WWTV Bridges 48 Miles With IP Studio Upgrade, Powered By Clear-Com & Key Code Media

Heritage Broadcasting’s WWTV Cadillac, Mich., recently completed a transformative IP-based broadcast workflow connecting its new Traverse City studio with its control room in Cadillac, separated by nearly 50 miles. Spearheaded by systems integrator Key Code Media, the project included the installation of a new Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station, enabling fully distributed communications across the two sites with unprecedented reliability and flexibility.

WWTV, which has served the region as both a CBS and Fox beginning in 1954, moved into a new, compact Traverse City studio to consolidate operations and modernize its broadcast capabilities. The station faced a unique challenge: operating a live, on-air studio with no on-site engineers while keeping all technical staff based at its Cadillac control room.

Key Code Media delivered an end-to-end IP infrastructure, integrating networked cameras, audio, video routing, and control systems between the two facilities. At the heart of the communications upgrade was the Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station, which replaced WWTV’s decades-old party-line system.

“The old building was too big, too costly, and no longer served our needs,” said Ben Scripps, WWTV assistant operations manager. “Our team made the decision to consolidate and move our studio closer to our offices in Traverse City but we had to keep the Master Control in Cadillac. That’s 50 miles apart. How do you make that work?”

Arcadia’s scalability and Dante integration were instrumental in Key Code Media’s design, helping WWTV to route intercom audio alongside video and control signals with minimal latency. This modernized intercom backbone ensures that talent and production staff remain in sync across geographically separated facilities.

“The whole setup had to be intuitive. We don’t have engineers on site,” Scripps added. “Key Code made sure we could walk in, touch a screen, and the studio would be lit for our show.”

“Clear-Com’s Arcadia was a critical part of making this distributed IP workflow possible,” said Jon Rutherford, director of broadcast solutions at Key Code Media. “It provided the flexibility, reliability, and ease of integration we needed to unify communications for a team working across nearly 50 miles of distance.”

The project also included robotic Sony PTZ cameras, Autoscript prompters, Sennheiser wireless audio, Planar LED displays, and a Ross Ultrix router, all tied together through a robust IP network architecture.

The WWTV project stands as a blueprint for regional broadcasters navigating geographic challenges with IP-based solutions. “With Arcadia at its core,” Clear-Com added, “WWTV now operates with streamlined communications, enhanced production efficiency, and the flexibility to scale for future needs.”

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