Cloud computing the way forward, Ajay Malhotra tells CES.

Prime Focus Technologies’ North American EVP Ajay Malhotra has spoken of the advantages of using cloud computing during his panel appearance at this year’s CES in Las Vegas. Speaking at the Content in the Cloud Conference, Ajay told delegates attending ‘The Impact on Entertainment Industries of Cloud Computing’ session that players within the media processing eco-system could be empowered through cloud computing and the adoption of file-based workflows.

Below are some of the key points Ajay made during the session…

“Content owners are naturally protective of their property and it’s a big jump for them to trust cloud technology. At PFT we’ve incorporated recognized security tools such as enterprise-level encryption and active directory authentication to overcome this. However we’ve also gone one step further with the pioneering of a unique hybrid-cloud solution which enables the hi-res files to remain securely stored at the customer locations while content operations are carried out through the cloud. All aspects are tracked within the ecosystem, with changes made to the content also recorded.

The most attractive aspect of cloud media storage is that cost savings, alternate means of distribution, the ability to exploit a greater depth of catalog and library content and the opportunity to deliver new business models run alongside the faster, scalable computing that a cloud-based architecture provides. CLEAR, PFT’s award-winning unified multi-platform content operations solution is designed to run concurrent digital workflows. Such a system offers dramatic time and cost savings as well as providing organizations with the ability to monetize their content to new audiences globally.

Cloud-based computing is becoming a key player in the execution of digital business processes. One of the major advancements is the solution PFT implemented for Newscorp’s STAR TV network, where we handle their ‘content and broadcast operations’. This has enabled them to switch to concurrent operations and go HD at the same time. We have also digitized the entire TV media supply chain, linking the Indian broadcaster with content suppliers and playout origination centers via a secure fiber connection. Serving 8 channels, the managing of STAR’s end-to-end digital workflows by PFT has resulted in the processing of 60 shows a day, which are then distributed in 27 different formats.”