Bitcentral Inc., an Irvine, Calif.-based provider of video content management and distribution solutions, has sold its Oasis file-sharing program to 27 U.S. stations owned and operated by Raycom Media.
Oasis delivers a video distribution system that will integrate into Raycom Media's existing network infrastructures and move media in an MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 format. The installation allows producers to put proxy video, stills and metadata of selected stories into a central repository. Then, any station on the system can access and search the proxy videos through a secure browse to find content. The selected content is then sent via either peer-to-peer or a WAN to the requesting station.
The deal complements Raycom Media's prior purchase in 2006 of several Bitcentral Precis News Production Systems. Thirteen Raycom stations now operate with the Precis News Production System and eight more expect to be installed in 2007. Raycom, an employee-owned broadcasting company, currently owns and/or operates more than 30 television stations in 17 states.
David Folsom, senior vice president of technology for Raycom Media, said, "We have been very pleased with the performance of the Precis News Production System from Bitcentral and now look to further complement that technology with their Oasis solution. Bitcentral has become a major provider of innovative newsroom technologies that greatly streamline production workflow and enhance the speed with which we can air breaking stories."
