Abstract: A multimedia production and distribution system collects or assembles a media production (such as, a news program, television programming, or radio broadcast) from a variety of sources, including television stations and other media hosting facilities. The media production is categorized and indexed for retrieval and distribution across a wired or wireless network, such as the Internet, to any client, such as a personal computer, television, or personal digital assistant. A user can operate the client to display and interact with the media production, or select various options to customize the transmission or request a standard program. Alternatively, the user can establish a template to generate the media production automatically based on personal preferences. The media production is displayed on the client with various media enhancements to add value to the media production. Such enhancements include graphics, extended play segments, opinion research, and URLs.

Abstract: An integrated, fully automated video production system that provides a video director with total control over all of the video production devices used in producing a show via a hierarchical time sheet. The video production system provides an automation capability that allows the video director to pre-produce a show, review the show in advance of “air time,” and then, with a touch of a button, produce the live show. In one embodiment, the invention provides a video production system having a processing unit in communication with one or more of the video production devices mentioned above. According to an embodiment, the video director pre-produces the show, defines a set of video production commands or instructions (hereafter “transition macro”) to be executed by the processing unit, and then, by activating a control button displayed by the processing unit, the video director instructs the processing unit to execute the transition macro via the hierarchical time sheet.

Abstract: An automated video production system having full news integration and automation. The automated video production system enables a producer to create a show rundown by selecting news stories for a live or live-to-tape video show. The system supports real time conversion of the show rundown into computer readable broadcast instructions for executing the news program. After the broadcast instructions are created, the director can instruct the system to execute the broadcast instructions in either a fully or semi-automatic mode. The fully integrated and automated video production system periodically monitors and synchronizes the show rundown with the broadcast instructions. After the show has been broadcasted, the broadcast instructions and a video recording of the show is stored for future use. For instance, the broadcast instructions can be retrieved and used in another show. Similarly, the recording of the show can be retrieved and re-broadcasted, for example, over the Internet.

Abstract: A multimedia production and distribution system collects or assembles a media production (such as, a news program, television programming, or radio broadcast) from a variety of sources, including television stations and other media hosting facilities. The media production is categorized and indexed for retrieval and distribution across a wired or wireless network, such as the Internet, to any client, such as a personal computer, television, or personal digital assistant. A user can operate the client to display and interact with the media production, or select various options to customize the transmission or request a standard program. Alternatively, the user can establish a template to generate the media production automatically based on personal preferences. The media production is displayed on the client with various media enhancements to add value to the media production. Such enhancements include graphics, extended play segments, opinion research, and URLs.