Press release

[ BoxID 188606, Software ]  

ARD Broadcasting Studios Extend Audio and Video Replication with DAVID Systems

(pressebox) Munich, 04.07.2008 - ARD and DAVID Systems (Munich, Germany) extend their long-time partnership in building a sophisticated infrastructure for the distribution of digital media. For many years, audio files have been exchanged digitally at ARD through DAVID Systems' Moves Media technology. In 2007, the video file transfer went into regular operations. Besides the ARD stations and the public broadcasters in Switzerland and Austria, many ARD foreign bureaus have joined the replication network. Direct integration into the tapeless workflows and existing IT infrastructure of the broadcasters has been the main goal of the different projects. Now file transfer is as simple as sending an e-mail. With the tapeless IP and network based file exchange, the ARD also took advantage of faster transfer speeds and reduced costs. In the various projects, media files are not only pushed to the addressee but can be researched in online data pools, ordered and pulled.

Split into several projects, the successful collaboration between ARD Sternpunkte, the ARD central office for content distribution, and DAVID Systems that started with audio file transfer in 1997 is being widely expanded. Since 2007, ARD Sternpunkte, the ARD affiliate organizations, and the public broadcasters in Austria and Switzerland have collaborated intensely to further develop the broadband audio file transfer (BAFT). Video file transfer, developed in conjunction with the German Institute for Broadcasting Technologies (IRT), started regular operations in late 2007. The main benefit of DAVID Systems' Replicator and Mailbox IP software is that the distribution of a media file is as simple as sending an e-mail. The software is based on standard IT technology and the existing ARD high-capacity ATM network and Internet connections are used for the transfer.

DAVID Systems' applications and technologies also integrate seamlessly into many tapeless workflows and allow transferring data and metadata to the central servers and archives - another advantage utilized by many of the ARD broadcasters.

BAFT allows researching, pre-listening and entry ordering from the different data pools via IP connections. Files are transferred including the metadata and accompanying data like graphics or text (if available). Examples of these pools are the Music Promotion Network with all new publications from the music industry, digital sampling of archives, and the exchange of programs via broadband such as radio plays and features. The ARD TV audio pool provides radio editors and journalists with top-quality downloadable audio material from ARD TV productions for trailers and reviews.

Another system, the EBU Euroradio Concert Exchange, transfers concert recordings from a station to the ARD EBU-Sternpunkt from where they are distributed to one or more ARD regional sites. Additionally, the recording is stored in a data pool for researching, pre-listening and ordering by other editors. Because of the enormous file sizes, these recordings are transferred overnight when more bandwidth is available.

The tapeless IP and network based exchange of audio and video data saves costs and significantly increases speed. The combination of WAN, LAN and IP transfer tools also integrates the foreign correspondent offices all over the world. For some of the ARD regional studios, DAVID Systems' Moves Media applications also integrate different databases, video servers and archives.

For more information about DAVID Systems and its products and services, please visit the company online at www.davidsystems.com.

Contact person:

Mrs. Heike Mittmann
HighTech communications GmbH
Phone: +49 (89) 500778-20
Fax: +49 (89) 500778-78
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Mr. Peter Kronfeld
HighTech communications GmbH
Phone: +49 (89) 500778-20
Fax: +49 (89) 500778-78
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DAVID Systems GmbH
Phone: +49 (89) 540139-0
Fax: +49 (89) 540139-50
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