London, February 2012 - The Associated Press is working with Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) to digitize its unique video archive, making it available to a whole new audience across digital platforms. AP’s film and tape archive contains around 70,000 hours’ worth of footage, including more than 1.3 million global news and entertainment stories, in 16mm film and videotape, dating back to the beginning of the 20th Century.

The project is part of AP’s multimillion-dollar upgrade to its video business which will see AP switch its entire newsgathering, production and distribution systems to HD to continue to meet the technical, editorial and business needs of its customers in the digital age.

AP Director of International Archives Alwyn Lindsey said: “A legacy of being on the frontline of breaking news for more than 160 years is a fantastic archive. Ours is one of the finest visual documents of the events and people that have shaped the modern era. Today’s market is driven by giving customers breadth of content, ease of access, and value for money. While we have already digitized around 10% of our archive, it has been a top priority to get all of our most saleable archive footage online and make it available to our customers, wherever in the world they may be. To make this happen, we needed a partner who could handle our global business needs and a project of this scale, and for that reason, we chose Prime Focus Technologies.”

PFT will use the unique skillsets of its global organization to digitize AP’s film and tape archive, then catalogue, manage, transcode and deliver AP’s content to a multi-media audience. PFT has decades of experience in digitizing archive content, partnering with organisations such as the British Movietone Library, British Film Institute, Imperial War Museum, IMG, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Eros International.

The project will be driven by CLEAR™, PFT’s award-winning content operations platform and supporting services. PFT has a large team of developers writing bespoke scripts to support the innovative workflows required by this project, and utilizes its own cloud technology for supporting services.

PFT is delivering this project in an unprecedented timescale, creating nearly 4 million new assets in just 18 months, including:

• 3,000 hours of film with an average of 60 news stories per hour – creating a total of 900,000 files

• 29,000 hours of video with an average of 20 news stories per hour – creating a total of 2,900,000 files

Newly digitized content will appear every day on AP Archive’s website, thanks to dedicated connectivity between PFT and AP.

Vice President and Head of PFT UK Aine Healy said: “PFT is delighted to be working closely with AP to make its valuable archive of footage available to the world, and to preserve it for generations to come.”

To find out about this groundbreaking project in more detail, read the AP Archive – Technical Case Study.

London, 9th February 2012 – Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the global digital content services group, has been chosen by the BFI (British Film Institute) as a preferred supplier for the provision of Digital Services for its Film and Television archives including scanning and digital restoration services. Following a highly competitive tender process that saw bids from 35 suppliers both from the UK and abroad, PFT was selected as one of the specialist companies that the BFI will work with to help preserve and present its unique and priceless material within the archive.

Due to the important nature of this prestigious contract, it was vital that the BFI partner with an organisation with specialist expertise and experience in this area. PFT has an excellent working relationship with the BFI, having collaborated on many high profile projects in the past, and has provided its services to other important archives, including the Imperial War Museum, British Movietone News, IMG, Huntley Archives and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This heritage, combined with PFT’s innovative use of technology, a global footprint that incorporates teams in the UK, North America and India, and its ability to provide a safe, secure and high quality service on time and within budget, made PFT the ideal partner.

Commenting on the announcement, Aine Healy, PFT’s Vice President and UK Head said “This is just one of many exciting projects that the BFI is working on and we hope that we can continue to grow this relationship. We feel we have the perfect skillset, infrastructure and technology to ensure that the BFI’s archive is readily available for people to enjoy both today and in the future.”

“The BFI is charged with the preservation and accessibility of the UK’s film and television heritage,” said BFI’s Head of Conservation, Charles Fairall. “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Prime Focus Technologies, and our other chosen suppliers, to preserve and open up our archive to new audiences.”

Four years ago today, an innovative idea became reality as Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) was launched to help organizations manage their digital content, and the activities that take place around that content. Much like parent company Prime Focus, PFT’s story began in a garage. Through hard work, technical foresight and a highly skilled and dedicated team, the company was grown quickly from three people with a vision into a 500-strong technology leader, in a field so new and advanced it is still being defined.

