Supporting New Business Imperatives

Creating a Framework for Interoperable Media Services (FIMS)

The Current Media Landscape

• Rapidly changing demands from consumers– Multiple types of content and delivery platforms– Increasingly sophisticated expectations– Rate of change is accelerating

• Business model needs to be:– Easily adaptable to sustain growth and increase

profitability– Supportive of content creativity and innovation

Content Distribution Requires…

• Multiple versions for different – Regulatory environments– Regional and cultural audiences– Distribution mechanisms– Delivery devices

• Integrated supply chain processes for– Video and audio formats– Descriptive and technical metadata– Languages, subtitles, captions…and more

Rapid Change Requires Flexibility

• Future platform must Suit an agile business environment, using lower-cost

commoditized IT technology where possible Allow for seamless addition or adaptation of new services Facilitate a low “cost of entry” into new revenue areas Be easily scalable Quickly redeploy assets to the most successful and profitable

environments Ensure efficient use of technical resources Drive toward modest operational expenditures rather than large

capital expenditures

How to Get There:Service Oriented Architecture

FIMS: A joint initiative created by the Advanced Media Workflow Association and the European Broadcasting Union

A proven approach in many industry sectors that is now being developed for Media and Entertainment

The FIMS Concept

• Media Supply Chain Workflow− Centralize decision-making and business processes − Provide a flexible platform to adapt to new business requirements

• Reduce reliance on proprietary solutions− Expose closed systems as services − Allow workflow to dictate infrastructure instead of the other way

around

• Speak the same language − Leverage a standard interface across media services

FIMS Priorities set by users

• FIMS Business Board– Global representation

• Scope and duties– Maintain business focus– Identify business needs– Prioritize FIMS work

How can FIMS adoption help?

• Prioritizes operations that are mission critical• Allows for flexibility in system architecture design• Allows for tasks to occur in parallel increasing

resource utilization• Allows adoption of new workflows to be scaled to

suit the business or investment• Services are only called upon when needed and

released when not in use

Business Benefits

• A media supply chain that is more responsive to consumers’ needs and competitors’ activities

• Highly efficient media production becomes more achievable

• Supports business continuity by facilitating easier control of resources and contingency planning

Financial Benefits

• Improved Return on Investment:– Ability to pilot new channels and services at lower risk /

lower costs– Reduce costs of integration of new business and

technical systems– Transition from high capital investment to lower

operational expenditures– Use off-the-shelf components that can be easily replaced

or re-configured

Operational Benefits

• Resources and workflows can be modified more quickly

• Improved utilization of resources / reduced bottlenecks

• Human resources only used where people are really needed

• Can capitalize on expanding pool of experienced IT resources

Technology Benefits• Capitalizes on file-based workflows• Removes reliance on proprietary solutions• Makes “best of breed” designs easier to incorporate• Flexibility and scalability incorporated into overall

system architecture• Ease in installation of new / modification of existing

services• New services can be tested using resources in the

cloud

Summary• FIMS is a groundbreaking but very achievable

change in infrastructure and media processing• FIMS promises many benefits in business agility and

efficiency• FIMS activities will track real world media business

needs but…

Media industry input on FIMS activities is vital• Learn more about the FIMS Business Board and

Technology Board at www.FIMS.tv