Missed the latest episode of 'The Apprentice'? You could always
catch it on the BBC iPlayer. What about 'Downton Abbey? That's on
ITV.com. And 'Glee'? You'll find that on 4oD.
As television consumers we're now thoroughly used to watching
video on our phones, PCs and tablets but we may never think about
the challenges - technical, logistical, financial - and all of the
teams of workers that are involved in getting a piece of content to
screen.
Even as VOD professionals, unless we're doing a job that
involves regular contact with a range of different departments, we
might not have a chance to see the process. So that's what this
article is about.
Through interviews with key staff and a look at core
technologies, we try to gain a better understanding of the chain of
events it takes to get a TV programme from production all the way
through to delivery to an end-user's device.
These are some of the people and machines that bring VOD
to our screens.
> Part
1: David Thompson, Content Producer, Origin
Pictures
> Part
2: Antony Gostyn, Film & TV Lawyer, Swan
Turton
> Part
3: Dave Price, Technical Supervisor, ITN
> Part
4: George Fraser, Vice President, Limelight
Networks
> Part
5: Video Servers from Edgeware
Solutions
> Part
6: Paul Myers, VOD Content Operations Manager,
4oD
> Part
7: Dave Grayland, Head of Technology, Virgin
Media
> Part
8: Phil Cooper and Leon Siotis, Brightroll
> Part
9: Derek Gough, Director of Product Management,
Level 3 Europe
> Part
10: Stephen Wills, Senior Engineer, Level 3
Europe