IMD digital delivery takes off with Telestream

London-based IMD has deployed Telestream FlipFactory and ClipMail products as key elements in a digital video delivery service being offered to UK broadcasters, it has been announced.
Building on its history as the dominant delivery service for music and advertising to UK radio stations, IMD has undertaken an extensive development program to ensure that Telestream - the leading provider of digital media access solutions for the broadcast and entertainment industry - integrates fully with broadcasters. The move will see broadcast-quality delivery of TV commercials and music videos to television stations in the UK and Ireland over IMD's private IP network infrastructure.
The IMD video delivery service replaces the costly, manual dubbing and delivery of videotape with a more efficient digital distribution solution. Material arrives from the post-production houses either on a master tape or as a file transfer direct to IMD. From this, the ingest process creates a 50-iframe digital master which is stored on an Omneon video server. Two Telestream FlipFactory servers automatically flip to the Telestream Clipmail header or the target format specific to each broadcaster’s playout server.
IMD then distributes the material over its VPN to dedicated servers located at the broadcaster’s premises. The files are then presented to a Telestream ClipMail Pro via the remote folder option, where they are cued up and transferred to the playout server. This process can be controlled manually with an edit controller or by an automation system.
John Bolton, Technical Director at IMD, said: "ClipMail Pro has been instrumental in the successful deployment of our new video delivery service. The latest ClipMail version 5.0 software, with enhanced playback control, enables broadcasters to control the ClipMail just like a VTR, so minimal procedural changes are needed to take advantage of a digital file-based delivery service."
The new digital delivery service provides a number of advantages for IMD, its clients and the broadcasters. For music companies, videos are distributed at a lower cost, with increased security and less risk of unauthorized copying. For ad agencies, commercial distribution costs are lowered, compared to traditional videotape methods. For the broadcaster, content is received more quickly, in a format that is ready for playout - without the need to change any operational procedures.
David Heppe, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Telestream, said: "We are delighted that IMD has selected Telestream’s automated media encoding and delivery products as key elements enabling the successful launch of their new digital video service."
(gmcg)