SGL announces strategic partnership with Nesbit systems for integrated media asset management solution

Southampton, UK
1st August 2006

Software Generation Limited, a premier provider of data storage and asset management infrastructure for broadcasters, has formed a strategic partnership with Nesbit Systems Inc., a leading provider of asset management software for the broadcast industry. The union of NSi's Media Library System (MLS) and Preview+, with SGL's FlashNet data storage and archive capability, provides the core components for building a modular, integrated media asset management system at a cost-effective price point while remaining compatible with all of the leading manufacturers in the MAM workflow.

Preview+ is a new module to the NSi industry-standard Media Library System, providing digital ingest and preview functionality as well as keyframe generation and EDL creation. Preview+ is a strategic, cost effective first step toward building a digital asset management solution that is compatible with current library operations. Preview+ will allow MLS users to ingest and log digital content, making MLS the single portal for tracking both analogue and digital content. MLS will be the search and retrieval tool for location all assets.

"By working with SGL, we can now offer our customers an enhanced workflow for all media asset management. The marriage of our products will deliver connectivity between systems, and enable users to move digital/analogue media to the desired destination - all in a smooth and seamless manner," said Irene Nesbit, President of NSi. "It's a great solution for the customer."

"We are excited to be working with Nesbit Systems on this initiative as NSi provides a perfect bridge between the physical archives and digital archives," explained Steve Atkinson, VP Americas, SGL. He continued: "Their long history of managing video tape archives coupled with SGL's experience in working with digital archives will offer customers a unified solution to cover both worlds."

Utilized by major broadcasters worldwide, for example NBC News, NBC Cable, CBS News and the BBC, as well as station groups and local stations to manage digital archives, SGL's FlashNet is affordable, scalable and reliable data storage architecture for the smallest to the largest media asset management solutions. From ingest by MLS/Preview+ through editing with a non-linear editing suite to storage for playout on video servers, operators have access to the archie at all stages, whether the need be to pull back an archived clip from the library or to take a clip directly from automation or asset management to the archive for long-term storage. With SGL FlashNet, a Microsoft SQL database drives an infinitely-scalable cluster of servers, transferring data into and out of the archive at the highest possible speeds. each server runs identical software, which means each can perform any task, and each is connected via a switch to every archive device (e.g. tape drive or disk archive) so that the archive always operates at maximum capacity.

With the integration of MLS/Preview+ and SGL FlashNet, broadcasters now have access to the following:

• Integration to industry-leading vendors such as Avid, Grass Valley, Quantel and multiple video servers
• Track data tapes no matter what format or where they are (in robot, on a library shelf of off site)
• Use existing metadata from GV or Avid to import to MLS/Preview+ for searching
• Extract essence that is being written to tape so a proxy is either extracted or generated in MLS/Preview+
• Trigger a restoration request from MLS/Preview+ that moves media back to an Avid or GV system
• Have a single portal to manage digital and analogue media assets and the workflow associated them.

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Software Generation Limited is a privately held archive management software company headquartered in Southampton, England. SGL has been in business since 1989 and its flagship FlashNet product is installed in over 4500 customer sites around the world. More information can be found at www.sgluk.com.

For over 20 years, Nesbit Systems has been an industry leader in developing video library management software for companies in the cable, broadcasting and new media marketplace. Nesbit Systems' list of clients has grown to encompass the titans of media, including Fox, IMG/TWI, CBS, NBC and Scripps Networks. The Media Library System is now at over 250 sites worldwide. In addition to the MLS product and Preview+, NSi offers a web based MLS, an Equipment Tracking System and Dub Order System. Visit www.nesbit.com