DMA Riverside Review October 2017 Riverside Review USE THIS 30 Oct | Page 7

Ashley Gayton, TV
Ops Operator, explained
that there is a lot happening
behind the scenes. “We do
more than monitor
scheduled programs in
master control rooms.
There is a lot entailed …
equipment, playlist,
scheduling, satellite
configurations and receiver
setup. It’s like working for a
major network,” she
continued. “But it’s not for
profit or glory, it’s for our
military people overseas.”
Jordana Jacobs, TV
Ops Supervisor, agrees
there are a lot of moving
parts that are unseen.
“While it's true we get to
watch TV, we mainly
monitor the signals and
JJordana Jacobs, a TV Ops Supervisor, remembers the importance of AFN for the overseas
watch a thousand little
military. She is prior Air Force. (MC2 Chris Frost, USN).
details going on in the
background,” she said. “Working in TV Ops,
One of the operators is responsible for
and especially in Offline, requires the highest
Offline each shift. The operator manages
level of multi-tasking.”
satellite receiver feeds from networks for both
Despite some of the difficult
live and recorded broadcasts. They have to
challenges faced in performing his TV Ops
setup receivers, verify times and coordinates
job, Santiago Sulpacio recalls the reasons why
for satellite sports and special event feeds.
he is so dedicated. In the early seventies he
Offline also has to ensure records begin on
was deployed to Long Binh U.S. Army Post,
schedule, source spreadsheets are published
Vietnam.
and backups are set and backup tapes begin
Sulpacio witnessed firsthand what it
on time. The DTS service broadcasts live and
means to know what was happening back
server delayed services to U.S. Naval ships
home in the States.
while they are underway, along with spots and
“Back then AFN was called American
live events, which are Sailor specific. Sailors
Force Radio Television Service,” he said.
get three DTS TV services: News, Sports and
“AFRTS was the only source for Radio and TV.
an Entertainment channel that is a mix of AFN
It was the only source of news and it was a real
entertainment channels.
morale booster. I would see guys watching TV
“We don’t broadcast things like soap
with tears in their eyes.”
operas or children’s programs,” said Donald
Now, when Sulpacio gets up in the
McWilliams, Supervisor, Direct to Sailor. “The
morning, his experiences in Vietnam come
Sailors mainly want sports like NFL, NASCAR.”
back to him. He remembers the importance of
Working in TV ops can be stressful
serving people in uniform and their families.
when all variables are considered, such as
“It gives me meaning,” he said. “When
equipment malfunctions, sun spots, weather
I was in their shoes, it felt good to see what
delays, breaking news or pre-empted
was happening back home.”
programs, but the team tries to make
problems appear transparent to the audience.
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