stations in other time zones would have to switch over. For example if a special report went out at 9PM the east, central and mountain timezone feeds would be interrupted while the west coast stations would have to switch over. All primetime programs are delivered by satellite directly to the station. The station then send it to air. For commercials the stations get timings reports and I think some commercials can be triggered by the network and played out automatically. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130963 Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabceyewitness 818 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 If you're watching your local station and the network interrupts their network programming for a special report, you'll see the countdown clock appear (you can find video on YouTube of each network's countdown). That's the cue to station operators not yet on the network feed to switch over soon. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130965 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYNewser_676 26 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 NBC uses the countdown only for the control operators, but ABC stations for example are supposed to air the countdown starting at 5 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130972 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 NBC uses the countdown only for the control operators, but ABC stations for example are supposed to air the countdown starting at 5 The only time I've ever seen the countdown in full was when the rest of the network joined Today or NN in progress and in a few cases during the Boston Marathon Bombing when they cut into MSNBC. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainave 606 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 There has been some discussion in the past about centralized hubs that control switching and programming feeds for several affiliates who farm it out to them. Do those play any role in this? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130977 Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabceyewitness 818 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 NBC uses the countdown only for the control operators, but ABC stations for example are supposed to air the countdown starting at 5 The ABC countdown only begins at 5. If your station is showing network programming, you'll see the full 5 second countdown. If it's showing local programming, the station might join in during the countdown or wait until the 2 second cue mark to switch over. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130980 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns8401 941 Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 The ABC countdown only begins at 5. If your station is showing network programming, you'll see the full 5 second countdown. If it's showing local programming, the station might join in during the countdown or wait until the 2 second cue mark to switch over. Coming out of local programming it seems to vary between starting into the countdown... Going Directly into the program's start to the second or actually cutting off the first 2 seconds or so... And that's just one stations variations depending on how the newscast or program and commercials timed out... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14499-affiliates-in-network-news/#findComment-130981 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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