Avid Introduces Next-Generation Avid Active ContentManager

December 18, 2008

Source: Avid

Version 3.0 creates more efficient news workflow by extending news content to Web and wireless devices

Avid Technology, Inc. today unveiled Avid Active™ ContentManager 3.0, a solution for broadcasters looking to simplify multi-channel news workflows and create more revenue opportunities by broadening the delivery of content to the Web, wireless devices and other IP-based distribution points. Avid Active ContentManager 3.0 allows broadcasters to efficiently and effectively build Web and mobile audiences by enabling automatic creation and repurposing of broadcast news content (audio, video and graphics) with minimal effort and cost.

"More people are getting their news on the fly, and pushing stories to mobile devices and the Web are becoming critical channels for us to capitalize on additional revenue streams. We need to be able to move content quickly, without having to rebuild our infrastructure," said Brian Cottle, system administrator at KOMU TV8 in Missouri. "With Active ContentManager, our staff can easily publish video, audio and graphics material to our station's Website with a few clicks, and it doesn't break the budget. We've been able to leverage a lot of the infrastructure we have in-house and turn around content very quickly and that has helped us keep a competitive edge."

Avid Active ContentManager 3.0 works in conjunction with most newsroom computer systems and popular nonlinear editing systems and offers tight integration between the Avid® iNEWS® newsroom computer system, Avid NewsCutter® news editing systems, and Avid Unity™ and Interplay® systems to deliver industry-leading newsroom-to-Web speed and operational efficiencies. With Avid Active ContentManager, customers will now be able to easily capture entire newscasts, change video in and out points, manage content from non-news production sources and publish the news content to various mediums.

Customers will benefit from a range of enhancements to Avid Active ContentManager 3.0, including:

Availability of the ACM NewsPoller module, which allows newsroom workflow linkage with most Web content management systems and includes enhancements to simplify interoperability with other content management systems.

Qualification of Sorenson Squeeze® 5 for background encoding of broadcast video into online video resolutions, which significantly lowers implementation costs.

The ability to automatically post as-aired newscasts or news segments in Web and mobile-specific resolutions.

Expanded content support that enables most data types can be introduced into, managed, and published by Avid Active ContentManager.

Automatic positioning of stories on Web pages ranked by number of hits and votes.

"Avid Active ContentManager gives broadcasters the flexibility and creative control to more effectively build online audiences and additional Web-generated revenue, and it works with just about any news environment." said Jim Frantzreb, sr. marketing manager, broadcast at Avid. "Not only does version 3.0 break new ground in speed and simplicity, but the connection with an Avid news workflow means that different stories, unaired or alternate clips, or user-generated content can be easily and automatically added to a broadcaster's Website. This helps broadcasters leverage their market advantage by providing unique Web and mobile content that can attract the loyal viewership that builds revenue."

Pricing and Availability

Avid Active ContentManager 3.0 is priced at $70,000 (not including server hardware, Microsoft SQL software, encoding software, and PCTV card).

The Avid Active ContentManager NewsPoller module is also available for $15,000 for those customers wishing to use an existing content management system. Avid Active ContentManager 3.0 is available now.

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