# Master control

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_control
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{{short description|Hub of a television broadcast operation}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
[[Image:111807y.jpg|thumb|350px|[Fox Business Network](/source/Fox_Business_Network)'s master control]]

'''Master control''' is the technical hub of a [broadcast](/source/broadcast) operation common among most over-the-air [television station](/source/television_station)s and [television network](/source/television_network)s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soseman |first1=Ned |title=Master Control: Part 1 - The Four Missions Of Master Control |url=https://www.thebroadcastbridge.com/content/entry/18594/master-control-system-design-part-1-ingest-outside-sources |website=The Broadcast Bridge |publisher=The Broadcast Bridge |access-date=1 February 2024}}</ref> It is distinct from a [production control room](/source/production_control_room) (PCR) in [television studio](/source/television_studio)s where the activities such as switching from camera to camera are coordinated. A [transmission control room](/source/transmission_control_room) (TCR) is usually smaller in size and is a scaled down version of [centralcasting](/source/centralcasting).

Master control is the final point before a signal is transmitted over-the-air for [terrestrial television](/source/terrestrial_television) or [cablecast](/source/cablecast), [satellite](/source/satellite) provider for broadcast, or sent on to a [cable television](/source/cable_television) operator. Television master control rooms include banks of [video monitor](/source/video_monitor)s, satellite [receivers](/source/receiver_(radio)), [videotape](/source/videotape) machines, [video server](/source/video_server)s, transmission equipment, and, more recently, computer [broadcast automation](/source/broadcast_automation) equipment for recording and playback of television programming.

Master control is generally staffed with one or two master control operators around-the-clock to ensure continuous operation. Master control operators are responsible for monitoring the quality and accuracy of the on-air product, ensuring the transmission meets government regulations, troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, and preparing programming for [playout](/source/playout).  Regulations include both technical ones (such as those against over-modulation and [dead air](/source/dead_air)), as well as content ones (such as [indecency](/source/indecency) and [station ID](/source/station_ID)).

Many [television network](/source/television_network)s and [radio network](/source/radio_network)s or station groups have consolidated facilities and now operate multiple stations from one regional master control or [centralcasting](/source/centralcasting) center. This arrangement is known as a joint master control (JMC). An example of this centralized [broadcast programming](/source/broadcast_programming) system on a large scale is  [NBC](/source/NBC)'s "hub-spoke project" that enables a single "hub" to have control of dozens of stations' automation systems and to monitor their air signals, thus reducing or eliminating some responsibilities of local employees at their [owned-and-operated station](/source/owned-and-operated_station)s. 

Outside the [United States](/source/United_States), the [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation) (CBC) manages four radio networks, two broadcast television networks, and several more cable/satellite radio and television services out of just two master control points ([English language](/source/Canadian_English) services at the [Canadian Broadcasting Centre](/source/Canadian_Broadcasting_Centre) in [Toronto](/source/Toronto) and [French language](/source/Canadian_French) services at [Maison Radio-Canada](/source/Maison_Radio-Canada) in [Montreal](/source/Montreal)). Many other public and private broadcasters in Canada have taken a similar approach.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:ESPNMasterControl.jpg|One of [ESPN](/source/ESPN)'s digital master control rooms, MCR-D1, in [Bristol, Connecticut](/source/Bristol%2C_Connecticut)
Image:111807z4.jpg|Fox Business Network's master control with lights off
Image:111807z3.jpg|Fox Business Network's master control room with lights on
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
* [Network operations center](/source/Network_operations_center)
* [Central apparatus room](/source/Central_apparatus_room)

{{TV production}}

Category:Broadcast engineering
Category:Broadcasting
Category:Television terminology
Category:Rooms

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Master control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_control) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_control?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.