PROVYS. Way Over The Top.

Readers of this magazine will recall the March issue describing how Provys, the leading designer of broadcast management software, had given rise to all-year midnight sun for Nordic VOD, writes Martin Junek, Marketing Director, PROVYS.

This year's NAB proved that dramatic and rapid changes are coming in the way TV and video content is produced, marketed, distributed and consumed. We have also learned that most broadcasters would rather use the term OTT (Over the Top Television) collectively for all their streaming services.

Recent fast developments in video content delivery are forcing broadcasters to adapt and change their workflows in the field of non-linear delivery. In the early days, when broadcasters were starting to offer some content on their web sites, they usually administered these publications using easily available tools, such as Microsoft Excel. But soon, the amount of content and complexity of rights to use this content caused these operations to get out of control. In the best case, many rights expired unused. In the worst cases, broadcasters were exposed to high penalties for using content improperly.

Having OTT in mind, several major public and private broadcasters in Europe have chosen Provys for their solid reputation of providing services which always exceed expectations. In addition to standard issues of linear TV workflow management, Provys consultants and developers started to be asked to develop non-linear operation frameworks, which would allow any traditional broadcaster to start and professionally manage their OTT services.

"We always try to keep the 'win-win' rule when we receive new demands from our clients. They help us in defining the exact requirements for our developers. Our software then becomes better and more competitive, being enriched by the brand new features," says Magdalena Bernhardova, Provys's Senior Consultant.

There are two basic areas where the VOD/OTT management software has been developed: planning and rights. In this issue, we will focus on planning and in one of the following editions, we will concentrate on rights which are becoming more and more complex.

The OTT planning system has to be designed independently from linear scheduling, but it must take all related linear aspects into consideration. At the same time, rights to use content in this non-linear manner define the plan. Generally, broadcasters require as much planning automation as possible, both for VOD exclusive content and for content derived from linear broadcasting. The basic strategy is to broadcast as much content as possible for which the broadcaster holds rights. And the VOD period is usually exploited to its maximum.

In Provys, OTT planning can be performed either automatically or manually. In the case of manual planning, two strategic workflows are possible. The first forward-thinking way is to plan the content distribution in one step together with registration of rights for this new content. This task usually goes hand-in-hand with the registration of new linear rights in the system. Possible changes in publishing may be performed later when needed.

The second way offers independence from the linear operations and is based on a powerful search tool for available rights according to selected criteria and consecutive planning. Both workflows need good terminology definition. Some of this terminology, such as VOD Period, comes easy without much need for explanation. Some terms require a little more. VOD Channel has its own unique content and could be, for example, an original in-house mix of SVOD, Preview and Catch-up services which can also be available for external operators. VOD Plan means a summary of all the content available for publication in a given period with appropriate rights. Compiling a VOD Plan is actually the first step in OTT planning. Naturally, the second step is allocating different content to different pages (VOD Pages) such as: Recent Arrivals, Premier Content, Last Chance, Highly Recommended, etc. Another important term is VOD Request which means specific scheduling of a title for publication on a VOD Channel in a given distribution mode. There are many other technical terminologies, often used as names of entities, mainly in the realm of programmers and experts.

OTT Planner by Provys is being continuously developed, and some of its features have already defined the standards for the future of non-linear broadcasting. Among these features we can name: the simultaneous display of VOD Plans, flexible planning periods, a graphic planning display with adaptive time axes, a special panel for filtering, support for manual planning, and a wide range of tools for planning serial episodes which are usually bound by a complex set of rights.

Last but not least, good self-promotion planning has always been the elixir of life for every broadcaster. The future will show whether it makes sense to promote non-linear content on a non-linear platform but Provys supports both VOD promos on a linear platform and TV promos on VOD. In short, Provys OTT solutions can revitalise the health of broadcasting operations leading to a total rejuvenation of the whole industry and a long and healthy future business life.

www.provys.com

This article is also available to read at BFV online here, page 16.

(JP/LM)