ITV automates trailer production with Pixel Power

Factory automated production system gears up to deliver more than 1000 promos a month

CAMBRIDGE, UK - 1 June 2017: Pixel Power, the global automation, branding and graphics innovator, has supplied Factory automated production systems to ITV, the UK's largest commercial television network. It is being seamlessly integrated into the broadcaster's campaign management system, ITV Phoenix, and gearing up to deliver more than 1000 different versions of promotional trailers each month.

Factory is a sophisticated software automation layer for its Clarity graphics engine. It takes all the elements of a trailer or promo and creates the different versions required, automatically and very quickly. It allows creative editors to concentrate on producing the best possible master version of a trailer, allowing Factory to create multiple versions for different timescales, cross-channel promotion and more.

ITV has developed an integrated campaign management system, with a sophisticated, bespoke user interface that enables media planners to enter the details of a new promo and instantly get a JPEG of the endboard in response, checking that all the details are correct, with sponsors' logos, social media tags and transmission times. From this the work order for the master promo is generated and, once this has been checked, multiple versions are then automatically created by Factory.

The Pixel Power solution means all the teams get immediate visual feedback, said Nick Haworth, head of technology, studios, at ITV. It is this level of system integration that removes the opportunity for errors, through the confidence that all the data is correct at the start of the process.

Matt Scarff, Director of ITV Creative, added The solution eliminates repetitive work, allowing our creative staff to focus on what they do best, and helping us achieve our ambition of becoming the UK's best in-house creative agency.

Once checked for content and compliance, the multiple versions of the trailers, together with the appropriate metadata, are delivered to ITV's redundant playout centres.

This is exactly the sort of smart working we see becoming ever more important, said James Gilbert, CEO of Pixel Power. Our technology platforms, StreamMaster Media Processing and Gallium Workflow Automation together deliver tactically relevant, high performance applications like Factory, which meet the real needs of broadcasters today, keeping their talented staff focussed on creativity, not manual processes.

Factory from Pixel Power went live as part of ITV's campaign management system in March 2017.

About Pixel Power

Pixel Power provides innovative graphics production and integrated playout delivery systems for broadcasters, outside broadcast truck companies, playout facilities, post production houses, venues and sports complexes. Our award-winning branding and promotions systems, graphics-enabled master control switchers and sophisticated switchable graphics production systems allow producers to deliver dynamic live and pre-recorded content for any SD, HD, 4k, mobile, online or interactive application.

Pixel Power has 30 years' experience of engineering prowess and dedication to customer support that has made it the industry's first choice in graphics, branding and playout. With more than 2500 installations worldwide, customers including market-leading broadcasters such as Al Jazeera, BBC, CBC, Disney, Discovery, Ericsson, ESPN, Sky, ViaSat and WDR.

With corporate headquarters in Cambridge UK, and with regional offices in Grass Valley California and Dubai UAE, Pixel Power has a global organisation and is supported by a well-trained and focussed distributor network.

Pixel Power can be contacted online at www.pixelpower.com.

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