Case Study: Mapping the Future with Chyron’s AXIS Maps

WKYT-TV made the transition to HD in April 2007 and since then has been using the HD version of Chyron’s AXIS maps.

It will come as no surprise to TV Technology readers our transition to HD was, at times, a “nightmare”, but I have to say that AXIS maps was one of the easiest to migrate to this format.

The decision to purchase the AXIS system was based on a recommendation by a News Director at one of WKYT-TV’s sister television stations (there are 28 in our group). Each station is given the opportunity to make individual purchase decisions on technology, but AXIS’s success at our sister station meant that it was already endorsed, which made our decision easier.

Once that decision was made, our art department started working with AXIS to create a uniform look and feel that would be used in all circumstances. For instance, each city had to look the same or be represented with the same color dot. This then became the template for each network/map.

Once the look and feel was confirmed, it was time to train those who would be responsible for getting the maps on-air. This was done via the web, which makes total sense for a Software-as-a-Service product.

With training complete, our creative workflow has changed significantly. The process is no longer the full responsibility of the art department. Prior to adopting AXIS, the art department spent huge amounts of time creating maps for newscasts and struggled to keep up with other projects. Due to the training and intuitive technology of AXIS maps, a wide variety of people involved in newscasts are now able to create maps, which has eased the pressure on the art department and enabled them to be more creative and productive in other areas as well.

Although there was initial resistance from the news producers (they already have a lot to do) it’s now become part of the culture and something that individuals can be proud of. By having personal responsibility for how maps reflect the story and the program, the quality has improved and each map is far more specific to the city, the story, and the situation. AXIS has also meant that this flexibility and superiority in map creation can be achieved during evenings and weekends when fewer staff are available. If there’s a late-breaking news item, a map to accompany the story can be created online, at home or even during the program itself. This has given WKYT-TV incredible versatility that is now second nature to everyone who works here.

AXIS also enables us to work to the typically tight deadlines of a broadcast news broadcast operation. WKYT-TV has experienced very few issues with the AXIS system and all service/support for any such issue has been resolved quickly and within the timescale required.

WKYT-TV is an innovative and thorough user of the AXIS maps package and is proud of what we now achieve with template graphics, coupled with the creativity of our in-house art department.

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