Harris shows broadcast business systems at NAB
Apr 22, 2009 9:10 AM, By David Austerberry
Harris is focusing on solutions to improve business efficiency through technology at this year’s NAB Show. Harris Morris, VP and general manager of software, server and editing systems for Harris Broadcast, spoke to “Automation Technology Update” about the company’s approach.
“We are continuing to evolve the Landmark platform to handle advanced advertising — to go from just impression-based advertising to impression, rating or line-based advertising, and add support for services like VOD and mobile,” Morris said. The Landmark product is designed for the larger multichannel broadcasters.
As far as the message Harris is trying to pass on at the show, Morris said, “We are taking a different approach this NAB; we are focusing on the business model, looking at achieving cost reductions or enabling new revenues,” he said. “We are also showing workflow efficiencies through Centergy, our new workflow platform.”
“We have embedded the Centergy workflow management tools into both the DAM and D-Series/ADC automation systems, so it makes it easier to create workflows, add approval cues and makes it easier to move content to the right place,” Morris said. “Our DAM platform is Invenio. This year, it has had a general refresh — plus, it is more scalable … We haven taken the tools and integrated messaging into DAM and automation to make them easier to author and create content.”
Harris is also taking advantage of BXF and SOA. “What’s important with BXF is the right kind of integration. The traffic and automation share data in real time and understand the data in context. If a traffic person or master control operator has to move a spot, they have all the information they need so they know the risks and trade-offs (of moving the spot).”
“At the show, we are focused on technology that improves the efficacy of the business. It could be gaining cost reductions, enabling new revenue streams or simply maximizing yield on existing inventory,” he said. “So it’s streamlining workflows, making operations less people intensive, maximizing ad yield and enabling new revenues.”
But according to Morris, SOA is not a silver bullet. It is important to expose the right data to other applications. “We are big believers in SOA and are implementing it in our products, but the data must be exposed in context,” he said.
Another new product, NetGain, aimed at groups and networks, is a business intelligence package that allows the user to analyze processes and look for bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
“Can you track the ROI from a given campaign? Can you see the cost of a process so you can see were you can improve efficiency and yield?” he asked.
Products like Centergy can deliver efficiency gains, but NetGain helps enable the business decisions that show broadcasters what to target for change.
Harris has come to the show with solutions that offer help with the unprecedented problems and issues facing broadcasters this year. Although technologies like business process optimization have long been used in other industry sectors, media & entertainment is finally accepting that they are technologies that cannot be ignored.
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