An integrated, fully automated video production system provides a video director
with total control over all of the video production devices used to produce and
broadcast a show. Such devices include, but are not limited to, cameras, robotic
pan/tilt heads, video tape players and recorders (VTRs), video servers and virtual
recorders, character generators, still stores, digital video disk players (DVDs),
audio mixers, digital video effects (DVE), video switchers, and teleprompting systems.
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. The processing unit also records the
show or elements from the show following its production. The show or elements can
be recalled for subsequent broadcasts. An Internet interface supports live or on-demand
requests for content from the video production. In an embodiment, an online user
selects specific. elements and reorganizes the elements to personalize a broadcast.
The processing unit receives and executes the online request to continuously stream
or download the content to the user. In an embodiment, various supporting features
enhance and extend the content of the video production, such as real time polling,
hyperlinks to related web sites, video captions, and the like.