Bell Atlantic Archiving Service Brings Audio and Video Libraries into the 21st Century

Full Transparency

Our editorial transparency tool uses blockchain technology to permanently log all changes made to official releases after publication.

More of our content is being permanently logged via blockchain technology starting [10.23.2020].

Learn more

Bell Atlantic Archiving Service Brings Audio and Video Libraries
into the 21st Century

Broadcasters, Producers and Libraries Can Easily Preserve, Catalog and
Retrieve News, Entertainment and Historical Content

December 8, 1998

Media
contact:

Larry Plumb,
703-974-3428

RESTON, Va. -- Every day valuable news footage and historical documentaries
are destroyed or unavailable for use due to deterioration, poor storage and
inaccessibility. While much of the world has become automated, many news
organizations, production houses and libraries still operate a mainly manual
process for search and storage of archival video and audio tapes. This can now
change.

Bell Atlantic has created a state-of-the-art archiving service that uses MPEG
digital encoding and a software-based catalog system to preserve and catalog
material so that it may be easily searched, previewed and retrieved.

This archiving service revolutionizes the management of valuable audio, video and
photographic content, saving organizations time and money in their day-to-day
activities while preserving valuable assets.

"While most organizations have invested in some type of electronic cataloging,
very few have made the progressive leap to a tapeless solution," said Dick Beville,
president of Bell Atlantic Video. "The Bell Atlantic archiving service's digital
encoding and electronic search and retrieval functions provide a seamless process
for locating and delivering needed content almost instantaneously."

"In developing this service, Bell Atlantic has considered all types of organizational
needs - from preservation and storage of original content to redirecting content for
new uses," said Beville. "With Bell Atlantic's archiving service, assets not only
keep their value, they become quickly accessible and useful for further distribution,
entertainment or institutional video-on-demand uses, or electronic learning."

The digital encoding services from Bell Atlantic allow content to be preserved,
reproduced and stored electronically thereby reducing physical space requirements.
Bell Atlantic, who pioneered large-scale digital compression techniques during the
company's innovative video-on-demand market trial in 1996, has the capability to
customize encoding for various video resolutions and a broad range of delivery
platforms, depending on customer needs. Bell Atlantic also performs digital
encoding services for audio and photographic content.

Using sophisticated yet easy-to-use software, content is encoded in real time as it
is being cataloged and indexed, all in a single integrated process. A database and
low resolution video/audio version of the content is created. This database can be
searched via the Internet by keywords, phrases or descriptions using a Web
browser. Search results are displayed as key frame "thumbnails" or storyboards
and the low resolution audio/video version can be previewed -- right at the
desktop. Previews include descriptive information about the content.

Digitized content is stored on servers in Bell Atlantic's secure facility. It can be
quickly and easily retrieved in either a low-resolution version or in a high
resolution MPEG version. Content can be delivered to clients electronically, via
satellite, or in a physical medium depending on client needs. This complete
content management system gives users fast, convenient access to the content
they're seeking.

The New Media division of Bell Atlantic Video Services provides this archiving
service, as well as other digital communications solutions for businesses through
an experienced staff of new media designers and digital engineers. The team
provides end-to-end solutions for such business applications as Web sites, kiosks,
digital learning systems and archival content management systems, and services
such as content acquisition, digital encoding and graphic design.

Located in Reston, Va, Bell Atlantic Video is a subsidiary of Bell Atlantic. The
unit markets and delivers to consumers a satellite-based entertainment alternative
to cable television. It also develops and delivers to businesses new media services
that strengthen communications and increase productivity.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight million wireless
customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced
wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the
world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are
also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.

Related Articles

02/15/2021

Virtual Reality (VR) has begun to transform medicine in profound ways. VR solutions are being used to train doctors and to plan and practice operations.

10/23/2020

Verizon’s military discounts site shows everything you need to know about Wireless offers, FiOS savings and military career opportunities, all in one place, making it simple for service members and veterans to discover what Verizon has to offer.