Computers in Public Broadcasting: Who, What, 4
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 254 204 IR 011 516 AUTHOR Yousuf, M. Osman TITLE Computers in Public Broadcasting: Who, What, 4 . Where. INSTITUTION Corporation for Public Broidcasting, Washington, D.C. REPORT ISBN-0-89776-079-4 PUB DA Sep 82 NOTE 124p. PUB TYPE Guides - General(050) Statistical Data (110) em, Tests/EvaluationInstruments .(160) 'EDRS PRICE MF01/Pc05ePlus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Computers; *Computer Software; *Public Television; Purchasing; Questionnaires; *Radio; *Systems,. Development; TelevisioniStudios; Use Studies NW . IDENTIFIERS *Public Btoadcasting la 4ABSTRACT ti This andbook offers guidance to public broadcasting thanagers on compute miuisition ant development activities.- Based on a 981 survey of planned and current computer uses conducted by the poration for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Information Clearinghouse, computer systems' in public radio and television broadcasting stations are listed by statios4;ode and computer manufacturer, and uses are . sorted byhe followin applications.applitation areas: auction managedent, membership management,, mailing list/labels, volunteer management, budget/cost accounting, genekal accounting, payroll, word processing, air switching, !acilities scheduling,inventorycdntrol, manpower' scheduling, ascertainment research, audience research, progTam/reciird library, and program sche4ule/logs. Other lists include stations using a second computer, computer vendors in public broadcasting , sorted by station applications, systems /software marketed by stations, and computer user contacts sorted by station code and last name. The following articles are reprinted from the clearinghouse newsletter: "A Systems Development Method for Public Broadcasting Stations" (Thomas D. Ster and James F. Drayer); "14.I.5. PlanningSome Tips for Public Broadcasting Stations" (N. Osman Yousuf); "A Computerized Program Scheduling and Switching System" (Dennis Schweikardt); and "Radio + Records Computer" (Gary L. Grigsby). A glossary and station computer utilization surveyJare included. (IAN). *********************************************************;*************' * BeproduCtions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original dociment. * ***** ******,************************************************************ , DIPARTIMIENT Dr EDUCATION FATIMA'. INSTITUTE Oft EDUCATION EDUCATE:4;14AL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERIC) Thus document hes been wroth:cod es receved Irma the wean a cuumucstion . , ongeutano A. *not donors hen boon made to improve roptoduction teasety. Points of view or weans mated m thadecur men; do no cocoons* sentiesto officio/ ME position a pplicif ,f "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE,THIS MATERIAL HASBEENGRANTED BY 'Corporation for Publ i c BNa'dcasti ng TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." ", I LI EQ-11 IJ a IN PUBLIC BROADCASTING a I 5 AP 6 September 1982 r'. M. Osman Yousuf 1 4 4 I a, 3 5 I v e I a 1 (E) Copyright 1982` Corporation for Public B.roadcasting 1111 Sixteenth Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 `An Equal Opportunity Employer--IM/F ISBN: 0-89776-079-4 4, CONTENTS Foreword, Richard Seabrook... 1 . Introduction, M. Osman Yousuf t. / t 3 . StaticM CoMputer Utilization Survey:highlights ..... f It 5 Computer Systems in Public Broadcasting (Radio & TV Stations)' Sorted by Station Code .... .. 10 . Sorted lay Computer Manufacturer . 16., i . Computer Applications in Public Broadcasting (Radio & TV Statibns) by Major Application Areas 22 Summary .. , PrograMming Leanguage Code Explanation. 4 , 26 . 'Auction Management ., .. i 27 Membership Management . .. 28 Mailing List/Labels .. 31 Volunteer Management'- 'I 35 4 .36 Budget/Cost Accountings . ,Genera,1 Accounting' 38 41 . .Payroll . iVord Processhig . , . d 44 Air Switching 45 -... Facilities Scheduling...". JP . 4& .0 47 \ , Inventory Control i 4 . 49 , Manpower- Scheduling 4 . IP - , 50 1 . / Ascertainment Research 1- Audience Research -. .. 51 0 Program/Record Library , 4 52 Program Schedule/Logs 53 Stations Using a SecondComputer(Sorted by Mnfcr) 56 Computer Vendors in Public Broadcasting Vendor Servics by StationApPlications 58 Vendor Profiles 59 Systems/Software Marketed by Public Broadcasting Stations Televison 64 ;1- 78 Radio P Computer User Cont4ct Listing (Radio and TV Stations) .0 List, Sorted by Station Code 86 Litt Sorted by Last Name b 92 Selected Articles(Rerinted frop Computers inNRIbliclati A S items Develment Method for Publ c Broadcastin tat ons, omas . ter anantes Mrayer 99 O 4 5 1Ps r. M.I.S. PlanningSome_Tips for Public B_ roadcasting Stations by M. Osman Yousuf 103 A CompUterizeidPropam:§chcduling and SwitchingSystem, S . by Dennis Schweikardt . , . 