Siemens IT Solutions and Services has successfully delivered a Digital Production system for ITV Productions, the programme production arm of ITV plc, the biggest commercial television network in the UK. Brought into design, build and install the tapeless system, Siemens will now provide support and maintenance to ITV Productions for the next three years.
The new system will significantly speed up the production of programmes made by ITV Productions from the South Bank-based London Studios, either for ITV or other broadcasters, by removing the inefficiencies in the current tape-based process. The installed hardware and software from Siemens IT Solutions and Services will convert incoming content into digital files, creating digital media assets that can be stored and retrieved from a central library.
From their desktop PCs, production staff will be able to access rushes, review and approve storyboards and rough cut edit, prior to finishing in conventional craft edit suites, using software and desktop tools from Cinegy. This software includes direct connection to video servers, digital archive and back-up solutions and rights notification for every step of the digital workflow. The advantage: it can be used as a database, multimedia browser, as a connection between online and offline edit, and between production and post production. It is also a web based technology that allows production staff to have secure access to the ITV system through a browser anywhere in the world.
Siemens will roll out the new system initially to 50 production staff in London.
