BBC World Service has expanded its use of the Pharos Mediator content management platform at its UK headquarters. An auxiliary system has been established to provide production and playout support in the event of an interruption to normal operations.
“Mediator is already used for ingest, media workflow, transfer management, router control and playout operations at Bush House,” comments Nigel Fry, Head of Transmission & Distribution at BBC World Service. “Our objective was to ensure that core programme output could be kept on air in an emergency affecting our normal operations. A rules-based data export ensures that the backup system is kept up-to-date with content which can be used at any time.”
The new configuration can be operated on a push-from-main or pull-from-auxiliary basis. Both the new and the existing Mediator installations are based on an enterprise architecture providing user-access from PC workstations running standard web browsers. Task-specific Web-based display screens guide operators through workflow and allow desktop search and browse of any material.”
Pharos Mediator is a complete broadcast content management and workflow platform capable of handling studio control, post-production and multichannel playout. Web-browser-based user interfaces running on desktop computers provide operators with the tools they need in a style which is easy to understand, including content browsing, task prioritising and automatic alerts. Pharos Mediator manages content efficiently for media logistics, streamlining library management, ingest and quality assessment, right through to compliance, promotions management and approvals.
The BBC World Service is the worlds leading international broadcaster. It provides programmes and content for radio, television, online and mobile phones in English and 31 other languages. Hundreds of reporters and specialist correspondents bring impartial news reports, documentaries and analysis from around the globe. BBC World Service also offers a mix of other programming from arts, business and culture to drama, science and sport. BBC World Service is one part of the collected international-facing television, radio and online services which form BBC Global News.
Founded in 1997, Pharos has pioneered collaborative desktop workflow and integrated third-party infrastructure management. Pharos solutions today handle millions of media assets across hundreds of television channels and an increasing number of new media distribution networks. Pharos is an open company embracing open standards. Pharos software architecture, integration and support services enable disparate broadcast and IT processes to be unified across the enterprise. The unique Mediator content management platform, with its integrated Playtime playout and Pilot control options, provides efficient tools to deliver multi-format content globally.