52.1 Ad Insertion Modes

Etere Ad Insertion has two different mode, and it can be configured to run as: 

1. Stand-alone in passthough mode, along with any Playout Systems on the market; 

2. It can be paired along with Etere Automation in order to allows broadcasting companies to have up to 7 different SPLITS where to send different output signals.

1. AD INSERTION ETX STAND ALONE MODE

To configure Ad Insertion as standalone mode simply following the steps below:

- Launch Ad Insertion module and select Settings.

- Under General tab, enable the option "AD Insertion is the main airing" mode in the Global Parameters section to use Ad Inserting in standalone mode (Pass-through AD Insertion).

- Notice that after the AD Insertion mode is enabled, the whole section of "Regional network parameters (split > 1)" are disallowed.

ad_insertion_stand_alone

When Ad Insertion module is launched, it search for all scheduled events in the playlist and load events according to the scheduled time.  Once the transmission is completed, the events would be marked as aired in the Etere playlist. If there are no event found after the search completed, Etere AdInsertion would simply air the Passthrough mode.

Key Features:

• Seamless insertion of advertisements into live, linear or video-on-demand (VOD) content.

• Support connection by IP address.

• Air Sales integration allows operator to vary commercial scheduling of a station in the networks.

• Full GPI support for sending and receiving signals.

• Simplified resources management.

• Ability to perform on-the-fly changes.

• Quick insertion of “filling event” automatically or manually.

• Main and backup mode redundancy.

• SD/HD inputs and outputs.

• Variable time delay and GPI triggering.

• SCTE-35 and DTMF cue tones.

2. AD INSERTION ETX PAIRED WITH AUTOMATION

If a network is segmented to insert different advertisements in various platforms in the same program, Etere Split is the cost-effective solution that enables stations to manage regional playlists (which differ between them only on some ad-breaks) and insert the right advertisements to the right target network at the right time.

This solution is based on a special approach for regional ad insertion systems where a primary automation network is differentiated from all the regional networks; thus allowing a dedicated, simplified and automatic management of regional networks fully synchronized with the main network automation.

The diagram below illustrate the Ad Insertion + Automation managing transmission in multiple networks within the regions.

Ad_Insertion_plus_Automation

To configure Ad Insertion as automation mode simply adhere to the steps below:

- Launch Ad Insertion module and select Settings.

- Under General tab, enable the option "AD Insertion manages SPLITs" mode in the Global Parameters section to use Ad Inserting in automation mode.

- In Configuration module, add and name the Split streams.

- In Automation module, enable Ad Insertion as described in sub-chapter Preliminary Configuration.

ad_insertion_automation_split

Etere Ad Insertion + automation provides a wide range of features for the on-air broadcasting of network-specific "commercial clusters" across different channels, among the key functions the following can be mentioned:

• Network-specific channels with main/backup redundancy.

• Simplified router control for easier resource management.

• Full GPI support for sending and receiving signals.

• DTMF and SCTE-35 support for "Start" "Stop" commercial clusters.

• Multi-network capabilities for a streamlined management of regional programming.

• Tightly integrated with other Etere modules such as Scheduling and Air Sales to connect playlists to regional ad insertion, licensed content, contractual commercials, missing materials and imported materials.

• Intelligent transmission of regional advertising breaks.

• Automatic insertion of "fillers" to top-up remaining split clusters.

• All split clusters can be controlled from a single interface offering a simple view for split programs in real-time.

• All split processes are performed automatically.

• On-the-fly modifications with enhanced system stability.

• Independent video server channel for each network.

Notes:

Etere Ad Insertion can be easily integrated with the other components which form the typical "ad insertion" system including programming (Etere Scheduling), traffic (Etere Air Sales), billing (Etere Money).