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.