KSPS Satellite Feeds & KSPS Program File Server

(Please send adjustments to this so it can be updated for better accuracy.)

CMTV has two options for providing programs to be sent from KSPS to Comcast for broadcast.
Live satellite feeds direct to Comcast and KSPS file server scheduled programs sent to Comcast.

All the steps in these various processes are straight forward once they have been set up. KSPS provides the needed information to do the initial set up.

Live satellite feeds sent directly to Comcast
Live satellite feeds can sent directly from KSPS to Comcast for broadcast. This is the simplest way for KSPS to send programs to Comcast for CMTV. There is no muss and fuss with bringing the satellite signal in, putting it on the KSPS program files server, scheduling each program with ProTrack and then sending the program to Comcast from the files server when ProTrack requests the program be played.

Live satellite feeds, when possible are preferred by KSPS. This is essentially a one step process. KSPS file server programming has more steps with lots of pesky details that need to be taken care of. Once programs are set up on the KSPS file server and ProTrack scheduling is in place the process is usually more or less automatic - once it is set up and tested.

Democracy Now is to be broadcast this way - from the live satellite feed sent directly to Comcast.

Democracy Now can also be recorded to from the satellite receiver at KSPS to the KSPS program file server and then broadcast at a later time on CMTV as scheduled by ProTrack. See below for how all this is done.


KSPS program file server scheduled programs sent to Comcast
The KSPS program file server can be viewed as a very large, many terrabytes, hard drive computer system that can broadcast programs to one or more broadcast channels. KSPS has well over ten? channels that it broadcasts to each day 24/7. If the KSPS program file server goes down - all the channels will no long be airing the scheduled programs.

The KSPS program file server process for broadcasting programs has multiple steps.
There are steps to get the program of the Satellite and saved on a program file on the KSPS program file server.
CMTV is delivering programs to KSPS on hard drive each week which requires some steps.
Then there are then steps to schedule a program on the file server to be broadcast on CMTV's Comcast channel 14.

Getting programs from the satellite receiver to KSPS program file server.
The satellite receiver is programmed by the ProTrack scheduling system at CMTV's office to record the program as it is received from the satellite. Once the program is on the KSPS file server it is can then be later broadcast as various times. The ProTrack programming scheduling software is used to set each program's broadcast times.

There are various details needed to schedule receiving a satellite feed. KSPS provides all these details - satellite id, characteristics ... Plus KSPS will provide the times satellite feeds are available for CMTV. Apparently there are only so many feeds that KSPS can accommodate at any one time.

Once each satellite feed has been set up on ProTrack for recording a program and this is tested to make sure it is working then it is straight forward to do this for other programs and regularly scheduled programs should work like clock work and be put on the file server for CMTV to schedule for broadcast whenever CMTV wants.

Getting programs from the hard drive to KSPS program file server.
Each week usually Thursday, CMTV drives up to KSPS to deliver a hard drive with the programs to be broadcast the next week. On Friday, after KSPS has transferred the files to the KSPS program file server the hard drive is picked up by CMTV and driven back to CMTV. When a high speed internet connection is established between KSPS and CMTV the programs can be FTPed via the internet from CMTV to KSPS with out the 2 drives each week...

KSPS's program file server uses a proprietary file type so regular video program files can not be used. A special file conversion needs to be done. With the conversion software set up, each file is converted into the required 'SeaChange?' format. It takes a few minutes at most to convert each program file. The application to do this is not in expensive.

When KSPS creates programs for broadcast they have the same issue - the need to convert from regular video program file type to the 'SeaChange' format. They have an application that does the conversion of each file for them. There are multiple applications that make this conversion. These applications vary considerably in cost and probably in quality of broadcast file produced and other considerations. Once regular files are set up for conversion it is a straight forward process that takes a few minutes to do for each program. The programs files can be processed in batches so it is very straight forward to do - once it is set up and tested.

Perhaps KSPS does this conversion for other stations? KWSU?  It might be worth seeing if KSPS will convert the CMTV regular program files if there continues to be issues of broadcast quality - if these issues are due to conversion issues. Certainly it would be useful to make a test file for KSPS to convert and air to see if there are any significant quality differences.

KSPS has fine tuned their program file conversion process for their particular broadcast equipment. Using KSPS's conversion may help CMTV's broadcast quality considerably.

