Sky Italia has developed a custom file-based workflow manager, built on the FlashNet open system architecture from Software Generation Limited (SGL). By using SGL’s XML-based API, Sky Italia has expanded the functionality of its archive and enabled integration with its in-house customised systems.
Sky Italia uses SGL FlashNet to archive video content inside a library and to restore it to a playback video server. Before it implemented the SGL archive, Sky had to use a playout video server buffer to create and hold online about 10 days of scheduled content. If the buffer became close to filling, the broadcaster had to delete clops to create space, and later re-ingest them from Digibeta or HDCam-SR tape.
With the new Flashnet workflow tools Sky Italia can archive data at ingest, edit and transmission stages, ensuring its material is safeguarded at all times. The ease of use of the SGL API, using XML, allowed Sky’s own internal engineering team to develop a custom workflow manager, tailored to its specific devices and workflows.
Further, the implementation of the API tools has allowed the broadcaster to complete its end-to-end file-based workflow, replacing the traditional inefficient and costly tape-based workflow. The workflow manager assists archiving and automatically restores content.
Howard Twine, SGL product manager, explained: “The open system architecture is possible because of SGL’s close relationship with all of the major industry vendors to provide customers with effective and efficient integrated solutions. Sky Italia is an excellent example of how simple the XML API is to use, creating its own custom workflow manager using in-house talent to write code that delivers an application specific tool that is easy for operators to use.”
