In a year that saw exhibition attendee numbers slightly down on previous years, a solidified view on the value of cognitive services was on show. Our partner Microsoft announcing the general availability of their Media Indexer solution is a key measure that the value of the technology can be used to drive efficiencies and wide scale adoption. Besides the usual workflow optimizations of transcriptions, logo detection and other engine types were some other interesting use cases for AI and Machine Learning (ML). For instance, NHK demonstrated their colorization technology using a trained engine to turn historic footage from black and white into full colour. This is a great example of the use of technology to improve and enable new potential business for anyone with significant content archives.

Cloud adoption continues to be a growth topic with a number of delegates stating their “cloud first” approach to technology, for both flexibility and improved expenditure modelling in line with their businesses. Many of these conversations are being led by those hosting OTT or online streaming platforms who have reached the point that their businesses in live streaming have matured. They are now looking for additional ways to monetize content on demand.  Our demonstration on the Microsoft stand showed this use case – as used in live operations for US and UK sports highlights production by Deltatre.

The next interesting dynamic in the industry is that for those looking to fulfil the live to on-demand model is that the majority of technology and platform providers are unable to deliver cloud-based editing workflows. This is often due to limitations of browser-based technologies or a reliance on traditional software and storage solutions adding complexity or a need for a virtualization layer. In a cloud first model, pulling content back to ground in a traditional editing environment seems absurd to the new wave of technical leadership in the industry and hence Blackbird’s workflow structure was deemed timely and efficient.

During the show we announced the launch of our well anticipated JavaScript editor – Blackbird Forte – a fully featured cloud solution which does not rely on the limited browser capabilities provided. It is unique in its ability to perform, in real time, the depth of workflow that other technologies simply cannot handle.  The seamless transition to JavaScript permits a zero-configuration entry point to the power of Blackbird including full multitrack editing in real time. We also demonstrated the new Mac version of Blackbird Edge which is a true game-changer for remote video workflows – it enables rapid video editing, enriching and managing of video content on a variety of Mac devices anywhere there is data network.

IBC 2018 was a busy and rewarding investment for the Blackbird team with a very strong endorsement of the technology from the significant numbers of people that saw the product demonstrated during the show.

The post Reflections on a successful IBC 2018 appeared first on Blackbird.

Camera SDK will allow Forscene clients to integrate Forscene’s Mobile Upload app into their existing applications – so that content recorded on mobile devices can be transcoded, uploaded to the cloud and made available in targeted projects on the cloud video platform.  In this way, high quality user generated content can be gathered at speed, reviewed by team members anywhere in the world and included in edits or published to social media directly from Forscene.

“The days of TV audiences passively consuming television programmes are over,” said Aziz Musa CEO of Forbidden.  “Today’s audiences want to engage with content, comment and contribute.  Producers that make it easy for their audiences to actively take part in their programmes will win the loyalty of their audience – and be able to use the insights from their viewers’ content to create programming that appeals to them – it’s a win-win situation.  Forscene is renowned for helping teams all over the world collaborate to create compelling video content – now we’re making it possible for the audience to become part of that team.”

Licklemor Productions incorporated Forscene into What’s Up TV’s workflow late in 2016, primarily as a tool for producers to create rough cuts of inserts before the formal edit.  After experimenting with  Forscene’s Mobile Upload App to incorporate behind-the-scenes footage into their stories, the producers saw the potential for using an app to increase audience engagement.  This led to the decision to create MYapp – an Android app that will use Forscene’s Camera SDK to gather content from the What’s Up TV audience. Initially user generated content will be featured on What’s Up TV’s social channels –  giving the audience an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences relating to topics raised in the broadcast.

“When we were first approached by the Forscene team to use the SDK technology, I saw the instant benefits that this could add to our production work-flow and our engagement with the What’s Up TV audience,” said Bob Clarke, CEO of MAMA Youth Project which owns Licklmor Productions.  “We cater to a 16 to 35-year-old demographic who expect brands to engage with them on social media, but we think they’ll be excited by this new opportunity to use social media to participate in a broadcast television programme.  We’re looking forward to rolling it out over the coming months.”

The post Forscene introduces new tool designed to increase broadcast audience engagement appeared first on Blackbird.

One hundred and thirty-four international participants working across a variety of roles in the production of video content and broadcasting took part in Forbidden’s “It’s about time” online survey between April and July 2016. The results paint a picture of an industry under increasing pressure to produce more content over shorter periods of time, leaving little-to-no time for training or professional development.

While over 90% of surveyed professionals agreed that it’s essential to keep up with, and use, new technology to be successful, 70% of respondents reported spending less than 20 hours per annum on training or CPD. The reason that 44% of participants didn’t take part in training was insufficient time, with 35% saying they couldn’t afford their preferred course.

Trade publications, networking with industry peers and attending exhibitions and trade conferences were the most popular alternatives for keeping up with industry developments and new technology, but over 50% of full time and freelance staff surveyed felt that the current pace of change in technology makes it impossible to keep up.

