Method and system for initiating an emergency alert in a broadcast system

1. A method comprising:

generating a user alert user interface from a broadcast operations channel management system;

at the broadcast operations channel management system, obtaining guide channels eligible for an emergency alert from a traffic scheduling system;

sending a trigger from the broadcast operations channel management system to the traffic scheduling system; and

initiating an emergency alert event at the traffic scheduling system for the channels eligible in response to the trigger.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising setting a test indicator at the user interface.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising setting a test channel and wherein initiating an emergency alert event comprises initiating the emergency alert event on the test channel.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising updating an alert log.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising broadcasting the emergency alert event through a satellite.

6. A system comprising:

a traffic scheduling system; and

a broadcast operations channel management system providing a user alert user interface and obtaining guide channels eligible for an emergency alert from the traffic scheduling system;

said broadcast operations channel management system sending a trigger to the traffic scheduling system;

said traffic scheduling system initiating an emergency alert event for the channels eligible in response to the trigger.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein the user interface sets a test indicator at the user interface.

8. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein the user interface sets a test channel and wherein the emergency alert event is initiated on the test channel.

9. A system as recited in claim 6 further comprising an alert log.

10. A system as recited in claim 6 further comprising a satellite broadcasting the emergency alert event.