BBC World Service has gone live with its first major program scheduling system, based on Pilat Media’s Integrated Broadcast Management System (IBMS). The system drives the scheduling of worldwide broadcasts in English. The move is the first stage of an ongoing joint development project with Pilat Media to build a system to manage the complex scheduling requirements of BBC World Service's large multiplatform distribution networks.
IBMS offers customized bulk scheduling capabilities that allow a small number of operators to manage large workloads, with specially developed interfaces to the broadcaster’s playout and program listings systems.
BBC World Service is implementing both the program scheduling system and the distribution management system as part of a project to revise and update its infrastructure, hardware and the management of signal distribution. The project, begun in 2006, also involves the replacement of more than 1200 satellite receivers worldwide.
IBMS streamlines the entire content management workflow from media acquisition and rights management to scheduling, media management, log preparation and analysis. Because the system leverages a single integrated database, it provides better visibility on inventory utilization and easily enables the user to generate potential programming and cost scenarios.
In the final phase of the delivery, Pilat’s software for distribution scheduling will provide an intuitive user interface for operational managers to understand very quickly how individual receivers and groups of receivers are switched at different times. The software indicates how and where the program content streams (channels) will be available to listeners, and operators can control the switching schedules through interfaces. In addition, on-screen displays show available satellite/router bandwidth and allow the operator to see the impact on changes to channel availability in specific countries and regions.
