Thomson Unveils Enhancements To Its ContentShare2 Media Asset and Workflow Management System
Using Automation and a Tasked-Based Software Architecture, Multichannel Facilities Can Now Be More Productive Than Ever
With a unique task-based user interface, ContentShare2 helps media companies handle not only content and assets but also workflow and administrative processes. Unlike other solutions on the market, this unique platform helps customers to manage their infrastructure according to operational processes, instead of being forced to change the way they work because of rigid technical requirements and proprietary solutions.
This new IT-centric architecture uses industry standard computer technology to support a wide range of administrative and trafficking activities as well as the cost-effective handling of individual programs, an entire day's worth of scheduling for multiplatform repurposed content, and the management of technical resources. This helps users minimize downtime and boost productivity.
Extending far beyond the mere repurposing of content, ContentShare2 tracks media throughout its entire lifecycle (from ingest to playout with all the production tools used through each phase of its lifecycle) and instructs traditional broadcast and IT-centric systems on when and how to process and distribute these clips.
It can also assign digital watermarks to specific pieces of content, and ensure proper usage by adding customized encryption techniques to protect against piracy. Should the workflow experience any equipment problems, ContentShare2 can send alarms indicating resource limitations as well as diagnose the overall impact on the workflow chain.
This also includes the ability to track thousands of clips — in a variety of formats and signal types — in a centralized library and have them immediately available to hundreds of users' desktops with a simple click of the mouse.
"With ContentShare2, Thomson has taken facility management and operational efficiency to a whole new level," said Patrick Montliaud, Senior Vice President of Thomson's Networks and Integration Solutions business unit. "Never before has such an architecture been available to the industry in such a cohesive way. ContentShare2 solves many of the problems faced by content distributors today, especially the issue of sending content simultaneously to multiple platforms while taking into account all of the various rights issues associated with that content that have to be addressed."
Tasked-Based Architecture
The ContentShare2 system's main architecture is based on a core Workflow Engine and a Media Asset Management Framework. Within these two layers, a variety of third-party solutions, individual products and software applications, and legacy subsystems can be managed and used to its greatest advantage. The Workflow Engine might include the operation of a group of edit systems among a shared storage network as well as system-wide equipment monitoring, while the Media Asset Management Framework delivers proxy files and metadata information to support these systems and maintain team efficiency.
Leveraging this innovative workflow engine and multifaceted framework, ContentShare2 addresses all of the various processes along the production and distribution chain while providing a series of individual user interfaces and software features for each task. This cuts down on user error and increases productivity significantly.
Leveraging Proven Systems
While developing this sophisticated architecture, Thomson has also incorporated many of its field proven technologies and systems that have been successful with customers around the world. This includes the Thomson Grass Valley NetCentral™ remote monitoring application, the Thomson Shield content security platform, and Thomson's Professional Services division — which provides consulting expertise, commissioning and after-sales support. Customers can also request preferred third-party software tools, which can be easily integrated into the ContentShare2 platform and be made to work seamlessly together with Thomson's applications to streamline workflows.
Pricing and Availability
The new ContentShare2 architecture will be available in March 2008 and is priced according to system complexity.
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