What
if the requested time period is sold out?
If
the time period is sold out with non preemtable spots the contract spots can be
allowed to go to make goods or the contract can remain on hold. The Account
Executive would then be notified and allowed to modify the contract if possible
What
if the time period requested is booked by lower priced spots?
If
the lower priced spot is preemtable and a lower priority, the higher priced spot
will be placed on the log in the lower priced spots place.
The system will then try to reschedule the lower priced spot into another
acceptable position/time period, or if unable, place the lower priced spot into make goods.
How
are priorities set?
There
are up to 36 priority codes and within each priority there can
be implicit
priorities by rate and schedule span.
How
is copy entered? Can it be linked to multiple contracts?
Copy
is entered as a copy
order with rotation specifiers and run time parameters. Copy can be easily
linked to multiple contracts.
Is
spot placement on the log dictated by TIME PERIOD, PROGRAM or SOME COMBINATION.
Spot
placement can be specified
by time, program or user defined daypart.
How are combo orders handled?
Very easily! Simply select a channel group instead of a single channel on the
contract
schedule page and check the box for a combo spot (same time all channels) or
leave unchecked as desired.
Log Generation, Tracking
How
far in advance can a log be generated?
The schedule can be extended as far in the future as you like, even multiple
years.
How
are manual changes to the log effected?
The schedule can be hand edited in edit
schedules. Drag and drop functionality makes this a simple process.
How
does the system manage timing or competitive separation requirements?
Separation
can be specified for advertiser, industry, product and additional separation
on individual channel and system wide basis.
Prior
to finalization of the log, what safeguards are in place to identify problems
with spot separation (timing or competitive issues), missing copy, missing
spots? Who is notified of these problems? How are they notified and when?
Spot
separation will not be violated by the system. If manually overridden, a spot
separation issue will show up on the discrepancy report. A discrepancy
report can be run at any time. The discrepancy report will show missing spots
(not taken off of hold) and missing copy, and a variety of other potential
problems.
In addition the system will not create automation schedule files
with missing copy.
This report can be emailed to interested parties.
Does
the system provide any type of alert for accounts with credit problems? Can
parameters be set to flag accounts that exceed a certain balance or have
outstanding balances over 90 days old?
Preferences
can be set up to show advertisers past due and/or over the credit limit.
Contracts that are past due/over the credit limit will not be placed on the
log unless they are overridden by a user with the appropriate access.
If
credit blocks are possible within the system, who manages and has ultimate
control over those blocks.
Contracts
for advertisers with credit problems will not be placed on the log unless
approved/overridden by a user with the appropriate access.
You define the person who manages and has ultimate control over the
credit blocks by setting parameters and permissions on the user record.
Logs - Programming
How is new programming information entered into the system?
New programming is entered into
the system either by importing the information or entering it by hand.
After programs have been imported or entered by hand, they are
immediately placed on the schedules. Multiple stations can be specified on a
single program.
IMPORTING PROGRAMMING
How difficult is it to enter new programming for an
additional channel or headend?
The process for adding an
additional channel is quite simple. A new
channel is added to the channel definition table then programming is
entered as above. The length of time depends on the complexity of programming
for that channel. The time can
range from one to several hours.
Is the system totally electronic? Can ‘hard copy’
logs be printed?
The system can print hard copy logs in addition to
creating schedule files for various automation
systems. Logs can be in one of
many predefined formats, or you can define your
own.
Operations and Reconciliation
What automation equipment do you interface with?
Summit has interfaces to most analog and digital automation equipment. If
we don't already interface with your equipment, we can easily create a tight,
seamless interface to the equipment that best meets your needs. Click here
for a list of interfaces currently in use.
After
a log is finalized, how can changes be made and communicated to MCO?
After
the schedule is locked, the lock can be overridden by a user with sufficient
access, then a new log can be printed or an automation file produced.
This can be done within minutes of airtime if desired.
How
is the log reconciled?
If
you are using an automation
system, a file from the automation system is sent
to Summit and the reconciliation is done automatically.
