Scalable media network solution provides seamless workflow and automation capabilities
Avid Technology, Inc. today announced that UK broadcaster GMTV has invested in a comprehensive end-to-end digital workflow for its newsroom and video production operations. The solution has replaced legacy systems and has allowed GMTV to redesign and optimise its workflow, while providing scalability for future expansion.
GMTV transmits its programme from 6-9.25am daily on ITV1 and produces a diverse mix of content including, news, sport, fashion, current affairs, entertainment, travel and children's weekday and weekend programming on multiple channels including the broadcaster's website. Its existing production infrastructure was out of date and had dictated a workflow that was inefficient. The technologies team at GMTV began researching a new system that could handle the dynamic nature of its programming, and provide file sharing capabilities and expandable storage and archive facilities. They also wanted to automate time-consuming background processes like ingest, to focus on creative work.
GMTV evaluated a number of systems but chose the Avid solution, as it was the only one that would truly integrate the entire company's workflow. In addition, since GMTV is part-owned by ITV and Disney, it was able to learn from ITV's successful Avid newsroom installation. The Childrens department and Promotions team have been using the Avid Interplay-based system for 18 months. Avid iNews was installed recently and GMTV's main programme will go live on the new system on 15th March 2009.
Peter Russell, Head of Technologies, GMTV, said, "Avid's key ability is to allow seamless workflow at each stage of the production process. We have increased the quality and quantity of our output, improved internal and external communications, and gained true control of our assets and data."
Russell continues: "Another huge benefit of the Avid system is its resilience. Historically at GMTV, even the most minor of failures have resulted in a complete shutdown of the operation. With Avid, hardware failures can be checked way before the point of failure and, thanks to Avid Unity ISIS' blade system, an unplanned failure at worst disrupts an isolated area of the server while the rest of the system can carry on working."
One of the areas GMTV is most proud of is the archive storage system. "The integration between the Sony Petasite, SGL Flashnet software and the Avid domain is impressive. Three manufacturers worked together to create this solution and it just works. This is a truly expandable asset that will become more and more important and valuable as its content grows," says Russell. It will be used to store content that is not required immediately, thus allowing GMTV to save space on the Avid Unity ISIS system while keeping all material in a tapeless environment. It will also be used for picture research and stock shots.
The system includes four Avid Unity ISIS® media network solutions with 64TB storage, plus an Avid iNEWS® newsroom management system, an Avid Interplay® workflow engine with Avid Interplay Access asset management clients and Avid Interplay Assist clients on all corporate user PCs, and over 40 editing systems and ingest stations. The system design was the result of intense collaboration between GMTV staff and the Avid Professional Services Group (PSG). The PSG constructed the entire workflow and provided training, consultancy and on-site support throughout the installation. GMTV has also invested in Avid support contracts for the entire system to ensure its long-term viability.
Simon Brett, Senior Sales Manager, UK & Ireland, Avid, said, "GMTV's unique broadcasting remit requires an ultra-efficient and reliable workflow. The Avid system allows the production team to focus on being creative, while the shared storage improves file sharing capabilities and enables them to create a solid archive. The collaborative design process between GMTV and Avid and the overall scalability of the system have resulted in a solution that meets GMTV's current and future requirements."
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