SeaChange Transforms Production Workflow

Through the advantages of open and extremely scalable Network Attached Storage (NAS) and patented single-copy storage, TSR is establishing universal shared storage for any device and any media file type in the capture, edit and playout chain.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, TSR is the dominant multichannel broadcaster serving French-speaking Swiss viewers. For its extensive production requirements, it has rolled out three SeaChange Broadcast MediaLibrary (BML) 24000ex systems to initially make more than 2,500 hours @IMX50-MXF of online storage available to EVS XT2 disk recorders (for live content acquisition), Avid NewsCutter XP NLEs (for post-production) and five SeaChange MediaClient codecs. SeaChange's inherent support of common IT standards will allow TSR to push EVS's non-proprietary IMX50-MXF XFile assets into more cost-efficient and centralized storage without transcoding.

Today, a five-node BML 24000ex cluster can provide more than 800 hours of storage in IMX50 format and support hundreds of IP-connected devices throughout a broadcast operation. A single media asset (program, graphic, audio, etc.) stored on a BML can be accessed concurrently by any number of editors and producers. Attached to MediaClients, the BML even supports simultaneous on-air delivery of Standard Definition and High Definition streams from a single media asset.

"The MediaLibrary/ MediaClient architecture is the core of our new tapeless environment and delivers tremendous workflow gains by increasing interoperability between broadcast applications," said Mr. Claude Mex, associate director of production, TSR. "We have been able to ensure that the exceptional performance of the storage server is extended to the overall solution through the high bandwidth transfer rates possible between the BML and EVS servers. We're finally capturing efficiencies and new capabilities that were unimaginable working with tape, while gaining a fully HD-ready infrastructure."

"Production, sports in particular, is probably broadcast's most challenging environment, and your workflow clearly determines how well you perform on-air in front of viewers," said Chris West, vice president of broadcast sales, SeaChange. "Using an open architecture to link content capture, production and on-air delivery, TSR will achieve optimal efficiency. We believe they have set up a breakthrough workflow that will be adopted by other broadcasters" - SeaChange.