Cox Media Group News Bureau Opts for Software Generation

Software Generation Ltd (SGL), a provider of content archive and storage management software for media and entertainment, has announced a sale to Washington’s Cox Media Group News Bureau.

Providing a central hub for local news broadcasters, Cox Media Group DC Bureau has installed an SGL FlashNet archive as a key part of its recent Avid Interplay upgrade. FlashNet replaces the bureau’s existing videotape archive system thereby improving working procedures.

Prior to the FlashNet installation, operators stored material to videotape, cataloging the index from each tape in a searchable database, a time consuming process. The new workflow enables operators to apply rules that allow material to be moved automatically to drop folders via Avid Interplay. When ready for long term storage, FlashNet moves the material to a Spectra Logic Corp. tape library.

Kevin Johnson, TV News photographer with Cox Media Group News Bureau explains: “This is a really seamless integration that benefits the bureau immensely as it provides a complete automated service. This saves our operators huge amounts of time as storing and recalling clips can be done at the click of a button. Before the SGL FlashNet installation they would have to search the database for the tape location and then physically collect the material.”

Doug Wynn, SGL’s VP sales America, adds: “We’re delighted to announce this sale to Cox Media Group News Bureau. SGL has a long history of serving the needs of news and sports facilities around the world and our specialist content storage management solutions aimed specifically at these organisations and departments have been developed to address the instant access, short-term rapid retrieval and longer term storage requirements that are unique to these arenas.“