We’ve all seen the increase of content being available online (Internet) over the last few years and I can only feel that this is only going to become more prominent, especially as you can now buy a television which you connect to the internet allowing you to stream content directly from broadcasters on demand services.

When the on demand services (iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD, Demand 5 etc) where first introduced I feel everyone excepted the delay of content becoming available on these services, it was safe to assume it would be online 24 hours after transmission but anything before this was hit or miss. This was especially the case for live TV events.

Now the on demand services are such a key part of how viewers watch content, be it on a variety of platforms (smart phone, tablet, set top box, web browser) the time which the content is available is becoming more and more important.

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The Sienna Active Logging workflow is one of speed and simplicity but provides just what is needed.

If you take a typical weekend talent programme which it’s format is in two parts, the performances then the results programme. It’s important to get that content onto the on demand services while the buzz / trends are still current on social media (Internet Forums, Twitter, Facebook etc). This will allow viewers that didn’t watch the live broadcast to become part of the programme. It will also reduce the viewers who deviate to watch parts of the content on sites outside of the Broadcasters control (YouTube etc).

The Broadcasters live HD/SDI feed is fed into the Sienna Live Edit system as the programme is transmitted, this would be the ‘dirty’ feed (graphics, bumpers, advertisements etc) as a percentage of the graphic’s would be relevant to the programme even on a on demand service.

Instantly within the Sienna Live Edit system you are able to watch the captured content as live, with only a couple of seconds delay. Using the same file that’s growing as the live broadcast is captured, the Operator can review the content using a simple jog shuttle controller on which you can map shortcuts as they wish.
From the jog shuttle the Operator can mark in & out points of sections which could be deemed as a highlight, review this section before sending it out of the Sienna Live Edit system to a dedicated directory from where it could be picked up, transcoded and uploaded to the broadcasters website. This would all be within a few minutes of it happening in the live transmission.

iPad with Production Palette running & Jog shuttle controller

As the live transmission progresses the Operator would also be reviewing the live capture for sections that need to be covered up for the on demand services, such as voting phone numbers / competitions which could be closed when viewers watch the content on the on demand services. The Operator would use the same jog shuttle controller to select the correct graphic (lower third, half screen right, full screen etc) mark an on point for the graphic (CG) and an off point. The Operator can preview the section to insure the desired behavior before moving on.
The Sienna Live Edit system can also position a bug over visual profanity along with muting the audio when required. Depending on Broadcaster it may also be required to remove advertising breaks, this can be driven from the jog shuttle controller to give frame accuracy.

Example of graphic over content

All the events created by the Operator are added instantly into an active XML file which records the event type along with relevant timecodes. Additional information /metadata (contestants, locations, products etc) can be added at any point using an touchscreen interface (iPad).
The metadata within the Production Palette can be tailored to the content ahead of the live transmission to assist the quick entry when the live transmission is in progress.

Custom Production Palette

While the live capture is taking place with the Operator reviewing and making up the live transmission as required, the active XML event list is automatically loaded in conjunction with the captured content and played out via HD/SDI resulting in the content having superimposed graphics where required, advertising breaks removed along with in depth metadata for the content.
This edited feed can be fed directly into the Broadcaster encoders to produce the variety of formats required for their on demand services and / or external providers.

Event list which is converted into XML

Depending how quick the Operator works this could be a few minutes behind the live transmission! Live content on to multiple on demand services within minutes!

The Sienna Active Logging workflow is only part of the possibly of workflows, proxy generation takes place, will all metadata being fed back to a central asset management system enabling remote viewing and editing to take place anywhere which in turn can drive more workflows…

ImplusEdit web interface

The Sienna Active Logging workflow is being shown publicly for the first time at this years BVE (14th – 16th Feb) on our stand: G30, please visit and we will be more than happy to show you this new concept (appointments can be made here but not required).

It will also be the topic of discussion in a special seminar on Tuesday 14th at BVE

Sienna Active Logging Press Release can be found here (HTML) or here (PDF)

For full information visit the SIENNA Web site at sienna-tv.com or get in touch with us.

Sienna Active Logging setup ready for the start of BVE..