Accelerate: Media Broadcast

Technology Category

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Storage Services

Applicable Industries

Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Discrete Manufacturing

Use Cases

Digital Twin

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

The Challenge

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) wanted to create a central media repository to store and archive all of its digital broadcasting workflow, from production and ingest through editing, post-production and play-out. The storage system needed to support a wide variety of devices and software packages, including ingest devices, editing stations running Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid, as well as play-out servers from Harris. The solution also needed to integrate with a Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution which would be implemented during the second phase of the project. The solution not only needed to enable full connectivity and content sharing between heterogeneous systems, but allow them to work simultaneously, at full speed, without dropping frames or causing delays.

About The Customer

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) is the owner and operator of the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team, the Toronto Raptors NBA team, the Toronto FC MLS team, the Toronto Marlies AHL team and Leafs TV, Raptors NBA TV, as well as the Air Canada Centre, home to both the Maple Leafs and Raptors. MLSE operates three television channels, two in SD and the third in HD, and has a fourth going live later this year, which will be a hybrid SD/HD channel. The broadcasting workflow at MLSE includes 10 editing bays running Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid and Harris Nexio servers for play-out. The DDN storage solution serves as the central storage repository for all video and audio content such as game footage and interviews, as well as all graphics and content created for the sporting arena’s jumbotron and digital signage.

The Solution

MLSE implemented a DDN file storage system, a high-performance, high-capacity storage solution, enabling real-time workflows and long-term content archiving. The DDN storage solution serves as the central storage repository for all video and audio content such as game footage and interviews, as well as all graphics and content created for the sporting arena’s jumbotron and digital signage. DDN enables MLSE to connect all of their broadcast workflow elements into a single, consolidated storage system, virtually eliminating the need to copy or transcode content, only to get it from one system into another. Having all the content in one place has dramatically improved efficiencies for the editors and creative workers since all content is available immediately, all in one single namespace.

Operational Impact

An easy to manage storage system that allowed MLSE’s production and broadcasting professionals to have real-time access to digitized content, bringing productivity and workflow efficiencies, and accelerated return on assets (ROA)
With the highest storage density and lowest power consumption, the DDN solution dramatically lowered operating costs and use of datacenter floor space
Flexible and scalable content repository that is enabled for future storage capacity and performance demands

Quantitative Benefit

8x faster ingest and real-time access to content
Flexible and scalable content repository is enabled for future storage capacity and performance demands