TDGA Special Report Series:
Dissecting WideOrbit’s Version 5.0

(San Francisco CA - June 1, 2009) - Gathering our notes from NAB Show interviews in Las Vegas, our coverage of other interviews and conversations with WideOrbit's support and programming project staff, we knew reviewing the new "5.0" (WideOrbit's latest version) would not be any easy task. But, here goes.

Does everyone use every feature in this power-packed system? No: For the potential buyer and staff users afraid that some systems are just too big and too expensive for what they need-we say, with all due respect-"You most likely are wrong." Because no one uses all the power of any of the modern systems, and that includes the biggest and best all the way down to those definitely designed for low-demand operations. When (not "if") you will need it- pat yourself on the back for being smart enough to have gone for value and performance, instead of "price."

Yes: "5.0" is about as all-inclusive as a modern, aggressive sales-oriented station might be seeking. Along with a few others, it is fair to say it's one of the "Top Guns" in our industry. 5.0 made it's first appearance at the NAB-2009 Conferences in Las Vegas. And, as an auto salesperson might say - it's definitely feature rich with standard items built-in.

In addition to core components, it supports EDI (like TVB ePort for TV clients and BXF (for Radio and TV) as long as your automation systems can speak the language. (More and more of them do). This of course gives you the "Live Log" capability, for last-minute orders, changes or programming interruptions to carry a major developing news story cut-in that (without it) might seriously disrupt you income potential.

WO Traffic (5.0) adds significant new functions. We liked the Inventory Heat Map and Inventory Adjustments, an improved support for Alternate Logs.  And, the user interface to WO Sales really helps unify the instant communication with all WideOrbit products and makes them link seamlessly into one highly productive tool for Sales, Proposals, CRM, etc and the soon-to-be released WO Yield.

Whether a major standalone, multi-station or multi-channel capability, like that old spaghetti sauce commercial "It's in there." Wide Orbit made their reputation on the TV side; and a few yeas back enter the Radio side with WO Traffic for Radio. Needless to say, both TV and Radio users have benefitted. The customizable reports for individual stations and networks in rollup or drill-down modes, really reconfirms the system as a major leaguer. 5.0 amplifies and fills in the needs created by the digital age and multi-tasking, multi-media revolution.

If we were to create a bullet list of features, it's unfair to separate what's new from what's already "in there from previous multiple updates in the 4.0 series of additions. Because it's a single database, real time  package, it's not a toy, to be sure - it does an excellent job of tracking pending business based on salesperson input, monitors projected revenue and even CPP's for competing stations in the market if you're a rating service subscriber.

Here are some of the other notations made during our series of conversations with users, mini-demos at the NAB Show and conversations with the WO support crew.

• Reports are updated as transactions occur (real time)
• Multi-stations use a single database. Makes Order entry highly efficient
  
• Comprehensive security controls that are fully audited for SOX compliance.
  
• Dynamic bi-directional integration with DDS (Donovan)/MediaOcean
  
• TVB ePort Compliant (for TV)
  
• Credit management tool set, including Cash In Advance accounts.
  
• Built-in handling of Bookends, piggyback, and billboard spots.
  
• Drag and drop spot scheduling, format scheduling and promo/psa fill.
  
• Access to database from home or on the road. No more trips to the office!
  
• Automated email notification for preempts and makegoods.
  
• Consolidate airtime and non-air time billing on a single contract..
  
• Brand allocation for bulk schedules, fulfillment of "deals" for high volume buyers.
  
• Configurable spot placement engine to handle individual station policies.
  
• Automated option to fill unsold inventory.

We recommend a demo if you're seriously trying to insure your station, group or network is geared up for the immediate and long-term future. In this report, we tried to focus on 5.0 features, and have only touched by references on changes available through WO Sales. It's definitely one of the Big three for TV and making significant inroads in Radio. As with all TDGA Special Reports, you should ask specific questions relating to individual station, group or network  needs.

Contact WideOrbit via their offices in the US, Europe, India and the Middle East. Or visit their website  (http://www.WideOrbit.com/wideorbit.com/)