Pocono Television Network

PTN makes cloud-powered shift to 24/7 multiplatform distribution with Take One Productions and Imagine

Introduction
Challenge
Solution
Results

Connecting viewers with travel segments, weather, and local news.

Pocono Television Network (PTN) is a 24/7 channel available on various platforms, including streaming, over-the-air and cable. PTN showcases the scenic region through original segments such as Pocono Perspectives and Pocono Mountains Magazine, weather updates, live webcams, and features on local businesses and events.

Launched in 2017, PTN is an important tool in the efforts of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) to promote, educate, and attract visitors to the Pocono Mountains.

million

potential viewer reach

hour

availability across OTA, cable, and streaming

Zero

downtime from system failure in 2+ years

The challenge

By 2022, PTN had outgrown the technical limitations of its third-party distributor, which had been delivering the channel’s content to a handful of local cable systems. At that point, Take One Productions — a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based company that had been producing long-form commercial segments for the PMVB — proposed expanding its role to manage PTN’s broadcast operations.

Under the new arrangement, both Take One’s team and the PMVB’s in-house staff continue to produce content for the network, while Take One now serves as the primary broadcast hub — overseeing conent aggregation, scheduling, and playout from its Lancaster studio across cable, OTT, and digital platforms.

To support continuous distribution of the PTN across multiple platforms, Take One required more than a basic file-based system that simply created playlists from uploaded content; the company needed a broadcast-grade, future-proof solution. The platform had to support a complete workflow — ingest, media asset management, playout, graphics, and master control — while delivering scalability and long-term reliability.

The chosen solution also had to be cloud-based. With Take One’s studio in Lancaster and the PMVB located two hours north in Stroudsburg, relying on physical infrastructure wasn’t practical. Cloud capabilities would also enable remote access — essential for a production company that’s frequently working off-site. The Take One team needed to be able to log into the system, make last-minute updates, and manage live feeds from virtually anywhere.

“All it took was a half-hour demonstration of Versio, and we knew we’d found the right solution. It gave us everything we were looking for.”

Kevin Martorana President of Take One Productions

The solution

“We started exploring solutions at the NAB Show, and a lot of what we saw felt outdated, like software still running on Windows 98,” said Kevin Martorana, president of Take One Productions. “That might work for a local CCTV cable company, but it wasn’t nearly robust enough for our purposes. We weren’t just looking for a quick fix; we wanted a system we wouldn’t outgrow.

“Then we stepped into the Imagine Communications booth. All it took was a half-hour demonstration of Versio, and we knew we’d found the right solution. It gave us everything we were looking for.”

Imagine Communications’ Versio is a flexible, integrated playout solution built to meet the demands of modern media operations. Designed for deployment in the cloud, on-premises, or as a hybrid model, Versio integrates automation, graphics, branding, and master control into a single software-defined platform — streamlining operations and reducing infrastructure complexity. With native support for UHD, HDR, and IP workflows, Versio delivers frame-accurate, high-reliability playout.

Versio also integrates seamlessly with Imagine’s Aviator Automation, a cloud-native, modular automation platform designed to streamline content origination, playout, and monetization across broadcast and digital channels. Tailored for modern, dynamic media operations, Aviator Automation enables multisite channel origination through a unified platform that manages ground and cloud resources from a single pane of glass.

Aviator Automation simplifies the programming process — offering remote login capabilities that enable Take One to program from anywhere. In addition, the platform provides the company with as-run logs to reference what has played, while its built-in Content Portal makes managing content easier. For additional visibility into PTN’s inventory, Take One added special fields to the metadata so the company can quickly identify content by season and region.

Playout and Channel Origination

Versio™ Integrated Playout

Launch new SD, HD, and UHD channels quickly and cost effectively in SDI, IP, and hybrid environments.

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Playout and Channel Origination

Aviator Automation™

Mix on-prem and cloud channels using a common control system to ensure consistent on-air operations.

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“Not only are Versio and Aviator Automation incredibly easy to operate, both solutions also deliver exceptional reliability. In more than two years of 24/7 broadcasting, we haven’t had a single minute of downtime due to system failure.”

Kevin Martorana President of Take One Productions

The result

PTN’s reach has grown significantly with Take One and Imagine Communications at the helm. Taking advantage of Versio’s cloud capabilities, Take One has scaled the network infrastructure and deployed pre-configured decoders to expand PTN’s cable footprint to nearly a dozen providers across Pennsylvania.

In addition to cable, PTN has built a strong OTT presence through Vimeo’s enterprise platform, allowing the network’s live stream from Versio to be delivered to a wide array of consumer devices. Viewers can download the app to watch live programming or explore on-demand content from anywhere. And last year, PTN added over-the-air (OTA) broadcasting to its distribution mix. The channel is now live in six markets — with a seventh on the way — reaching audiences in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and even areas near the New York State border.

“With cable, OTT, and OTA distribution, PTN has the potential to reach more than 28 million viewers, not including international audiences streaming online,” said Martorana. “For a regional tourism network, that kind of reach is a big step forward, and a lot of smaller broadcasters are taking notice.

“We’ve even discussed launching a second channel, and with Versio, that’s now a realistic option. What once took nine months could be done in just a few weeks. Imagine Communications’ platform has proved to be a future-proof investment that continues to meet our needs as we grow.”

“We could not be at the level of quality that we are enjoying now without Take One and Imagine. The trafficking of an almost unending quantity of creative is a daunting task — and Imagine took us to the next level in relation to playout.”

Chris Barrett Executive in charge of production for PTN