TVNZ Unites Three Production Centers With OmniBus OPUS Asset Management

DENVER — August 5, 2008 — OmniBus Systems, the award-winning provider of comprehensive automation and content management solutions to the broadcast industry, today announced that TVNZ has successfully implemented the second phase of its Digiknow news broadcasting infrastructure using the OmniBus OPUS content management system. Digiknow unites TVNZ's server-based newsroom system in Auckland, New Zealand with similar installations in its regional news-gathering bureaux in Wellington and Christchurch, providing streamlined interchange and sharing of assets between the three sites.

TVNZ had already converted to tapeless operation in the first phase of the Digiknow project, and for phase two, new edit stations and servers were installed, together with OmniBus OPUS G3 technology. During a four month period, the old and new systems were run in parallel while operators at each site were trained on the new technology.

"During the whole implementation period, we had very close and valuable collaboration from OmniBus as we worked out the design of the workflows," said TVNZ infrastructure manager Darryl Walker. "The ability to tailor the G3 desktop to create task-specific interfaces meant that our users found the system very user-friendly and were eager to switch over to the new tools. Features like the ability to display scheduled records on a timeline basis add up to a significant improvement in functionality and ease-of-use."

TVNZ is New Zealand's state-owned public-service broadcaster and is required to make a profit under the terms of its charter. The introduction of tapeless production is part of TVNZ's strategy to increase efficiency and drive up ratings for TVONE, its flagship channel.

The new infrastructure allows OPUS requests from TVNZ's editors, producers and journalists to transfer material between the production sites. Transfers are initiated immediately without the former line booking required under the first phase of the implementation. "Apart from greatly increasing the efficiency of our workflows, this method of transfer also delivers much higher image quality," Walker added.

OPUS content management tools and G3 controls deliver a very high degree of integration, allowing TVNZ operators and journalists using OmniBus Desktop Control (ODC) access to any feature via a consistent, customizable user interface. The OmniBus G3 ingest manager provides enhanced recording control of live, recurring, scheduled and non-scheduled recordings. To assist efficient use and repurposing of archive material, OPUS Logging allows operators to add custom-indexed metadata throughout the production process to provide powerful searching in OPUS PinPoint using synonym, phonetic and proximity search criteria.

More information about OmniBus Systems' digital asset management, automation and transmission technology is available online at www.omnibus.tv.

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About OmniBus Systems
OmniBus Systems provides broadcasting, cable and satellite organizations with comprehensive automation and media content management solutions that address every area of television-related operations. Its newsroom, content and workflow automation solutions include acquisition and recording of rich media material, low-resolution editing, media asset management and playout. OmniBus is a global company with headquarters in the United Kingdom and offices in the United States and Singapore. More information is available at www.omnibus.tv.

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