“The only sustainable way for video teams to reduce turnaround times and increase output is by using technology to create efficiencies,” said Aziz Musa CEO for Forbidden.  “But that technology needs to be accessible and intuitive so that users don’t have to spend time they don’t have on training before they see any benefits.  Web-based software and apps with minimal learning curves can solve this catch-22 and have the potential to change production workflows completely.”

Just under 80% of the survey respondents reported using web-based software or apps for review and approvals and 40% for remote workflows while a third of the participants said they wouldn’t be able to function efficiently without these tools.

Download the survey infographic here

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Our new review app will enhance collaboration and enable productions to go even more global. Producers and executives no longer need to be in the edit suite to review every single shot for the editor, as they can be making comments on the go. This will make everyone’s lives a lot simpler and will even speed up review on projects. In order to take advantage of the review app, users must already have a Forscene username and password.

Our other big announcement recently was that a new UI for the Forscene virtual ingest server will also be released by the end of this year. Along with the upload app, which enables users to ingest content shot on mobile devices into Forscene immediately, the Forscene platform is growing exponentially with the aim of making your life in production easier.

All of these features will be available for demo at NAB Show New York, where Forscene will be exhibiting on booth 1155. Get in touch with us now to book a meeting at the event.

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We had two new recruits to the team this year, neither of who had attended an IBC Show before. Yet, their passion for Forscene was passed on to visitors to the stand and also buoyed the rest of the team on as well. We met with many high-profile prospective new clients in our Whisper Suite, as well as showing off Forscene to a range of companies from around the globe on the front of stand demo pods. Existing clients also dropped by to see what’s new and catch up on the recent announcements we had made ahead of the show <link to blog news page>.

Moreover, we were involved in numerous video interviews and speaking opportunities, a handful of which I’ve picked out below:

What Caught My Eye: Forscene did!

The team from IBCTV’s popular ‘What Caught My Eye’ feature approached us early on at the show for a video interview. Our Product Specialist, Neil Roberts, took to the helm of this video to talk about what’s new with our platform.

Efficiency, Speed, Innovation: the key ingredients to delivering your breaking news content

We invited Guy Tasaka from Calkins Digital to speak about how using the Forscene platform through our partners Field59, they’ve been able to get their OTT content out to market faster than their competitors.

IABM member interview at IBC 2016

Our Chief Executive, Aziz Musa, spoke to the IABM about our new mobile upload app can enhance workflows to increase audience engagement and promote UGC use cases for productions.

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The post What a great show IBC 2016 was appeared first on Blackbird.

Read what’s going on this year on our stand here

Watch our IBC2016 promo video:

https://youtu.be/B0BvoTQhndM

You can also enquire about booking an on stand meeting with one of our product specialists by clicking the button below

The post IBC2016 appeared first on Blackbird.

“Wow…” I whispered in excitement.

“Just try not to press the ‘Pause’ button too much – you’ll wear out the heads…”

My first experience of editing, back at secondary school, leaves a lot to be desired in today’s media industry. The arrival of NLE systems when I was at university and the transition to tapeless workflows once I entered the industry as a professional, have forever changed the way media is created.

My name is Jem Parks, and I’ve recently joined the fantastic team at Forbidden Technologies as a Sales Manager for the EMEA region. Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege to work with some of the most talented post production teams in the industry, including BSkyB’s Production Services and post houses like Clear Cut Pictures and Molinare, amongst others.

My time in the industry has shown me that technology never stops moving things forward and improving the workflows for those involved. As the time between camera and screen becomes increasingly crucial, so too do the tools and systems used to create and manage great content.

For me, Forscene is the next evolution in post-production workflows. The freedom to remotely access an edit from anywhere, anytime, opens up incredible possibilities for all kind of productions – especially in sports, news and broadcast. The time and cost saving implications of this kind of cloud-editing are really astonishing. As is the potential for collaboration between teams.

Whether it’s ingest, logging, editing, reviewing, publishing or distributing, Forbidden Technologies are here to provide comprehensive support for your workflow.

Having seen other cloud products on the market, I know how important it is to be working on a robust, secure and functional platform that has proven success within the industry. The fact that Forbidden lists deltatre, IMG, BBC and ITV amongst our clients shows just how quickly the industry is recognising the value of bringing us on-board.
I’m extremely excited to be part of this innovative team. Please get in touch with us today and let us show you what Forscene can do for you.

The post New Sales Manager Joins Forscene Commercial Team appeared first on Blackbird.

• Broadcast entertainment producers will find out how series like Gold Rush, Gogglebox and The Diesel Brothers log footage, search metadata and create rough cuts in Forscene to save time in edit.
• Digital sports content providers will discover how Forscene provides the most advanced and comprehensive toolset for OTT and social delivery and how these tools open up new revenue models for repurposed content.
• Visitors working in news will have the opportunity to meet leading OTT innovator, Guy Tasaka, to find out how this pioneer in the industry uses Forscene to break news first.

The on-stand experience

While two demo pods on stand 7K01.b will be used to demonstrate how Forscene’s post-production tools are used in various media sectors, a select group of IBC 2016 visitors will be invited to attend private sessions in Forscene’s whisper suite where new time and budget-saving integrations and workflows will be revealed.