105., , Radio + Records= Computer, by Gary L. Grigsby 109 Glossary , , to , 111 Appendix ., 119 4, r z. iv 6 FOREWORD This report, represents theculmination of a ,two-year projectto ;provide information to public broadcasting managers on computersystems in the industrywho has them, what kinds are in use, andWhat they arE tieing used for. A studyconducted in foribthisinformation and served as4the foundationfor CPB!s 1979 indicated a need 1 or," information gatheringand dissemination activitatsoihtiesubject. The dataprotessingindustry at that time was somewhat'confused, reflecting a gradual change from the largemainframe coma pcedominant during the 1960s to minicomputer systems refined duringthe 1970s and some experimentationwith microcomputers, the latter haviiigiappeared onthe commercial scene in 1978. Computer t systems installed at publicliroadcaatiatig station's, Watatrattng this evolution, spannedthe range of systemsizes. and capabilities available at thattime. The data processing industry isstill in a state of flux.Full-functiOn, general purpose microcomputerbusiness systems have been developedand continue to appear on the commercial scene,witfi4major announcements corning onlj.weelis apart. Whereas hobby and personal computermanufacturer* such' as Radio- Shack(Tam* and Apple, Computers once dominated themicrocomputer_market, strong entries recentlyhave been - Corporation, and JapaneseI and European manufacturers. made by IBM, Digital Equipment a Selecting th6 most appropriate system hasbeanie even more *complex by the major word processing vendors such as Wang,Lexitron (Ratheon), Lanier, and NBIincluding data processing capabilities in their recentofferings.Additionally, data communications' vendors have introduced all-digitallocal networks that permitinterconnecting diverse equipment from a variety of sources.In isuh an environment, good adviceis the hardest -s colnmodity to come by.Providing this advice has been the missionof the CPB Computer Information Clearinghouse. The presentations and lists in thisreport are intended to providegeneral /guidance and an indication of where specific usesof computers may be found. Thearticles are reprinted from the ClearinghoUsenewsletter Computers in PublicBroadcasting, and The computer system data assembledfrom an industrywide surveyconducted in 1981.The 'acquiring and using computers as quickly aspossiSle, usually only general trend evident is , starting in the membership andfinance areas. Similarly, noparticular brand of hardware or software clearlyexcels for use in publicbroadcasting stations.Managers should, investigate as many as possible beforemaking a purchase decision.' In order tomake such. -1- an investigation, managers- should be fully aware of the ultimate uses of computer systems in- their stationk, the relative order in which different applications will be developed, and as much about these applications as possible. While the diticussion papers included in this Handbook provide excellent guidance for studying needs and controlling developmental activities, hardware and software selection continue to be the province of individual managers. * As a general rule, the decision guidlines to follow, are'the same as with any other technical system: I. Go with industry standards where possible, and with tried and proven systems where no standards exist. 2. Obtain contract kuarantees for maintenance, service, updates and continuing vendor support.If these make a particularly favorable system more expensive, pay it. The risks of poor support and early obsolescence are tots great to do otherwise. C The Corporation extends its appreciation to those who supplied, information for this report. We hope you will find it useful. A Richard H.C. Seabrook Dtrectar I Computer and Information Services a S -Op 'so _2 6 A DITRODUCTION The CPB Computing and TelecommunicationsPlanni7. Task Force was created in August 1979 "to study the use of computersend telecommunications inpublic!,adcasthig and to make recommendations on promotingand coordinating the developto of such activities. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio(NPR) and the National Telecommunications and InformationAdministration (NTIA) were represented . on the task force,which published its final report in March1980.Later that yehr in September, CPB announced the, creation ofthe Computer Information Clearinghouse, to review and implement the major recommendationsof the task force. ea. Public radio gad television. stations haveshown great interest in the Clearinghouse and in usingcomputer/tekeCommunications technology to address current problems. Station = iagers, progimmdirectors, developmentdirectors and financial managers who have wor ed with the Cle house -understand the basic capabilitiesof computers a. a management tools and re ize the need to develqpsystem's in many of their activities. But the variety of