PFT has come a long way in a short space, below are some of the key milestones in this incredible journey:

• The first contract win – a project for Indian public service broadcaster Doordarshan.
• The development of cricket’s first Taxonomy for a major archive and digitisation project, for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• The production, live streaming and creation of Video on Demand (VoD) packages for the Indian Premier League (IPL) for delivery to both YouTube and IPL’s Mobile Internet platform.
• CLEAR™, the groundbreaking hybrid cloud platform for content operations from PFT, was named as the ‘Best of IBC2010’, and was praised for its innovation and cost efficiency by the editorial team of the IBC Daily magazine.
• The deployment of the world’s first integrated, multi-platform content operations infrastructure specifically for broadcasters at STAR TV, one of Asia’s largest broadcasters, to manage their end-to-end digital HD workflows.
• Enabling Indian broadcasters to create same day playlists for their international feeds for the first time as part of an anti-piracy initiative.
• The launch of the world’s first Domain Centric Cloud (DCC) to connect broadcasters with content suppliers and playout origination centres.

PFT would like to thank its entire staff for their dedication and hard work, and its clients for their support, and looks forward to achieving many more milestones in the next four years.

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.”

The panel will discuss the many ways that cloud storage and distribution will affect how content rights-holders manage their intellectual property (IP), realize new cost savings, and implement new business models.

Ajay is a leading voice in North America when it comes to cloud computing and is one of the driving forces behind the success of CLEAR™, PFT’s hybrid cloud-based unified multi-platform content operations solution.

Registration for the event is now open and visitors will receive an insider’s tour of the many ways that cloud computing is revolutionising entertainment delivery, and come away with a deeper understanding of the impact of this technology on content distribution.

If you have questions about CLEAR™ or would like to arrange a demo, please contact Ajay Malhotra on 323-461-7887 or ajay.malhotra@primefocusworld.com.

Mumbai, December 2011 – Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) President and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan was a guest speaker at INFOCOM 2011. He talked at the ‘Emergence of Cloud’ session, which formed part of the Infrastructure Forum at the annual flagship business and technology event. INFOCOM 2011 took place on December 9 in Kolkata, India.

Ramki is a well-respected voice in the world of cloud computing and has spoken on the subject at major events all over the world. A driving force behind the transition of broadcast operations to the cloud, Ramki has pioneered the development of CLEAR™, PFT’s award winning unified multi-platform content operations infrastructure.

The CLEAR™ offering, a unique combination of technology and services, has enabled leading broadcasters such as STAR TV to switch to file-based workflows as the delivery of content moves away from the traditional tape-based model, slashing operational costs, reducing ‘time-to-air’, and uncovering previously untapped opportunities to monetize content by making it available to new audiences across multiple platforms.

Kolkata, December 9th 2011 – – Prime Focus has announced the launch of a revolutionary new service for the media and entertainment industry in the eastern region of India – the opening of a Broadcast Hub in Kolkata. At the heart of this new offering is CLEAR™, the hybrid-cloud based, unified multi-platform content operations infrastructure developed by Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), which utilizes the latest in cloud technology to securely manage content, workflows, media processing, storage and delivery. CLEAR™ technology is already changing the way major broadcasters such as STAR TV handle content and manage the broadcast eco-system.

The Kolkata Broadcast Hub will provide the region with a Digital Media Supply Chain – a file-based service which connects content developers, broadcasters and content transmission centers, and offers many benefits over the traditional method of using tape to deliver content, including reduced operational costs, ‘time-to-air’ reductions, and previously untapped opportunities to monetize content by making it available to new audiences across multiple platforms.

Expanding on PFT’s existing ingest centres in Mumbai, which offer clients local access points to the Digital Media Supply Chain, the new Kolkata Broadcast Hub adds a state-of-the-art Content Operations facility to provide industry-leading production, post-production, visual effects, distribution, archiving and delivery services to the local advertising, film and broadcast industries.

The advantages are clear. Content providers can dedicate their resources to making programming and advertising as creative and compelling as possible, without having to worry about technical delivery specifications; and broadcasters have access to a larger pool of content from more diverse locations and suppliers, and because they receive a broadcast-ready digital file, no longer have to handle tapes or run in-house content services departments to prepare the content for air. This can represent substantial savings in terms of time and cost for all members of the Digital Media Supply Chain.

