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Public Media Company Streamlining Cloud and On-Prem Storage Integration
Company Situation
The company operates a public access media station delivering local government and community content across multiple linear channels and a local cablecast. Their team is relatively small and nonprofit-driven, managing a mix of internally produced content, community-submitted shows, and partner contributions. They also provide training services to community members, enabling them to produce their own shows. Their content distribution includes live broadcasts, on-demand video (VOD) services, and archives.
Existing Workflow
Currently, the company uses an on-premises network-attached storage (NAS) system to store and manage content. Editors work directly off the NAS, and remote editors access low-resolution proxies for editing. They rely heavily on manual processes with little to no metadata tagging or indexing applied to their content. Content ingestion, editing, archiving, and VOD management are handled through disparate and largely manual workflows.
Issues with the Existing Workflow
The current NAS solution is reaching end-of-life, prompting the need for a replacement.
Minimal or no automated metadata tagging means content search and retrieval is inefficient, slowing down editorial and archival workflows.
Limited metadata use restricts the ability to support advanced search functions, especially for community members accessing the VOD service who want to find specific content (e.g., all appearances by a particular public official).
As a small, nonprofit organization, the company is focused on maximizing efficiency and reducing manual labor without adding complexity or cost.
The existing auto metadata tagging functionality was unsatisfactory, creating a demand for a more reliable and automated solution.
How Shade Would Change Their Workflow
Shade offers a cloud-based media management platform with AI-powered auto indexing and metadata tagging. This enables the company to automate the organization and tagging of their video assets right from ingest through to editing and archiving. Shade supports hybrid environments by integrating with existing on-prem infrastructure as a caching gateway, allowing seamless access for both local and remote editors.
Shade also offers multiple access methods—desktop applications across Mac, Windows, and Linux, web browsers, and mounted drives—providing flexible workflows for their diverse user base. The platform’s advanced search capabilities allow both internal editors and external users of the VOD service to quickly locate content based on rich metadata, such as appearances by specific individuals or events.
Additionally, Shade’s API can integrate with the company’s on-demand portal, enhancing searchability and playback directly within their existing public-facing platform.
Benefits
- Automated AI-driven metadata tagging improves searchability and retrieval speed.
- Streamlined workflows reduce manual effort from ingest to editing and archiving.
- Hybrid support leverages existing on-prem NAS infrastructure while enabling cloud benefits.
- Multi-platform access ensures flexibility for editors working onsite and remotely.
- Enhanced VOD search functionality empowers community members to find relevant content easily.
- Future-proof solution replacing end-of-life legacy systems with scalable cloud technology.
- Cost and resource efficiencies suitable for small, nonprofit organizations.
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