ITV Selects AmberFin Unified QC For New High Capacity File-based HD Workflow

ATG Broadcast & AmberFin Ease Transition to File-based Workflows at UK’s Biggest Commercial TV Network

Basingstoke, UK(01 Mar 2012)

 

AmberFin and its UK channel partner, ATG Broadcast, today announce a contract with UK-based television network, ITV. As part of a strategic technology transformation designed to broaden the application of high definition file-based workflows at ITV, AmberFin's iCR Unified QC (UQC) system is being used in projects that focus on the high definition production and distribution of leading ITV series, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

ATG Broadcast contributed to the project by installing the hardware infrastructure to support the operation of AmberFin's iCR software system.

ITV's strategy sees the creation of a new high capacity file-based workflow that enables the movement of complete programmes throughout its enterprise operations. This means that large capacity media files containing entire episodes shot in high definition can be shared between ITV's London, Leeds and Manchester sites as well as with service partners such as Technicolor and ITFC. 

The application of AmberFin UQC is important as it ensures that all the HD master files created within this tapeless workflow environment are guaranteed top quality and fit for purpose within all areas of ITV's broadcast and electronic media operations.

"These two pilot projects are part of a long-term strategy that sees us refreshing the way that we share, manage, distribute and exploit content throughout ITV's operations," commented Andrew Ioannou, Director of Strategy (Technology) at ITV. "We need rigorous QC in our workflow to ensure that any media file produced is fit to broadcast. We selected AmberFin as our QC partner since their technology is a great fit for the business as we move forward into file-based workflows."

 

AmberFin UQC

AmberFin UQC provides a unique approach to quality control, combining multiple tools for baseband checks during tape ingest, file-based QC after ingest, and overall operator-controlled QC, including annotation and mark-up. 

 

It features the seamless integration of two industry-leading tools: Snell's Hyperion and Digimetric's Aurora so that all aspects of QC are now integrated within a single unified timeline to give users an instant and highly accurate visual display of potential quality issues throughout the ingest and transcoding process. QC processes can be implemented at any point in the lifecycle of an asset, using the most appropriate technique. Easy to read reports and a range of graphic displays aid operators easily identify the source, nature and position of an error with a thumbnail of the frame where it occurred.

 

Snell's Hyperion provides real-time baseband QC on ingest and automatically checks for VTR playback issues and common audio and time code faults; this ensures that users do not spend valuable time capturing hours of material only to find out later that it was faulty.  Digimetric's Aurora provides file-based QC after ingest and checks for common file wrapper anomalies to prevent expensive mistakes.  Aurora tools also automatically check for a variety of compliance violations, including container metadata and delivery metrics, thereby reducing the burden on operators.  

 

Because QC requirements vary from facility to facility and from project to project, each application requires a different level of manual intervention. To that effect, AmberFin has developed mark-up and annotation tools that allow operators to highlight potential issues, make recommendations and provide information that can be sent on to downstream applications for action.  Human readable reports with time code and thumbnail references can be created and exported, simplifying the decision-making process, while machine readable XML reports can be exported to DAM, MAM and automation systems.

 

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About ITV

 

ITV is the largest commercial television network in the UK. It is the home of popular television from the biggest entertainment events, to original drama, major sport, landmark factual series and independent news. It operates a family of channels including ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 and CITV which are broadcast free-to-air on analogue (ITV1 only), Freeview, digital satellite (Sky/ Freesat) and cable. ITV is also focused on delivering its programming across multiple platforms including itv.com, video on demand on cable television and other ‘closed' platforms, mobile devices and games consoles. ITV Studios produces and sells programmes and formats in the UK and worldwide, and comprises of ITV's UK and international production operations, international distribution, home entertainment, publishing, merchandising and licensing.

 

 

About ATG Broadcast 

ATG Broadcast (www.atgbroadcast.com) is one of the world's most successful providers of high-end reliable and easy-to-operate integrated systems for broadcasters and programme makers alike. 

 

ATG Broadcast's engineering skills extend from front-end studio systems to transmission-based systems for multiple deployment platforms. ATG Broadcast offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including workflow design, project planning, equipment installation, software configuration, commissioning, documentation and on-site training. 
ATG Broadcast is part of Dan Technologies' Systems Integration Division, one of Europe's leading suppliers of audio, video, transmission products and digital media solutions. 

The Dan Technologies Systems Integration Division covers a wide spectrum of operations ranging from designing, installing and commissioning studios, playout centres, news-rooms and satellite systems to providing the complete infrastructure of television and radio stations for major broadcasters and service providers worldwide. 

The Dan Technologies Group operates from offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam and Dubai. 

 

 

About AmberFin

AmberFin is a company at the heart of solving file-based workflow problems for content owners, broadcasters, sports organizations and post-production houses. The AmberFin Media Factory, based on the iCR family of modular software products, digitizes and transforms new and archived content, combining a service oriented design philosophy with intelligent use of cost-effective generic IT. This enables customers to save time, increase revenues and grow in-line with business demands.

 

Unique to the Media Factory system, AmberFin's industry first approach to Quality Control, known as Unified Quality Control (UQC), introduces a QC mark that brings a new level of trust to media assets. UQC uniquely combines an automated process with a human touch, enabling more efficient and effective decision-making and new levels of confidence in the file creation and transformation processes.

 

AmberFin has experienced growth of 90% in the last year thanks to hundreds of iCR systems being deployed worldwide. Systems that are trusted where quality matters by some of the world's leading media organizations including Sony Pictures, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, ZDF, NRK, National Geographic, BT, Discovery and Warner Brothers.

 

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