Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 2, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Sony’s integrated SONAPS production environment guarantees a modern, file-based workflow in an increasingly fast-moving era, enabling more current and efficient broadcasting. Telecinco is also investing in extensive XDCAM equipment that will replace its current Betacam SP devices across all production areas. For news production, XDCAM will be fully integrated into the SONAPS solution. In total, the broadcaster is purchasing more than 150 PDW-1500 decks, PDW-U1 drives and PDW-530 camcorders for installation in 2008 and 2009.
Sony Professional Services’ European team was responsible for designing the complete SONAPS solution. It includes a central content-management system and was tailored specifically to the broadcaster’s requirements. The project also includes Associated Press’s ENPS news-production system. Combined with XDCAM and SONAPS, this integrates the entire production process and makes the workflow more efficient. The integration also covers the existing Aquarius digital storage system, the Polymedia multi-platform distribution system (web, 3GPP and others) and VizRT graphics software. An extensive training program and a three-year service contract complete the agreement and ensure high-quality Sony support during the initial years.
SONAPS is an end-to-end workflow solution that optimizes the complete news-production process, from planning, acquisition and editing to playout, distribution and archiving. The system enables straightforward migration to HD, integration of third-party systems and unrestricted scalability, making future expansion with multiple systems easy. SONAPS’s main advantages are comprehensive management of all user activity and integration of third-party products. Storing content on a central server—Telecinco uses DataDirect Networks S2A9900 systems—allows users to share material, produce programs and distribute them to Omneon Spectrum broadcast servers and various multimedia platforms. It is a robust system based on standardized hardware and software, with powerful metadata-management functions and an intuitive interface.
Sony’s file-based XDCAM range, of which more than 31,000 units had already been sold worldwide since launch, stands for flexibility, quality and compatibility and provides a reliable, durable platform for content distribution. With Sony XDCAM equipment, Telecinco benefits from fast data transfer, immediate nonlinear access to material and full MXF compatibility.
