feature automation & asset management
The task of selecting a system that will support
Feature sponsored by
the ambition of most broadcasters to use digital
Harris.
or tapeless workflows is not getting easier. The
‘solution’ that is most often proposed in this
area is some form of MAM, although it is
sometimes difficult to identify how these would
be beneficial. Peter Gallen, director of product
management at TMD, reports.
Broadcast operations
made simpler
N
o two MAM systems in benefits from such a deployment. are prone to error, not least because
the market today are Commonly recognisable high level each operator needs to know what to
easily compared because processes such as library, ingest, QC, do and where to find the media. Such
they usually start from a repurposing, archive, post production a method of working is unlikely to
different perspective and and enrichment will, we hope, be an operate at maximum efficiency and is
are trying to solve aid to designing solutions where the also unlikely to be reliable. If that
different operation problems. On top of complexity implicit in such processes is, weren’t bad enough, this style of
this, each product’s capabilities are at least in the first instance, hidden. working provides very little feedback
expressed in terms that are not always This model should help in supplier and in order to determine the status
understood and this creates a cloud of
Peter Gallen,
selection where the available support of any process, supervisors have to
uncertainty about potential outcomes
director of product
management at
for a number of high level applications contact each operator in turn.
which, in turn, makes it difficult to TMD. should allow at least a first stage The improvements that a MAM
understand what is on offer. A comparison of one system against system offers when combined with a
common error in this area has been to another. managed workflow engine can be
promote MAM products as enterprise However, the element that is so seen in Diagram 1.
solutions which makes the task of often undervalued is the availability of
defining a practical solution even more a workflow tool that provides the
difficult. Many prospective users are left reliability and accountability that is
asking themselves ‘where do we start?’ required to deliver the maximum
What we have proposed is to think benefits. The workflow is the essential
of the solution in terms of a set of component that ensures that real
generic applications that our system business processes are delivered and
supports to help prospects select how
The TMD MAM
insulates the operation staff from the
and where they are likely to receive
solution.
underlying technology and the assets
themselves. A system where access to
assets is largely available via the
workflow system and not on an ad
Diagram 1: The improvements that a MAM
hoc basis helps to increase accuracy system offers when combined with a
and accountability.
managed workflow engine.
The typical process illustrated in
Efficiency and workflow Diagram 1 is controlled by a MAM
system that includes a workflow
Traditionally, broadcast operations are manager. For reasons of simplicity
very dependent on paperwork. Each the MAM and workflow elements are
process is managed by moving pieces separated. In this case the customer
of paper around, or worse still by places his order, which is allocated to
verbal communication. Such processes the workflow manager by the MAM
34 l ibe l march/april 2009 l www.ibeweb.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48