MAG Theory: Contribution

As you've already seen, Generation Technologies Affiliate Management solution supports an all digital contribution process in addition to the typical “Content Distribution Network” (CDN) functionality. Below is a diagram of a simple contribution workflow. The process begins with an affiliate creating a new element in the system.  This is accomplished by completing a metadata template and dub-in (or file transfer) of media. Once the affiliate approves the clip for contribution to the network, the network regional producer (RP) is notified of the new item and a proxy is transferred to the core for review by the producer. Before the high quality media is transferred, the RP can choose to approve the entire contribution as submitted, or proxy-edit the contributed material to transfer a subset to the core. The RP also has the ability to select the quality and format of the media contributed. For example a high complexity shot that will be edited can be pulled in DV25; however, a breaking story can be turned around over 10 times faster using an advanced CODEC like Windows Media at 2mbps. Once the RP approves the contribution, an EDL is executed against the source material on the affiliate server, and only the desired content in the desired format, is transferred to the core. The RP can even go back and request a different EDL, or request a higher quality version of the original EDL (which will be used in place of the lower quality clip for all future core uses).

Next: Distribution