September 2017 X-PLATFORM 37
PHOTO CREDIT : ISTOCK BY GETTY IMAGES
Imagine Communications delivers cloud-native DR to Zee
Imagine Communications has delivered a cloud-native disaster recovery ( DR ) solution to global content company Zee Entertainment Enterprises . The business continuity solution utilises the built-in redundancy capabilities of virtualised and geo-dispersed environments to provide Zee with improved protection of its playout operations for “ considerably less ” than the cost to build and maintain duplicate facilities , said Imagine Communications .
Zee has rolled out a state-of-the-art , cloud-based business continuity solution in its DR facility in Mumbai , India , using Imagine Communications ’ Versio playout solution and D-Series automation solution . The backup site supports 15 Zee channels running on HP servers across a virtual platform that mirrors the main site .
This virtualised solution , said Amitabh Kumar , head of broadcasting , Zee Network , provides the main advantage of working on industry standard Dell / HP servers that can be inexpensivey added at data centres or
elsewhere . “ This makes it possible to run an image of the DR solution at any site worldwide ,” he told APB . “ Secondly , the channels that are a part of DR are available in an IP format , which can emerge anywhere in the world , for example , at an offshore earth station with a simple reconfiguration of the IP links .
“ Third , having a virtualisation of automation means that the automation system that is physically used to run the channels at the production site is precisely replicated , including all playlists and content . The DR system is thus always live and playing our channels at all times . However , it can also be isolated and operated independently in case of failure from the production site .”
With Imagine Communications ’ support , it has meant that Zee ’ s live channels stay on air , said Kumar , irregardless of the unforeseen circumstances the network may face during the day-to-day running of their facility .”
Versio , a 100 % software running on commercial off-the-shelf ( COTS ) IT platforms , lies at the heart of Zee ’ s remote facility in Mumbai , and works in tandem with the D-Series playout automation system , a highly scalable solution that provides
Imagine Communications ’ cloud-native business continuity solutions is ensuring that Zee ’ s live channels stay on-air , according to Amitabh Kumar ( left ), head of broadcasting , Zee Network .
device control for linear playout channels and manages the movement of file-based media to multiple delivery platforms . The D-Series Remote Schedule Synchronization ( DRSS ) feature enables both the primary and backup Zee sites to run in sync .
Brick Eksten , chief product officer , Imagine Communications , said : “ Zee Entertainment Enterprises is one of the most innovative media companies in the region , and among the first to transition operations to a fully software-centric model utilising COTS equipment .
“ It is no surprise that ZEEL is one of the first media companies operating in the Indian subcontinent to recognise the cost and efficiency benefits of cloud-native solutions , and to identify business continuity operations as a starting point for the adoption of a next-generation architecture .”
Simplify your workflow
Nielsen is continuing to help equip media planners with the ability to evaluate VoD opportunities and reallocate their media mix accordingly .
Nielsen adds VoD Content Ratings into media planning tool
Nielsen has announced that its syndicated Video-on-Demand ( VoD ) Content Ratings from nine networks , including Turner and Discovery , will be featured as an enhancement to Nielsen Media Impact — a tool designed for media planners to estimate the impact of their plans on audience reach , sales and brand equity before committing investment .
According to Nielsen , the addition of VoD Content Ratings in Nielsen Media Impact will equip media planners with the ability to evaluate the VoD opportunity among participating networks , and appropriately reallocate their media mix based on Nielsen ’ s broad range of advanced behavioural and purchase-based audiences profiles , such as Nielsen MarketBreaks and Nielsen Homescan Segmentation .
Peter Sedlarcik , EVP , head of insights and analytics , Havas Media Group , said : “ As audiences continue to migrate towards on-demand viewing options , third-party measured VoD consumption data in tools like Nielsen Media Impact will give media buyers better insight into how these potentially valuable audiences could play an effective role in brand communications strategy .
“ Each layer of data like this that sheds new light on how we best connect our clients ’ brands to their target audiences is progress , and we look forward to a broader view of the VoD audience market as more networks make their data available .”
Launched in 2006 , Nielsen VoD Content Ratings is a key component of Nielsen ’ s total audience measurement strategy , and provides comparable metrics with the same set of characteristics as live and time-shifted TV . This , according to Nielsen , enables media planners to do a direct analytical comparison to linear TV .
Howard Shimmel , chief research officer at Turner , concluded : “ We know that VoD content is valuable , and attracts a different fan than linear TV . Having the ability through Nielsen Media Impact to illustrate the reach and impact of VoD schedules , alone and in combination with linear TV , is an important step .”
Broadcast Control Centres
IHSE GmbH - Headquarters Maybachstrasse 11 88094 Oberteuringen � Germany
Live Broadcast
IHSE GmbH Asia Pacific Pte Ltd 158 Kallang Way � # 07-13A Singapore 349245
Radio On-Air Studio
www . ihse . com � info @ ihse . com
IHSE USA LLC 1 Corporate Drive Cranbury , NJ 08512 � USA
News On-Air Broadcast
IHSE KVM MATRIX SOLUTIONS connect operators to vital broadcast and production equipment without compromise in speed , security and availability .
IBC stand 7 . B30