ESPN Streamlines Content Exchange for ACC Network, SEC Network with NEP's Mediabank Cloud-Based MAM System Customized exchange of video content is provided for 32 geographically separated entities By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 - 8:49 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
When ESPN was preparing to launch the ACC Network, one of the broadcaster's most significant challenges was determining a way for the conference's 15 member institutions to easily share video files with one another. ESPN's media-asset-management group was already juggling the content-exchange needs for 14 SEC schools as part of the SEC Network, which launched in 2014, and this workflow was not sustainable with more than double the schools. With that tall task, ESPN began searching for a cloud-based media-asset-management (MAM) system that could serve 32 geographically diverse entities: 29 colleges, two conference offices, and ESPN itself.
ESPN began using NEP's Mediabank MAM system for ACC Network and SEC Network prior to the 2019 fall season.
This was a solution to a problem that we absolutely needed to solve: we have 32 entities that were trying to share video and files more efficiently, says Rex Arends, senior director, remote production operations, ESPN. In the past, it was all funneled through ESPN, so, if one school needed a melt from another school, ESPN would have to set up a feed and [transfer] it manually. We knew we needed to find a more efficient way, so we started to look for a cloud-based media-asset-management system that would provide accelerated [file-transfer] speeds and transcoding in the cloud [to provide] all the different codecs being used. That led us to NEP and Mediabank.
A Match Made in MAM Heaven
In advance of the ACC Network launch, ESPN selected NEP's Mediabank cloud-based MAM system, which allows users to search, process, and distribute content from the entire ACC Network and SEC Network media library using a standard web browser.
ESPN had already had experience with the Mediabank product during its interactions as an international rightsholder with UEFA, which uses the system for its own media-management operation. However, the college conferences' needs were quite different from other projects, so ESPN worked closely with the Mediabank product team to customize the system.
All 32 schools want in a particular way, Arends explains. Without a cloud-based system like this, there really isn't any way to make that happen.
ESPN and NEP held a pair of seminars for the ACC schools in Bristol, CT, and for the SEC schools in Nashville to introduce them to the system and user interface. Then NEP sent out online forms requesting each school's current requirements for codecs, delivery services, formats, and so on. With that information in hand, NEP set up templates for each school and brought all the schools online.
Mediabank has dramatically changed the way ESPN and ACC/SEC schools share content.
The system was beta-tested by ESPN and four schools from each conference during the month of August before going live across all 29 schools in September.
With our 24/7-support help-desk team, we managed to onboard all the users at all the schools very smoothly, says Mediabank Head of Sales Engineering Marius Borge. Mediabank is a true software-as-a-service solution and is 100% cloud-based, which means that you don't have to install any software [or hardware] locally. You work off a webpage accessible via the public internet, and that means that we could be very [agile] in deploying the service [for ESPN and the conferences].
Inside ESPN's Mediabank Workflow
Mediabank significantly streamlined the ACC Network/SEC Network content-exchange process, which was previously handled manually by ESPN's MAM group in Bristol or Charlotte, NC. Each school is able to record melts, or highlight reels, from live games using the replay system of its choice - be it EVS, Evertz DreamCatcher, or DVSport - and send it directly into Mediabank cloud storage, where it lives in its native format. Through administrative rights, other schools (as well as ESPN and conference offices) are able to ingest that melt - either in its entirety or just clips - into their own library.
NEP and ESPN also worked with the schools to set up predetermined M-Box engines for each school, which automatically transcode files into the format and codec of their choice.
It's much less hands-on, and our [MAM] team doesn't have to send everything [manually], which is where the efficiency is enhanced, says Chris Strong, senior remote operations specialist, ESPN. We are at the point where each school can see what everything they]re allowed to see in Mediabank and are able to pull it down in their native codec. And the M-Box workflows are already set up for each of the schools. Rather than a series of dropdown menus [to determine] format, codec, wrapper, audio, and so on, it has all been set up by ESPN, Mediabank, the schools, and the conferences, so it's just a click of a button.
Although Mediabank doesn't usually feature traditional file folders, NEP created a Collections View that merges all assets from a specific sport or school.
Users have the ability to view and edit clips in the cloud as low-resolution proxy files without having to download the full clip into the local library. As a result, schools can easily preview melts, choose the specific portions they want, and quickly receive the file via Signiant or Aspera high-speed file transfer.
Everything that goes into the system is also created in a low-res [file], says Strong. And that low-res file will live in perpetuity, whereas the mezzanine-level file will eventually go into a deep freeze as it starts to age, which is a big efficiency in terms of storage. It could be restor
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
26/04/2024
Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 kicks-off today with screenings in 5 theaters in Mexico City and the opening-night film, FRIDA, directed by Carla Guti rrez...
26/04/2024
[Editor's Note: This interview is part of a larger feature about the women d...
26/04/2024
Once again this year, SGL Carbon opened its doors to interested children and young people. On the occasion of the German Girls and Boys Day, which took place on...
26/04/2024
Orders1 of $5.5 billion; book-to-bill of 1.06x
Revenue of $5.2 billion, up 17%,...
26/04/2024
Five Considerations For Communications Modernization In The 21st Century
In the digital-enabled battlespace, the Joint Force needs to shoot, move and communica...
26/04/2024
CBS Sports has launched Champions League as a new, 24-hour streaming channel that will serve as the year-round destination for nonstop highlights of the UEFA ...
26/04/2024
Despite tough competition in the streaming space, Roku reported solid results in Q1 2024, beating revenue expectations, with total net revenue up 19% YoY to $88...
