The North American Broadcasters Association and the UK’s Digital Production Partnership Ltd and have today announced they will work together in a strategic partnership to promote international exchange of content through the definition and implementation of common standards, to the benefit of the wider broadcasting industry.
The DPP brings its recent experience of defining and implementing a common standard for file-based programme delivery in the UK. NABA meanwhile brings its leadership role in the Joint Task Force on File Formats and Media Interoperability – and the huge experience of the North American networks that make up the NABA membership.
“The DPP is committed to making the international exchange of content quicker, cheaper and easier – that’s what digital media should be all about,” says Mark Harrison, Managing Director of the DPP. “The DPP has always had huge respect for NABA, and their commitment to international standards is every bit as great as ours. By working together I believe we can both realise our ambition.”
NABA’s Director-General Michael McEwen says “Our partnership with the DPP is a tangible step forward to developing common standards and transparency in File Formats and improving the efficiency of our operations. The DPP work and process has been highly successful in the UK and as we tackle these issues through the Joint Task Force a strategic partnership with the DPP brings us closer to the solutions we all want in a timely manner. I look forward to working with Mark Harrison and the DPP team.”
The two organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding, and have established a joint steering group. The NABA/DPP Steering Group will include amongst its members Richard Friedel, Executive Vice-President & General Manager, Fox Networks Engineering & Operations; John Lee, Executive Director, Media & Enterprise Technology Services, CBC/Radio-Canada; Clyde Smith, Chair, JTFFFMI; Paul Clark, Controller Online, Pay and Interactive Technology ITV; Andy Quested, the DPP and the BBC’s expert on international standards; as well as Michael McEwen and Mark Harrison.
The two organizations have also established a joint technical working group, which will hold its first workshop at NAB 2024, looking at how the AS-11 DPP standard can form the basis for a common delivery standard for North America.
The NABA/DPP technical group will in turn bring its work to the JTFFFMI which is jointly sponsored by the following organisations: AAAA, AMWA, ANA, EBU, IABM, NABA, and SMPTE.
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