Fast and efficient media production: Siemens develops tool for simultaneous collaboration on program material

Munich, Germany, At the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) 2009 in Amsterdam, Siemens IT Solutions and Services will demonstrate the prototype for a new media production solution. This innovation will enable stakeholders to work on content from different locations simultaneously. The production teams involved can access the audio-visual material from any web browser and can collaborate in parallel on it. Offered on the basis of Software as a Service (SaaS), the tool helps companies save costs and time by fast-tracking and simplifying their media production processes. The application is part of a suite of tools which the IT provider is currently developing for the media industry.

Today, most TV productions involve several companies. Since the stakeholders involved often work at different locations, the audio-visual material has to be copied to DVD or tape and sent out for review and approval. This exchange of physical media can lead to delays in the production process due to DVDs or tapes arriving late for example.

The new tool from Siemens IT Solutions and Services enables all participants in a production to have simultaneous access to sound and image content from any web browser. They can submit and perform reviews, make comments and approve or reject rough cuts and edits. Configurable workflows create a flexible working environment that can be matched to the processes of the organizations involved. Production teams can work more efficiently regardless of their physical location. The application supports all processes involved in media production - such as dailies review, shot selection, audition review, executive approval and legal review.

Siemens IT Solutions and Services is able to lower set-up, installation and maintenance costs for the IT infrastructure by delivering the solution on a Software as a Service basis. With the flexible SaaS pricing model, customers can also use the application when needed and on a project-by-project basis.

“This is the first application in a suite of tools which will offer our customers an entirely new way of managing collaboration – and on a streamlined and cost-effective basis”, said Elisabetta Castiglioni, head of the Media business segment at Siemens IT Solutions and Services.

Siemens IT Solutions and Services is an internationally leading provider of IT solutions and services. It covers the entire IT service chain from a single source, from consulting to system integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. In addition, Siemens IT Solutions and Services extends the range of offerings of the other Siemens Sectors to include IT solutions. With its comprehensive know-how and industry-specific knowledge, Siemens IT Solutions and Services provides measurable added value for its customers. Founded in January 2007, the new Siemens Division employs more than 41,000 people and posts annual sales of about 5.3 billion euros, of which over 70 percent are generated outside of the Siemens Sectors. More information at www.siemens.com/it-solutions