Ascent Media Consulting Services introduce digital workflow blueprint

At NAB Ascent Media Consulting Services introduced its digital workflow blueprint for broadcasters making the final conversion towards an electronic broadcast environment.
The blueprint outlines a methodology and practical guide for broadcasters and operators considering emerging and high profile technologies such as mobile TV, IPTV, multi-channel broadcasting, and the final push towards HD.
The strategy is driven by a need for efficiencies and cost savings, and includes technical healthcheck and auditing, change management, legacy integration and concept solution design.
“Scale, complexity, the need for long term interoperability between technologies, and the people and processes involved in implementation make transitioning to new technologies a massive risk, without the expertise, experience and knowledge that comes from a partner like Ascent Media," explained Steve France, VP Consulting Services.
Research commissioned by the practice reveals that the recent (and in some cases ongoing) transition to digital highlights some significant issues for broadcasters, operators and service providers as multiple distribution media and formats come into play.
“There are several practical areas to consider when approaching the evolution of today’s electronic media technology, and they are inexperience in a given area, lack of time and resources to drive the initiative, and most importantly, the multiple facets of a particular issue,” continued France. “The emergence of multiple channels, formats and distribution platforms has become the most critical issue facing the media industry today, and Ascent is ideally positioned to guide customers through this towards an all-digital future.”
Some of the research’s key findings in the UK revealed that:

• 75% of broadcast facilities in the UK are still in transition from analogue to end-to-end digital workflow;
• Only 26% of UK TV broadcast licensees have redesigned all of their organisational structures and processes to suit new, digital systems;
• The primary obstacle to the digital transition for structures and processes in over 60% of broadcasters is lack of time and resources;
• The motivation for systems redesign to incorporate new digital technologies is almost equally divided between opportunities for growth, and the desire to achieve cost savings;
• 76% of broadcasters plan to extend their deployment of new technologies or digital functions over the next 12 months;
• Viewing, logging, libraries and media management remain an analogue stronghold, with over 20% of UK broadcasters still having analogue systems in that part of their digital workflow.

Ascent Media's Consulting Services, created as part of the Ascent Media Network Services division in September 2005, provides advisory and consulting expertise to a range of content owners and providers.
Using the group's reach into the broadcast industry, leading UK broadcasting companies were contacted as part of the research, to provide a barometer for digital transition within the industry.
(SP/GB)