Tightrope Media Systems

Last week, the Tightrope team came together for our annual All Hands on Deck—a few days packed with reflection, big-picture thinking, and plenty of fun times.

It’s always one of the most energizing parts of our year. We celebrated wins, looked ahead to what’s next, and spent real time connecting as a team.

We don’t take these moments for granted. In a remote-first world, time together matters—and this one reminded us just how strong our team is when we’re in the same room.

It’s that time of year again—All Hands week at Tightrope!
The one week where the full crew gets together in person to talk shop, share wins, and spend some quality time that’s about work and not work.
There’s always strategy, a few laughs, and a lot of energy in the room—and it’s a big part of what makes this team tick year-round.
We wait for this week all year, and it never disappoints!

What an incredible week at the NATOA Annual Conference in New Orleans last week 🎉 Alongside sponsoring the opening reception, we set up something special during the Programming Sessions—live captions powered by MediaScribe.

Attendees could follow along on a monitor next to the stage or scan a QR code to view captions in their preferred language right from their phones. The response in the room was inspiring—proof of how impactful accessible tools can be for engagement.

Want to see how MediaScribe works? Get a tour here: https://go.mediascribe.ai/mediascribe-tour

Need to meet WCAG 2.1 AA for your meeting videos but not sure how to tackle descriptive audio? We’ve got you covered.

Join our free webinar and learn how local governments and PEG stations can build in-house workflows for creating compliant audio descriptions that enhance accessibility and meet ADA Title II requirements.

You'll get:
✅ Best practices for descriptive audio
✅ Clear examples of integrated, standard, and extended formats
✅ Step-by-step editing workflows in Final Cut Pro & Adobe Premiere
✅ Tips for managing dual-audio playback with Cablecast MAP

This session is perfect for PEG station teams, AV staff, and ADA coordinators working on accessible meeting coverage.

Getting Started with Audio Descriptions for WCAG 2.1 Compliance using Cablecast MAP
Thursday, August 14
2:00 PM Central

Register today to save your spot:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Getting Started with Audio Descriptions for WCAG 2.1 Compliance using Cablecast MAP. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Want to meet WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA Title II standards on your government meeting videos without outsourcing your audio descriptions? This intermediate-level webinar shows local governments and PEG stations how to create compliant audio descriptions in-house with no third-party vendors required. Join T...

Trying to make sense of WCAG compliance for your media content? You're not alone—and we’ve got some lessons to share.

Join Tightrope's upcoming webinar—Unlocking Accessibility: Lessons From Tightrope’s WCAG and VPAT Journey, on May 22, 1 pm CT.

We’ll break down what it really took to get our Cablecast Internet Channels WCAG-compliant and build a solid VPAT—captioning, contrast, screen readers, all of it.

Whether you're just starting out or deep into the process, this session will give you practical takeaways to help build your own roadmap to accessibility—and avoid some of the headaches we faced along the way.
Sign up here: https://go.trms.com/sm-unlocking-accessibility-webinar

As April comes to a close, we're looking back on one of the most intense—and rewarding—months of the year at Tightrope.

To wrap up a packed week on the NAB show floor—full of conversations, connections, and long hours on our feet— we did what any totally reasonable team would do: we went on a two-hour hike through the desert. Red Rocks has become our post-show tradition, and somehow, no matter how tired we are, we still show up—trail shoes on, legs questionable.

It’s equal parts exhausting and oddly refreshing—mostly thanks to the stunning views that somehow make you forget your legs are still in trade show mode.

Grateful for the team on and off site that gave it their all this month, and for the customers and partners who made NAB 2025 such a success. Onward!

Municipalities across the country are expanding their use of accessibility tools to ensure content for all—because inclusive communication is more than a compliance checkbox.

From closed captioning to in-room and mobile-friendly captions with multilingual support, cities are adopting smarter solutions that reach every resident, regardless of hearing ability or language.

What does it take to deliver accessible civic content—and who’s already doing it well?

Learn how one Minnesota media center partnered with city leadership to lead the way in captioning, and explore the tools your city can use to improve access and engagement:

Content for All: Municipalities Are Expanding Use of Accessibility Tools | Cablecast From city council meetings to public forums, digital accessibility is no longer optional. Learn how municipalities are leveraging captions and multilingual tools to boost community engagement.

Scenes from Happy Hours past...good times, great people, and unforgettable memories.
Join us this year for more laughs, mingling, and a well-earned break from the NAB show floor. Great food, cold drinks, and plenty of familiar faces await.
April 7 | 5 PM
RSVP now to get on the guest list! ➡️ https://go.cablecast.tv/sm-nab-2025-happy-hour

Effortless accessibility is here.

Meet MediaScribe, Tightrope’s latest plug-and-play solution designed to break down language and accessibility barriers—without disrupting existing workflows.

What is MediaScribe?
- Real-time captions & translations for government meetings
- In-room display, mobile access, & broadcast integration
- Simple controls for non-technical staff
- Seamless meeting transcription & archiving

Already helping city and county operations across the country, MediaScribe ensures that every resident can stay informed and engaged.

Get a first look at what MediaScribe can do here: https://go.cablecast.tv/sm-mediascribe-intro-at-nab-2025

See it live at NAB Show Booth W2615—and be among the first to pre-order!

Tightrope Media Systems Launches MediaScribe In-Room Caption and Real-Time Translation Service with Personal Device Integration at NAB 2025 | Cablecast New Captioning Solution Pushes to In-Room Displays, Personal Devices, City Cable Channels, and Streaming Apps for Expanded Government Meeting Access

Big things are happening at Cablecast as we head into 2025!

With President Steve Israelsky retiring, Tightrope CEO and co-founder JJ Parker will step into a more active role as CEO of Cablecast. He’ll be joined by Dana Healy as COO and Ray Tiley as CTO—two familiar faces who’ve been instrumental in shaping what Cablecast is today.

Dana’s 23 years of community media experience have helped expand our reach to municipalities while transforming operations and customer experiences. Ray, with 15 years at Cablecast, has driven the evolution of our products from cable playout to streaming, VOD, and beyond.

Together with JJ, this team is shaping an exciting future for Cablecast-and with something big on the horizon ahead of NAB Show 2025, there’s even more to come.

Learn more about what’s next: https://go.cablecast.tv/cablecast-announce-new-leadership

After a remarkable 45-year career in the cable and community media industries, Steve Israelsky is hanging up his hat as President of Cablecast Community Media at the end of this year.

Steve has been the steady hand guiding Cablecast’s evolution, from cable playout to live streaming and OTT platforms, always staying true to what matters most: empowering communities and putting customer needs first. For those who’ve worked with Steve, you know his leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about heart, vision, and a knack for making big ideas happen.

As we celebrate his well-earned retirement, we can’t help but smile knowing his legacy will continue to shape what’s next for Cablecast. Join us in thanking Steve for his years of leadership and wishing him all the best in his next adventure.

Read more about Steve’s incredible journey here: https://go.cablecast.tv/sm-steve-retirement-announcement