Shaw Media Implementing Front Porch Digital in Canada

Front Porch Digital announced that one of Canada’s largest media companies, Shaw Media, is implementing a DIVArchive V6.3 content storage management (CSM) system at its Bloor Street playout center in Toronto.

Upon deployment at Bloor Street, Front Porch Digital will be the exclusive CSM provider for Shaw Media’s Canadian broadcast playout facilities.

The Front Porch Digital solution at the Bloor Street playout center – formerly part of Canwest – replaces a Masstech Systems solution. In addition, Shaw Media currently relies on DIVArchive in combination with DIVAnet, Front Porch Digital’s multisite content replication tool, for business continuance and disaster recovery at its Calgary and Toronto Barber Greene facilities, and the implementation in the Bloor Street playout center supports further networking opportunities. More advantages of the system-wide implementation of DIVArchive include consistent, simplified staff training, and engineering support.

DIVArchive is a scalable centralized repository for all of the company’s digital media assets, regardless of format, size, or type. In addition, it affords direct interfaces into broadcast devices, media asset management (MAM) solutions, and broadcast control systems. By supporting the addition of incremental features and offering limitless scalability in both bandwidth and storage, DIVArchive meets Shaw Media’s current and future needs.

Front Porch Digital’s DIVArchive is a combined hardware/software system that enables interoperability between digital media storage devices, video servers, editing systems, and digital workflow applications so that media can be effectively preserved, managed, and retrieved.

At the Bloor Street center, DIVArchive operates under the control of Harris D-series automation to move content between storage tiers and 19 programming channels for playout via Omneon servers. Shaw Media operates one conventional television network in Canada, Global Television, and 19 of Canada’s most popular specialty channels, including HGTV, Mystery TV, National Geographic Channel, Showcase, History, and TVtropolis.

"Shaw Media broadcasting division has recently undergone comprehensive technology upgrades to ensure cost-effective delivery of the best possible experience to its audience," said Mike Knaisch, president and CEO of Front Porch Digital. "The Masstech Systems equipment they were using just didn’t have the functionality needed. System-wide implementation of DIVArchive ensures efficient management, preservation, and security of Shaw Media’s invaluable digital content now and for the future. Shaw Media is one of the world’s premier broadcasters. With this implementation, Front Porch Digital establishes its dominance in the Canadian market and further demonstrates its global leadership in the content storage management niche."