German public broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) has expanded its content management system by adopting the PlayoutControl module devised by Cologne’s Solutions for Media (S4M). Serving as a control tool for video servers, it will support MDR’s control room staff, writes David Fox.
Since the end of 2003, MDR has employed S4M’s Video Production Management System (VPMS) for its playout centre in Leipzig. The system plays a crucial role within the content management of the public station by controlling video capture and managing the storage requirements for MDRs high resolution video. VPMS also allows MDR operators to collect metadata and to both view and edit video in lower resolution (MPEG-1) at conventional PC workstations.
The VPMS PlayoutControl will allow MDR staff to pilot processes in the control room by for example playing out elements such as trailers, importing reports from tape to video server digitising content for archive on tape. The module is independent of S4M and can be used on a number of server systems.
