Master control automation:
AI scheduling, people handle exceptions.
Master Control is Point Media Tech's master control automation system, bringing AI scheduling, SDI/IP multi-source switching, SCTE-104 emergency insertion and signal monitoring onto one operator desk. AI drafts the rundown from historical ratings, rights and compliance rules for schedulers to approve, and coverage can move from 24-hour shifts to office-hours monitoring plus on-call.
AutomatedHuman error checks
FasterScheduling throughput
Real-timeRights conflict detection
24/7Fully automated
What is on air above,
what comes next below.
The Master Control desk keeps PGM/PVW, the source bus, the automation rundown and live alarms on one screen. The rundown runs itself; the operator handles the manual hold, the crash cut-in and the alarm.
From manual rundowns and operator shifts to AI scheduling + automated switching,
master control moves from operating to approving.
Master control automation hands scheduling, monitoring and switching to one system, so operators only handle exceptions. Traditional master control rooms rely on manual rundown editors, 24-hour operator shifts and SDI matrix switches operated by hand, and any breakdown becomes black on air or a compliance risk. Master Control consolidates all three onto one server: AI drafts the rundown, anomalies are flagged in real time, and emergency insertion is a single action.
Manual rundown, operator shifts, dispersed gear
Schedulers edit rundowns by hand; SDI matrix paired with separate switchers, CG engines, and ad inserters; 24-hour operator shifts pay the price for human error. Rights conflicts checked by eye; emergency insertion latency runs into seconds.
AI rundown, rule-based switching, real-time alerts
Deep-learning over historical ratings, rights, and compliance rules drafts the rundown automatically; SDI/IP multi-source switching follows pre-set rules; emergency insertion is SCTE-104 frame-accurate; anomalies trigger immediate alerts. Office-hours monitoring + on-call replaces 24-hour shifts.
Today · Schedules built by hand, a desk staffed around the clock
- A scheduler types the playlist
- An engineer sits the desk 24 hours a day
- The SDI matrix is switched by hand
- One slip anywhere is dead air or a compliance breach
After · AI scheduling with automatic switching
- AI takes over programme ordering
- Signal faults are detected automatically
- Emergency insertion is one action
- Scheduling, monitoring and switching on one server
Three capability layers, threaded into one
automated master-control chain.
Master Control has three layers — AI scheduling, real-time switching, and monitoring & alerting — and each can be evaluated independently, licensed by channel count, and scaled later.
AI scheduling engine
The AI scheduling engine learns from historical ratings, rights and compliance rules, ad fill-rate and audience flow to generate rundown drafts automatically. Rights conflicts are flagged in real time, compliance alerts surface for review, and schedulers move from "drafting" to "approving."
- Historical ratings deep learning
- Real-time rights compliance check
- Ad fill-rate optimisation
- BXF / NRCS / Traffic integration
Real-time switching & emergency insertion
The switching layer handles multi-source switching across SDI, HDMI and IP (SMPTE ST 2110); pre-set rules drive automation while operator override stays one tap away. Emergency insertion supports SCTE-104 cue tones and frame-accurate splice — one second to break into live.
- SDI / HDMI / IP multi-source
- SCTE-104 frame-accurate
- Rule-based + manual override
- Switching latency < 1 frame
Enterprise routing & monitoring
The monitoring layer integrates a broadcast multiviewer, signal anomaly detection and alert ticketing. Input loss, black frame, silence, and loudness anomalies trigger alerts automatically; remote engineers can take over at any time, replacing 24-hour gallery shifts with office-hours monitoring.
- Integrated multiviewer
- Black / silence / loudness alerts
- Remote take-over
- Alert ticketing
Master control sits at the hub of the workflow,
connecting ingest, MAM, playout, and delivery.
Master Control shares one signal model and asset structure with Smart Ingest, MAM and Kaster Playout, with no third-party integration layer between products.
- IngestAsset capture · BXF / MXF / MP4 transcoding and archive
- MAMAsset management · metadata, tagging, rights
- Master ControlAI rundown · signal switching · monitoring
- PlayoutScheduling + CG + ads + SDI / IP output
- DeliverySDI / IP / OTT / DVB-T multi-path
Engineering specifications.
The full Master Control spec sheet and technical assessment are available in a live session with our solution architects.
| Signal formats | SDI (HD-SDI / 3G-SDI / 12G-SDI) · HDMI · IP (SMPTE ST 2110-20/-30/-40) · NDI · SRT — mixed sources |
|---|---|
| Switching | Rule-based automation + manual override; switching latency < 1 frame; concurrent multi-source management |
| Emergency insertion | SCTE-104 cue tone · frame-accurate splice · 1-second cut into live |
| Integration | Standard REST API · BXF (Broadcast Exchange Format) · XML/MOS (NRCS · ENPS / iNEWS) · Traffic systems |
| Monitoring & alerts | Integrated multiviewer · black frame / silence / loudness / freeze frame detection · alert ticketing |
| Licensing | Per system scale and channel count; modular expansion; perpetual + annual maintenance options |
| Deployment | Standard 2–4 weeks; includes acceptance testing and engineer training |
Three steps, from evaluation to go-live.
Request a trial
Fill out the contact form and our team will respond within one business day to arrange a technical consultation.
Integration assessment
A technical consultant reviews your existing broadcast architecture and confirms NRCS / Traffic / MAM / Playout integration requirements.
Deployment and go-live
Complete configuration and acceptance testing (dry-run, failover, signal switching), then go live in production.
Frequently asked questions.
What is master control automation, and how does it differ from manual operation?
Master control automation lets the system run scheduling, switching and monitoring on pre-set rules, while operators handle holds, emergency insertion and alarms. Point Media Tech's Master Control reduces human-error risk with rule-based switching and emergency-insertion management, and its integrated alerting gives operators real-time visibility of every signal. Coverage can move from 24-hour shifts to office-hours monitoring plus on-call.
Which signal formats does Master Control support?
Master Control supports SDI, HDMI, SMPTE ST 2110 IP, NDI and SRT signals, mixing sources and switching them by rule in real time. SDI covers HD-SDI, 3G-SDI and 12G-SDI; switching latency is under 1 frame, and manual override is always available.
Can Master Control integrate with our existing playout, MAM and NRCS?
Yes. Master Control integrates with existing playout, MAM, NRCS and traffic systems through a standard REST API, BXF and XML/MOS. Paired with Point Media Tech's Playout, Ingest and MAM, the products share one signal model and asset structure with no third-party integration layer.
How should a master control room plan the move from SDI to IP?
Move master control from SDI to SMPTE ST 2110 in phases: run hybrid SDI/IP first, then migrate playout, ingest and monitoring. IP brings more flexible signal routing, remote operation and multi-site resource sharing. Master Control supports both SDI and IP interfaces, so both signal types are managed from one desk during the transition, lowering migration risk.
How are Master Control licensing and system requirements determined?
Master Control is licensed by system scale and channel count, with modular expansion and software licence plus annual maintenance options. It runs on standard broadcast-grade servers under Linux, and hardware sizing depends on signal paths and integration scope. Sales and a technical consultant will quote and size the system for your requirements.
How do I start an evaluation or trial of Master Control?
Submit the contact form; Point Media Tech's sales team responds within one business day to arrange a master control assessment and trial plan. The assessment covers your current on-air architecture and NRCS, traffic, MAM and playout integration.
Ready to let AI
run master-control scheduling?
Book a demo to see Master Control's AI scheduling, rule-based switching and emergency insertion working from one desk.