On the other hand if CMTV's conversion is producing at least as good broadcast quality files as KSPS, CMTV could provide this conversion service for other channels if KSPS is not making their conversion process available.

Getting programs from the KSPS program file server to Comcast for broadcast
Once programs are on the KSPS program file server they are scheduled using the ProTrack internet application.

Aside from direct satellite feed from KSPS to Comcast, Protrack accessing the KSPS program server is the only way to get programs aired on Comcast via KSPS.

ProTrack is straight forward to program - program ID, play date, play time ... ProTrack is obnoxiously awkward to use - certainly uses ancient data entry design. When it is updated to current state of the art data entry - allowing spreadsheet entry etc it will be much more agil.

None the less most anyone with basic data entry computer skills with some idea of what scheduling is about can do adequate data entry within a week or so. Someone that is more fully trained on ProTrack and knows scheduling probably could do much more with this tool.

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All these processes are straight forward to do. A hitch in anyone can make it so those steps follow the hitch do not work. The resolution of the hitch only involves the one point all the rest of the process, once working and tested remains just fine waiting patiently for the hitch to be worked out.

It is essentially a mechanical process - not much of an art at all - especially once it is working and tested.

Spokane's Public, Education & Government Cable Channels On Comcast

Channel	Name	Type	Description
5	City	PEG	City Of Spokane - Government programming
7	KSPS	PBS	Spokane Public Schools - PBS
14	CMTV	PEG	Community Minded TV
15	Gonzaga	?	Gonzaga
16	UWTV	?	University Of Washington TV
17	Public Schools	?	District 81 and EWU (Seldom if ever used by the schools)
18	KWSU	PBS, Edu	Washington State University TV - PBS including WSU programs
19	CCS	?	Community Colleges Of Spokane - SCC has the studio?

Interesting stuff - from what I've found so far.
Please send updates and corrections.

Channel 5 - City of Spokane. A PEG channel - government only or does it include education too?
http://www.spokanecity.org/services/citycable5/
Spokane uses Channel 5 as a government access channel to provide information to the public. An independent public access channel is not reserved, but the City’s cable franchisee, Comcast, operates a community access Channel (Channel 14) for members of the public.
The five educational access channels, Comcast 15-19, are managed by the Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning - a consortium of local educational institutions serving the community’s educational access user needs, with resources supplied by the member schools, Comcast and other contributors.
I assume this channel broadcasts live directly to Comcast?
They have online videos available.
DVD's of original programming are available for $11/DVD
Programming starts at 6AM. In addition to live broadcasts, additional programming is created and broadcast along with national programming? including ARMY Newswatch and NASA: Destination Tomorrow. How do they get this additional programming?


Channel 7 - KSPS PBS The SPS stands for Spokane Public Schools who runs this PBS station
http://www.ksps.org/
Full broadcast TV station. Three channels which are KSPS World and KSPS Create and ???
Provides master control operations for two other stations: KWSU??? and  ???
Watch programs on line.
KSPS produces some shows
KSPS sells some DVDs for $20 along with PBS videos.
Provides broadcast  services for channels 14 through 18 - NOT channel 19 which is the Community Colleges of Spokane.
- Live satellite feeds: Gonzaga, KSPS, CM-TV, KWSU possibly.
- Satellite feeds stored on KSPS file server for broadcast times specified by ProTrack program scheduling: KSPS, CM-TV, KWSU
- File transfers (In SeaChange proprietary format) on hard drive to KSPS file server: KSPS, CM-TV, KWSU
- Send broadcast signal to transmitters via microwave: KWSU, eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, southeastern British Columbia, and most of Alberta including Calgary and Edmonton.
- Satellite broadcast on Star Choice satellite system across Canada

Channel 14 - CMTV, PEG, - Spokane's community access channel for members of the public. At present CMTV's one channel broadcasts Public programs, Educational programs(is this correct?) and Government programs all on channel 14. The city of Spokane Valley is the government programs. All of the PEG programming applies to CMTV???

All CMTV programming goes to KSPS who then sends the programms via their file server to Comcast. KSPS can also send programs directly from satellite feeds directly to Comcast for CMTV - Democracy Now will use this service, and KSPS can put programs from satellites on the KSPS file server for CMTV to use. CMTV brings all their programming that does not originate from KSPS to KSPS on a hard drive. Usually once a week on Thursdays, and picks up the hard drive on Friday after the files on transfered to the KSPS program file server. A high speed ftp connection may be able to replace the weekly drives to and fro KSPS.

