BeckTV Helps TEGNA Launch ‘Hub-and-Spoke’ Master Control Facility

BeckTV has completed another high-profile project for one of its major U.S. clients — station group TEGNA. TEGNA has partnered with BeckTV to design, install, and integrate all systems for TEGNA’s centralized new master control operation, the TEGNA Stream Center, based on an innovative cloud-based hub-and-spoke approach that will serve all TEGNA stations.

One of the largest local television station groups in the U.S., TEGNA owns 64 television stations in 51 markets. Upon completion, TEGNA’s new master control hub in Charlotte, North Carolina, will support more than 225 channels across the country, with more than 50 spoke-racks deployed at distributed locations. More than 500 originating multicast streams traverse a private LAN to facilitate monitoring and operation of all stations.

“With the growth of our company and station lineup over the last several years, it was time to build a next-generation technology infrastructure that could support our current and future needs,” says Bill Nardi, VP of station operations, TEGNA. “Thanks to our longstanding partnership with BeckTV, we knew they would be the perfect choice to help us take on this project. BeckTV has been instrumental in helping us build the TEGNA Stream Center, a best-in-class master control facility that creates streamlined workflows through a centralized operation.”

“The TEGNA Stream Center is a technologically advanced master control design and workflow system,” says Brendan Cline, director of engineering, BeckTV. “We believed we could collaborate to design and implement the best hub in the country, and we are humbled to have been chosen to execute yet another large broadcast integration for TEGNA. This has been an extensive project to date and one that reinforces our long-standing relationship.”

TEGNA’s hub-and-spoke master control approach with the TEGNA Stream Center enables group-wide monitoring and abundant multicast streaming over the TEGNA private WAN. Further advantages include redundancy of all systems to prevent internet connectivity and equipment failures, and design homogeneity across a spectrum of station types and requirements.

“BeckTV has been a key member of our team for many years,” adds Nardi. “In 2017, they provided support during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston and helped us create a new state-of-the-art facility there. Their engineering expertise, collaborative design and engineering approach, and commitment to be a partner rather than just a vendor have only strengthened our trust in Fred Beck and his team.”

To build the TEGNA Stream Center facility in Charlotte, BeckTV has integrated equipment from leading manufacturers. These include Evertz baseband and IP routing and control systems; Crispin automation control system, file ingest, and distribution systems; a Harmonic master control playback server, graphics system, and switcher; TSL hub audio monitoring equipment; and a Clear-Com IP-based intercom.