Pharos first at Broadcast Asia 2008
Pharos will attend Broadcast Asia for the first time and showcase the latest in integrated content management, multi-channel automation and control. With over 10 years experience, Pharos is now the UK market leader in desktop content management and workflow for broadcasters and service providers in television, radio and new media platforms such as VoD, mobile and IPTV.
Pharos Mediator is a high performance platform for media management and desktop workflow. Mediator offers greater efficiency in multi-channel, multi-platform and multi-site broadcast by unifying workflow and operations under a single enterprise with browse at every desktop. Mediator integrates library management, ingest, QC, compliance, post production and playout providing end-to-end web based desktop operations.
Mediator offers a number of advantages for the complex distribution requirements in Asia. Diverse international target markets often require multi-language audio and subtitles and Mediator provides the most efficient end to end workflow for these environments.
New: Enhanced Workflows for Promotions and Channel Branding
Pharos Mediator now integrates a wider range of post production and graphics systems to provide a more efficient workflow for series and channel promotions production. Apple Final Cut Pro, Quantel and Avid can be combined using Mediator workflow, transcoding and transfer management. Mediator browse is used for shot selection from anywhere in the system including library, online and archive. This can be passed directly to post production for editing, enabling more promotions to be produced within existing post production infrastructures. Additional programming can be delivered more efficiently for new multi-language, HD, IPTV, VoD, interactive and mobile services. Mediator can manage promotions in parallel with compliance and multi-language operations to provide a very efficient approvals process. Mediator compliance and promotions workflows based around Final Cut Pro will used throughout the show.
New: Pharos Mediator Compliance Workflows
This new option for Mediator provides streamlined workflows to manage both technical and editorial compliance which is often a key requirement for broadcasters and service providers in Asian markets. Content can be assessed frame-accurately for technical QC and problem content can be passed for technical correction or referred to a media supervisor. Content likely to offend target audiences can be flagged with frame-accurate markers and comments using Mediator browse, and then passed directly for editing.
Compliance decisions can now be made in conjunction with the advanced schedule, channel region or watershed restrictions for multichannel operations. Specific audience and channel watershed times can also be flagged in advance by Mediator to compliance operators by downloading the schedule into Mediator.
Using Pharos Mediator Browse and metadata at the desktop for compliance operations offers significant time-saving over stand-alone NLE, tape or DVD based operations. Mediator can manage compliance and parallel promotions and multi-language operations to provide a very efficient workflow. Managing compliance within Mediator workflows reduces errors or mistakes which can result in delays and penalties for broadcasters and service providers working internationally. Mediator also provides a complete audit trail for all compliance editing so that recurring problems can be reviewed and changes to compliance procedures can be implemented in a controlled manner.
New: Pharos Mediator Integrated Approvals
Pharos Mediator now offers improved management of the transmission approval process. Mediator will inform producers and channel managers of new material such as edits and promos awaiting their approval. This is a significant requirement in Asian markets where international and multicultural content often needs approval by specific producers and channel managers who are familiar with the target language and styles; Mediator ensures that the right content is sent to the correct manager for approval.
Channel managers can view, review and approve the new clips using Mediator browse or in high resolution. The workflow history of any new material is available during approval. Mediator offers an audit trail of approvals so that any errors or mistakes can be identified and rectified. A more efficient and secure desktop approvals process using Mediator helps scale up operations for channel expansion and handles the additional workload for IPTV and mobile services. Managing approvals within Mediator reduces errors or mistakes which can result in delays and penalties for broadcasters and service providers.