If reconciliation is done manually, run times are changed appropriately
and missed spots are moved to make goods in edit
schedules.
Sales Management and Reports
How far in the future can avails be viewed?
The
avails
browser and reports show the current and future scheduled programming and
spots. Avails can be seen as far out in the future as the schedule is extended
(the schedule can be extended as far in the future as you like, even multiple
years)
What
other sales and management reports will the system provide?
There
are numerous sales and management reports and charts available: Inventory
Usage Reports, Sales
Reports, Sales
Report Charts, Traffic
Reports, Utility
Reports, and others.. See report
book online for details.
Can
reports be generated and printed at any time or are there processing
constraints?
Reports
can be generated at anytime, and always reflect the most current data entered
into the system.
Can
reports be generated and saved in various formats?
Reports
can be generated and saved in .txt, .xls, .rtf, .csv and other formats.
Can
reports be generated and emailed to a third party?
Yes.
How
much history can be stored by the system?
As
much history can be stored as your computer memory will allow
Are
reports available remotely?
Yes,
by using our eReport
module. Users simply request a report via email and it is returned to them. It
is access and password protected. Remote system access via various methods is
also possible. Contact Summit Support for details.
Can
report access be restricted so A/Es see only their contracts/clients/data?
Very
easily by setting up access restrictions on their user
record.
Billing and Accounts Receivable
How
are payments posted to the receivables?
To
post a payment to receivables, you select the advertiser or agency, enter the
payment amount, check number and then specify whether to apply to the oldest
invoices, click to select a specific invoice, or choose to carry a credit
balance.
How
does the system handle billing for non-traditional revenue sources…ie.
Sponsorships, billboards, packages, web advertising, etc.
Non-traditional
revenue sources are handled on the miscellaneous billing page of contract data
entry. These can be billed simultaneously with spots or on separate invoices.
Does
the system allow both broadcast and calendar billing?
Summit’s
system allows broadcast, calendar, end of schedule, end of flight, bill on
demand and many other billing options
Is
electronic invoicing available and compatible with Spotdata?
Electronic
invoicing (EDI) is available, and is compatible with Spotdata and others.
Does
the system provide a method of maintaining and accessing notes made in
conversations with clients?
Notes
made during conversations with clients can be maintained either in the contact
manager or in the notes section of the advertiser record.
Does
the system generate both invoices and statements?
Yes,
the system generates both invoices and statements. Statements are optional and
user configurable.
Can
an invoice from a prior period be printed? How far back can it go?
Yes,
an invoice from a prior period can be printed.
You can go as far back as you have kept history.
Are
Sales people able to review their aged accounts on-line? Is it in real time?
Sales
people can review their aged accounts in real time on-line.
Sales people’s access can be limited to their specific accounts.
Support and Maintenance
What about support?
24 x 7, of course. Not that someone is in the office all that time, but
someone is at the end of a pager or cellular after hours. Click on the support
button above for more information.
General
What modules comprise the system?
Glad you asked that! The modules
page of the online user
manual lists the modules in the system. Follow the links for more detail.
So, what does it cost?
It depends on the modules you purchase, the number of channels and headends
you want to insert on, the amount of training and consultation you want, and
whether you choose to purchase a license or lease the system. Installed cost
starts at around $9,000 or $600 per month.
What external system interfaces do you have?
Summit has interfaces to many external systems, for importing
programming, importing contracts and proposals, exporting avails, invoices,
programming, etc. Click here for
a list of interfaces currently in use.
What database engine does Summit use?
Summit uses the outstanding
Pervasive.SQL database engine from Pervasive
Software. Why did we choose the Pervasive.SQL engine? Click here.
What hardware/OS environments are available?
DOS or Windows clients; NT, Novell, or Linux client-server based systems, or standalone workstation
systems.
What are the hardware requirements for the system?
Nothing really special. Click here
for more information.
How do we get up and running on the Summit System?
See the Planning
and Implementation guide in the online user manual.
What versions of the system are available?
Three versions of the system, with varying capabilities and cost ranges,
are available: Cable-XT, Cable-XL, Cable-XS.