26/04/2024
LONDON AND TORONTO Pinewood Toronto Studios has appointed Sarah Farrell as general manager of the Studios in downtown Toronto....
26/04/2024
Quantum to Offer Advanced Filesharing Technology and Performance in StorNext and...
26/04/2024
FilmLight Colour Awards welcomes 2024 entries and introduces new Emerging Talen...
26/04/2024
Picture Shop Announces Chris Evans as Head of Unscripted
Brie Clayton April 26, 2024
0 Comments
Picture Shop announced Chris Evans will lead Unscripte...
26/04/2024
Participate in a Survey - The Impact of AI on Media and the Creative Industry
Pascal Wagner April 26, 2024
0 Comments
By participating in this survey,...
26/04/2024
Toy maker Mattel said it is working with Samsung to launch its first free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels later this year....
26/04/2024
Trusted Media Brands (TMB) said it named Marty Moe as president....
26/04/2024
Ron Howard is the director on Jim Henson Idea Man, a documentary that premieres on Disney Plus May 31. Henson of course created Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big...
26/04/2024
The ice continues to melt under the regional sports network business as the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League have made a long-term deal to broadcast...
26/04/2024
Heading into the upfronts, Warner Bros. Discovery said it launched Olli, a first-party data platform advertiser can use for converged, targeted advertising camp...
26/04/2024
CBS has renewed the drama The Equalizer, which will see season five on in 2024-2025. Queen Latifah stars....
26/04/2024
The CW has entered into an exclusive multiyear broadcast partnership for the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Teen USA Pageant. The 73rd Miss USA Pageant will air ...
26/04/2024
Fuse Media isn't mincing words in a campaign urging its young viewers to register and participate in the 2024 elections....
26/04/2024
Dead Boy Detectives, a series from Neil Gaiman about a detective agency staffed by ghosts, debuts on Netflix April 25. George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri are in t...
26/04/2024
The Story Collective has gradually repurposed the former Mortlake Brewery to include production offices, workshops and sound stages
By Matthew Corrigan
Publi...
26/04/2024
Perkett joins the company following a 25 year career in product management, product marketing, engineering and user experience (UX) across multiple industries
...
26/04/2024
Teradek, the industry leader in wireless video transmitters and receivers, announced today the launch of new Bolt 6 LT 750 and Bolt 6 Monitor Module 750 RX with...
26/04/2024
NEW YORK Amagi has appointed Richard Perkett chief product officer (CPO)....
26/04/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the results of the 2024 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections. The...
26/04/2024
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. & NEW YORK Mattel has announced a deal to launch its first three 24/7 free ad supported streaming (FAST) channels on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung...
26/04/2024
PORTLAND, Maine Viewers here can now receive the NextGen TV signals of five local stations with the launch of ATSC 3.0 service from host station WPFO, which is ...
26/04/2024
TORONTO Rogers Communications has signed a 10-year agreement with Comcast to bring the latest Xfinity products and technology to Canadians....
26/04/2024
Calrec is very pleased to announce the benefits of its highly flexible approach to customer service has been recognized with a third award for the Argo range. T...
26/04/2024
New Adobe Photoshop with Advanced Generative Fill and Generate Image Brings New ...
26/04/2024
Trends And Takeaways From NAB Show 2024
Melanie Ciotti April 25, 2024
0 Comments
NAB's Eric Trabb (right) awards SNS with two NAB Show Product of ...
26/04/2024
Sony's Ci Media Cloud Keeps NHRA Moving
Brie Clayton April 25, 2024
0 Comments
Cloud-Based Media Asset Management and Collaboration Platform Accel...
26/04/2024
Capitol Broadcasting & Leadership Triangle Collaborate for Third Year
Capitol B...
26/04/2024
The staff at CBC Radio have been hard at work creating several new features for listeners and viewers. Several debuts are taking place this spring.
I have nev...
26/04/2024
26 Apr 2024
Cricket Finds Its Digital Home in Bangladesh: VEON's Banglalink...
26/04/2024
NBA Playoffs 2024: ESPN Rolls Out Huge Production Operation for Busy First Round Tech deployments include miked on-field personnel, shot-distance tracking, AR g...
26/04/2024
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: ESPN Ops Team Navigates Both Sides of the Border With ...
26/04/2024
Behind the Scenes at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit (Photo Gallery) After just the first round, the 2024 NFL Draft has already made quite an impression in Detroi...
26/04/2024
NFL Draft 2024: Van Wagner Powers Onsite Entertainment Experience for Record Cro...
26/04/2024
Rohde & Schwarz presents spectrum dominance in all domains at AOC Europe Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems and sensor fusi...
26/04/2024
MCine Mauritius is to use Qube Wire for all future DCP deliveries across their e...
26/04/2024
Skeem Saam' May Spoiler: Has Lehasa killed Khwezi?The Skeem Saam' May teasers mention Lehasa being apologetic about killing someone. Is it his baby mam...
26/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Thursday's episode, 25 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African s...
26/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Some issues to considerWesley Leong was incarcerated at the age of 15 in 1996 at Pollsmoor Prison. He is currently part of Restore's rese...
26/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: A line is crossed and a mother starts to lose focusDon't miss Friday, 26 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! o...
ESPN Streamlines Content Exchange for ACC Network, SEC Network with NEP's Mediabank Cloud-Based MAM System Customized exchange of video content is provided for 32 geographically separated entities By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