Speaking Events at IBC 2016

Forscene will host a presentation by OTT Innovator of the Year, Guy Tasaka at IBC 2016’s Technology in Action Theatre. The presentation, “Efficiency, speed, innovation – the key ingredients to delivering your breaking news content,” explores how the news industry has adapted for OTT and social delivery, and is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10, at 2p.m.

Company Quote:

“Although IBC 2016 is a technology exhibition, visitors to the show are business people and financial targets and strategic objectives drive their decision-making. Our focus at this year’s show is on demonstrating how using Forscene provides real business benefits to our clients in broadcast entertainment, news and sport production – helping them save time and money without compromising on production quality,” Jason Cowan, Director of Business Development.

If you want to meet with a Forscene representative at IBC 2016, simply book a meeting today.

The post Forscene at IBC 2016 – what’s going on? appeared first on Blackbird.

Richie, what is the number one hurdle to overcome with selling Forscene to the North American market?

Simply put, it’s people believing the performance of it. When you tell them it’s a cloud-based editor built on its own powerful codec, they’re sceptical. “How can that be?” is the first question they normally ask, closely followed by “how can I trust its performance?”

Of course it’s very easy for me to put people’s minds at rest, because Forscene is a powerful and secure platform used by some of the biggest names in the broadcast industry. For example, we were used on the Olympics in 2012 for NBCU’s highlights factory producing web and mobile packages and are currently integrated into a number of US news stations’ workflows. We’re also seeing traction with production companies like Leftfield and Magilla Entertainment signing up to use Forscene for use on entertainment shows.

Performance is powered by the Blackbird codec, which is Forscene’s own proprietary proxy. It is designed to handle the proxies of content as high as 4K resolution, with development in process to handle the emergence of 8K – it’s really cutting edge stuff!

What are the key selling points of the Forscene platform?

I would say the fact that it’s cloud-based is definitely number one. This means clients can work remotely, from any location, so long as they have an Internet connection – and it doesn’t have to be super-fast high-speed Internet either! Users have to feel like the content is locally attached and the experience is seamless, with no buffering. This point often links back to the first question, as people worry about how secure the platform is and how quickly they can work with it – we have a security statement on our website that will alleviate these concerns. Forscene really can speed up many kinds of video productions. Take news for example, where you can go from the live recording to breaking news clips being delivered to social media or the web in less than 2 minutes. This is ground breaking and gives our clients the opportunity to get ahead of their competitors.

https://youtu.be/hsLKKPCEMLI

Coming back to the point about Forscene being cloud-based, how does that work exactly?

Well, our editor runs in a browser, so there’s no need to download anything the first time you set it up. Forscene transcodes proxies of the original media and ingests either static or live growing files into the editor, where a stream can be available a few seconds behind the live content, if that’s your use case, or the dailies will use our intelligent download system to load the media around the playback bar – so no need to wait for the whole clip to load before working with it.

We can also integrate with cloud infrastructure such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon’s AWS cloud, where Forscene will transcode media through a Forscene Virtual Machine running on these third party cloud systems for delivery into the Forscene editor. Once the content has been edited in Forscene, the sequence can then either be exported to social media, or the web or a CDN, or be pushed back to the Azure or AWS cloud.

What other features in Forscene do you feel are worth highlighting for selling into the North American market?

All of them! I think what’s more important to highlight here is which features have been developed specifically for US client needs. I’m working closely with prospective clients here in the US to understand their needs and how Forscene can be adapted to work for them. A lot of it is similar to the UK market, but actually there are some key differences. Take double system audio, for instance: whilst not really used in the UK and Europe, productions here rely on this feature, and earlier this year the R&D team worked relentlessly and now we have double system audio available as a feature in the platform.

Closed captions are another feature that we’ve improved the functionality of in 2016, with advancements to how they display and can be edited on the timeline. They’re so easy to add and edit in Forscene and can be published with the final videos.

I think the last thing to add here as well, is how I work alongside Forscene’s Regional Manager, Jeff Krebs. Having been around the industry for a long time, Jeff is well respected and clients like how he handles the pre- and post-sales support, from training and demos to platform support. I’d say Jeff’s knowledge of the product, combined with my sales experience makes us a winning team to take on the US market!

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The post Forscene US presence strengthens in first half of 2016 appeared first on Blackbird.

By July 2017, the FCC ruling for closed captions on Internet video comes into effect, stating that all live or near-live video clips must have closed captions posted no later than 8-12 hours (depending on whether it is live or near-live) after the program is first shown on TV. So you need to ensure that your programs are compliant with the rulings by this date.

Editing video content with closed captions

Closed captions are very easy to use in Forscene – they can be imported with the footage, edited directly on the timeline just like a title, and published with the final output. It doesn’t matter whether the video content is being exported to the web, to social media or as an EDL to be finished in another editing system, as Forscene can integrate into any existing workflow. The advantage our professional video editor gives you is that it’s proven to save you time on your production – just read the quote from ABC7’s Susan Hardin when the Field59 and Forscene platform was implemented into their news production workflow earlier this year.

Get your content out faster with Forscene…

https://youtu.be/hsLKKPCEMLI

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The post What are closed captions? appeared first on Blackbird.