Linking broadcast and business systems

This paper sets out the technical requirements for achieving efficient integration of multichannel broadcasting and the associated business systems. It looks forward to the day when most of the tasks associated with scheduling and transmitting the channels are automated, hence maximising the revenue produced by any programme asset. Methods for linking the business and broadcast processes allowing the transfer of critical information are set out. Current efforts to standardise the metadata associated with assets to enable automation of the acquisition and transfer processes are discussed and the importance of standard systems for interchange is established.