Channel 15 - Gonzaga, PEG? or just Education access? Managed by the Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning???
Gonzaga has a live studio for students to produce live shows. The shows are sent directly to Comcast via a fast fiber connection. Girls basket ball is also sent live to Comcast. Gonzaga only does live programming. When Gonzaga is not broadcasting live, KSPS provides a live satellite feed from the Classic Arts Showcase. It doesn't seem Gonzaga has a way to produce programs and then broadcast them.

If there are students at Gonzaga that want to produce programs, CMTV would be a great place to take the programs for broadcast.

Channel 16 - UWTV, Univerity of Washington's Satellite TV station. Education access? Managed by the Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning???
KSPS takes the UWTV satellite feed and sends it directly to Comcast.

Channel 17 - Spokane District 81 public schools, EWU, Education access? Managed by the Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning???
KSPS used to schedule some programming from their file server for District 81. This is seldom if ever done now????
KSPS used to schedule some programming from their file server for EWU. This is seldom if ever done now???
KSPS now connects a direct satellite feed to channel 17. If District 81 or EWU had some programming to broadcast it would be from KSPS's file server and then once the show was over the direct satellite feed would be back on. When I took a look at the channel it was:
http://www.dw-world.de/
German World TV in English. Lots of news and longer pieces about the world, with a European flavor. First rate. Comparable to BBC, and Al Jezeera.

Apparently this is the choice of the Spokane Cable Advisory Board For Learning???

Channel 18 - KWSU TV, Washington State University TV, Pullman and KTNW-TV, Richland
Education access? Managed by the Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning???
http://kwsu.org/
http://www.nwpr.org/07/about/About.aspx
KWSU is a public TV station with a selective mix of PBS programming and other education programs. KWSU & KTNW are managed by the Education & Public Media - which seems to have changed its name to KWSU Media Productions.
http://www.kwsumedia.org/
They sell their programs DVDs for $14 or more for sets.

Public Television Station KTNW, Channel 31, Richland, Washington is licensed to Washington State University. The studio is located on the WSU Tri-Cities campus in Richland, Washington. KTNW provides a full-service Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) program schedule to residents of the Columbia Basin region. KWSU/KTNW also provides the Create Channel.

The program schedule shows five channels. 2 go to Pullman, 2 to the Tri-Cities and 1 shared by Richland and Pullman.

KSPS provides the programming from their file server for KWSU from satellite feeds and files delivered by hard drive to KSPS from Pullman. The broadcast is sent for broadcast in Pullman via microwave to a transponder that broadcasts the signal from KSPS?
Who provides the broadcasts for the other channels? KSPS via microwave? KWSU Media Productions?
Scheduling of the broadcasts is this done in Pullman by KWSU Media Productions? via ProTrack?

Channel 19 - CCS TV, Community Colleges of Spokane
Education access? Managed by the Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning???
SCC has the studio????
KSPS does NOT provide any services to CCS TV
When I looked at the channel it seemed to be German TV in German - perhaps DW TV like Channel 17 does.
Who is providing this satellite feed?
Is this station used any more than channel 17????



Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning - according the the city of Spokane's channel 5 website. The Spokane Cable Advisory Board for Learning manages the five educational access channels, Comcast 15-19. "This is a consortium of local educational institutions serving the community’s educational access user needs, with resources supplied by the member schools, Comcast and other contributors."

At one time, beginning in the 70's, School District 81, was broadcasting programs that were used in the schools. EWU in the past has broadcast some programs. KSPS sent the programs to Comcast for District 81 and EWU.  I don't know when CCS has done any broadcasting or what facilities they have to broadcast from. Does anyone? KSPS does not provide programming for CCS channel 19. In recent years there has been few? if any programs, broadcast by School District 81, EWU or CCS as far as I can tell.

This leaves two channels, 17 and 19, open for all sorts of programs from Spokane instead of the live satellite feeds they are presently broadcasting.

If there are funds for additional equipment for educational access channels these certainly could find all sorts of programming uses for the two under used channels.

Portland seems to have found plenty of creative ways to provide considerably more channels with programming from several local broadcast providers.

Spokane viewers certainly could benefit with these at least these two channels being programmed locally.
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Please send updates to this. As I receive more information I'll add them to this page link.