In the past HRN had it's own playout system (automation of programming) written by it's chairman Mike Sarre, but as support could only be provided by a single person, who was not getting any younger, it was decided to purchase a commercial system.
This would provide technical back-up should any problems develop and future proof the service. A decision to purchase the Myriad System from Broadcast Radio was made, It is a premium system which would allow HRN to also improve it's automated programming. Broadcast Radio also gave a very large discount to hospital radio stations thus keeping the cost down to around £7000 for the playout programme, a reduction of 60% off the retail price.
Two new computers were donated by one of our members as it would be running in both our studios. After 3 months loading all our music tracks onto a database and setting up the system it was installed in Studio 1. Once everyone was familiarised with the programme the studio 2 version was installed. Studio 2 runs as a back-up to studio 1 running the same schedule as studio 1.