“We are delighted to be bringing our Cloud based cutting-edge production, post and content services to Kolkata,” said Ramki Sankaranarayanan, President and CEO of PFT and CEO of Prime Focus India. “Not only does this offer local content providers access to the tools and talent to finish their work to the highest standard, and then deliver it for broadcast efficiently and correctly; it will also dramatically change the way broadcasters in the area operate, offering more choice and diversification of content whilst removing costly, labour-intensive processes. This is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ for the vibrant city of Kolkata, and the eastern region in general, and we’re genuinely excited by the possibilities which lie ahead.”

Prime Focus Technologies’ Founder & CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan, will be
speaking on a panel on Tuesday morning titled “Leveraging DAM for the
Production Lifecycle: Trends and Best Practices from Preproduction to Post”.
He and other experts will discuss the latest trends, strategies and
technologies for leveraging DAM in pre-production to post to help you
develop your own strategy for producing award winning work. Later in the
day, he will also be making a Technology Track presentation about “Hybrid
Cloud based Platforms for Content and Workflow Management”. There you will
learn more about applicability and adoption of cloud based DAM led media and
workflow management platforms, hybrid-cloud architectures, their
effectiveness and benefits and an analysis of whether or not a hybrid-cloud
solution is right for your organization.

Tickets are still available. For more information about the event and to
register, please visit: http://www.eventrsuite.com/henrystewartsops/dam_la/

Aine comes to PFT with more than 20 years experience in the Broadcast Operations and Post Production industries. She has spent the past decade as CEO of Intermission Studio, a state-of-the-art digital facility which she founded in Ireland, and before that worked as Broadband Studio Manager at eircom, Operations Manager at TV3 and Head of Transmission at Tara Television. She has also held senior roles at TG4, Orbit and RTE.

A pioneering market leader, PFT has witnessed significant global growth over the past year on the back of major project wins, including several prestigious contracts in the UK and a strong pipeline of new prospects who are keen to adopt PFT’s unique and award-winning technology -led services and flexible business model.

COO Ganesh Sankaran commented: “Aine’s appointment is an integral part of our growth strategy, building on our recent successes in the UK – a key market for PFT. Aine’s background, and her entrepreneurial experience as a founder and CEO, give her a vital insider insight into the challenges the M&E industry faces, and a deep understanding of the evolution it is going through.”

Talking of her new role, Aine said: “Prime Focus Technologies is in an enviable and exciting position today. People in the M&E industry are constantly searching for new models and new technologies to make their work processes more efficient and to lower their costs. PFT provides a compelling media and IT offering which addresses these needs. The potential for PFT’s is enormous, and I very much look forward to leading the charge for PFT in the UK, and delivering on this potential.”

PFT will be exhibiting its latest offering at the Broadcast India 2011 show at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, which runs from October 20-22, 2011.

Prime Focus Technologies President and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan is to take part in an expert panel discussion session at ESCA Europe – The Entertainment Retailing & Supply Chain Conference, which takes place at Grange City Hotel in London from Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd September 2011. Ramki, who also serves as Indian CEO of global Visual Entertainment Services group Prime Focus, will be joined by Adrian Bull, Chief Technology Officer at Deluxe and George Kilpatrick, Vice President, Media Operations and Sales at Technicolor Digital Deliver, in a discussion entitled ‘The Changing Role of Post Production in the Digital Age’.

The session takes place at 10am on Thursday 22nd September and will be moderated by Bob Auger, Technology Correspondent for Cue Entertainment. It will focus on ways in which the post business is changing in the face of new technology and the speakers will review the emerging opportunities that are impacting upon their daily activities, including apps creation, iTunes Extras, digital asset management and archiving services.

Ramki’s credentials in this field are undisputed. Prior to forming Prime Focus Technologies, he held senior management positions at Subex Technologies (CEO) and Tata Elxsi (Head of Worldwide Sales and Marketing), and he is the driving force behind the development of CLEAR™, PFT’s award-winning unified multi-platform content operations infrastructure. He has also led the implementation of the pioneering Domain Centric Cloud, introduced at IBC 2011, which has far-reaching benefits for the global broadcasting industry and has already been adopted by News Corporation-owned STAR TV, one of Asia’s largest broadcasters.

ESCA Europe – The Entertainment Retailing & Supply Chain Conference, is presented by Futuresource Consulting, and will feature insights and updates from key executives at Warner, Fox, Sony, Universal, EA, Studio Canal, LoveFilm and Eagle Rock. To find out more about the Conference, click here.