1. Copilot: Conversational AI Meets Broadcast Operations

The headline feature of VSN CREA 26.2 is Copilot, an AI assistant powered by Large Language Models (LLM) integrated directly into the main interface. Designed specifically for broadcast operators, Copilot enables seamless interaction with the platform using natural language to:

• Instant Catalog Search: Query content by title, genre, or complex metadata fields with clickable inline results in the chat.

• Broadcasting Rights Verification: Instantly check active acquisition contracts and licensing restrictions prior to scheduling.

• Schedule Inspection & Conflict Detection: Automatically scan channel grids to detect programming overlaps and scheduling inconsistencies.

• Two-Phase Action Safeguard (Propose-Confirm): For operations that alter data (such as playlist creation or block updates), Copilot first proposes the change and awaits explicit operator confirmation before execution, ensuring full operational safety.

• Enterprise Governance & Multi-Tenant Support: Securely stored LLM API keys, full audit logs per tenant, rate limiting, and locale-aware conversational context.

2. UI & Visual Redesign: Dark Theme & Collapsible Sidebar

Tailored for high-intensity environments like Master Control Rooms (MCR), VSN CREA introduces a comprehensive Global Dark Theme:

• Persistent User Theme Preference: Easily toggle between Light and Dark modes, maintaining your preference across all modules (linear scheduling, catalog, non-linear content, advertising, and analytics).

• Rail Mode Sidebar: The administration sidebar can now collapse into a space-saving rail mode showing only icons with hover tooltips, maximizing workspace on multi-monitor broadcast setups.

• Unified Controls: Refreshed login pages, global shell, date/time pickers, spinners, forms, and data tables for reduced eye strain and a modern UI.

3. International Reach: Native DStv EPG Export

Developed in collaboration with Miramar / Rede Moçambique, version 26.2 expands the EPG export module with native support for the DStv format (synergytoepg XML). Broadcasters operating on DStv-compatible playout platforms can now automate standard-compliant EPG generation with flexible field mappings, custom synopsis length limits, and fallback mechanisms.

4. System Fixes & Performance Enhancements (v26.2.260.7)

Alongside new features, this release addresses key technical fixes reported by clients and QA:

• Resolved database locking issues during concurrent metadata editing.

• Fixed historic imports (MCOM) to respect the channel's configured start-of-day time instead of assuming midnight.

• Corrected FTP file path composition for paths starting with a slash.

• Enhanced stability in MAM segment re-synchronization and auxiliary graphics handling.

Technical Notes: Recommended browsers: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Requires Windows Server with IIS, .NET Framework 4.6.1+, and SQL Server. When integrating with VSNExplorer MAM, both systems should be updated simultaneously.