In broadcasting, a tally is a visual signal that indicates the live/on-air status of cameras, devices, or media sources during production.
A tally is a fundamental communication tool in live broadcasting and production control rooms. It typically uses a red or green light (often called a tally light) attached to cameras or other production equipment, informing operators, presenters, and crew about the live/on-air status of a source.
Tally systems prevent mistakes in live production—such as looking into the wrong camera or cutting to the wrong source—by giving clear, real-time feedback on which input is active. Beyond lights, modern tally implementations also extend into software, dashboards, and IP workflows, ensuring that every stakeholder—from studio staff to remote teams—has visibility into what’s live and what’s queued.
What Nevion Does
Nevion extends the concept of tally from hardware lights to a fully integrated, software-defined feature within modern broadcast control systems:
- VideoIPath Broadcast Control: Supports tally management as part of its device and signal control functions. Operators can configure and automate tally signaling across IP-based and hybrid broadcast environments.
- NMOS IS-07 Support: Nevion integrates tally within NMOS’s “Events & Tally” specification, enabling standardized tally signaling across multi-vendor IP networks.
- Hybrid Workflows: Nevion ensures tally signaling works across both SDI-based legacy infrastructures and IP-based SMPTE ST 2110 workflows, bridging traditional and modern production setups.
- Scalable & Remote: With VideoIPath, tally status can be communicated not only to in-studio cameras but also to remote production teams and cloud-based control rooms.