Avid Elite reseller Altered Images has just finished helping cable and satellite channel operator AETN UK to move from a tape-based media production environment to a fully tapeless digital workflow. The company played a pivotal role in the project, supplying and installing an Avid Interplay asset management solution, an Anystream agility system and an Avid ISIS storage solution as well as managing upgrades to its Avid Media Composer edit suites.

Discussions started on the project back in 2008 with AETN UK and Altered Images looking for the best solution to help the broadcaster move quickly and seamlessly from tape to tapeless. With the decision to move forward with Avid, Altered Images took on the key project management role liaising with Avid Professional Services Group, AETN UK and BSkyB’;s network team who had responsibility for the network infrastructure at AETN UK’;s base at Osterley.

Brian Cutts, Project Manager at Altered Images, oversaw the installation, which threw up a number of operational and environmental challenges: “The AETN UK operation was a very open plan set-up, so we had to ensure that all the environmental factors were taken into consideration while making sure the day to day operation remained undisturbed. Our team ended up housing the broadcast equipment in three full size acoustic racks – this helped significantly reduce the noise from the servers and storage blades. We also had to reinforce the flooring and secure dedicated power supplies to protect AETN UK’;s investment.”