BEAM.TV and IMD develop ground breaking digital delivery package

BEAM.TV and IMD (Independent Media Distribution) are working closely together to create a pioneering digital delivery package for advertising agencies.
Last week saw successful completion of the UK's first digital commercial delivery, via sophisticated end-to-end digital IP technology, when a Nestle commercial from Ogilvy and Mather was delivered to Viacom-owned MTV via BEAM.TV and IMD.
Digital delivery benefits include flexibility, tracking, speed and cost-efficiency. This new model opens up the conventional playout schedule into a flexible timetable whilst eliminating couriers from the playout equation to guarantee successful delivery in real time. By relying on one sole digital master file, rather than duplicated videotapes and couriers, agency and advertiser will also experience significant cost savings.
Until now commercials have been delivered to broadcasters either by sending video tape or by playing the commercial in video form through the Telecom Tower's fibre optic line which links to some, but not all, broadcasters. The latter operates a strict schedule where playout slots are limited.
IMD is importing the necessary technology into its emerging network of broadcasters, spanning Channel Four, Chart Show TV, CNBC, EMAP, IDS/Flextech, Kingston inmedia, London News Network and Viacom.
IMD is currently in negotiations with other UK and Irish broadcasters with the aim of having a full network of sites up and running later this year.
BEAM.TV will use its established relationships with agencies and post production facility houses such as The Mill and Rushes to help facilitate digital delivery from agency to facility house through to TV station.
Already offering playout ordering facilities, BEAM.TV will act as an intermediary between agency and IMD, providing one centralised communication point and one unified invoice for agencies.
BEAM.TV is also integrating its archiving facilities into the new package so that each new digital file master that is ordered for playout is also automatically archived to provide agencies with tailor-made, high-quality online commercials libraries.
(GB)