SCC has signed contracts with the Gannett Company Inc. to install an Amazon Cloud based SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition Digital Asset Management system for use by the Journal Media Group. The Amazon cloud system will be fully managed by SCC and enables sophisticated multimedia workflow and delivery functionality for news editors and content producers based at 14 regional JMG sites.
The installation includes the transfer of 7 million stories, 3 million photos and 3.5 million PDF pages from legacy on-premise storage, into highly affordable Amazon Glacier IR storage utilized by the SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition system.
For the 21st year SCC is pleased to supply SCC MediaServer workflow and digital asset management technology to the Annual Kentucky Mountain Workshops held in in Paris, Bourbon County KY., October 24–28, 2023
SCC has signed contracts with Lee Enterprises, Inc to add the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MI) to their existing Amazon AWS based SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition Digital Asset Management system. The Amazon cloud system is fully managed by SCC and enables sophisticated multimedia workflow and delivery functionality for news editors and content producers based at multiple properties within the Lee Enterprises group.
As part of the installation, SCC transferred 1.25 million images, 3.25 million stories and 1 million PDF pages into highly affordable Amazon Glacier IR storage utilized by the SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition system.
The Lee Enterprises system is also replicated in real-time to a secondary (DR) system located in an alternate Amazon AWS region, providing a high degree of redundancy and protection for both the system and the data contained within.
We are commonly asked questions relating to the architecture of our SCC MediaServer system, specifically how our data is organized, what approach we take to configuring large multi-property systems and how this pertains to digital rights management. Here is a sampling of those questions and our responses.
You describe SCC MediaServer as a highly scalable system, what exactly does that mean?
Right from the outset, we designed MediaServer to be as granular as possible, allowing systems to scale outwardly as well as upwardly. Other systems we have encountered (and we have seen many) are only able scale upwardly, meaning those systems are limited to a single database (and in some cases to a single table) which grows exponentially, eventually collapsing under its own weight.
What does SCC mean by scaling outwardly?
Scaling outwardly, or horizontally, means that the system is not limited to one database, but supports any number of databases, either on the same server, or distributed across multiple servers.
What's the advantage of supporting multiple databases?
From a performance perspective, distributing data across multiple databases leads to increased parallelism, not only from an SQL query and transaction log performance perspective, but from a hardware perspective also, where the distribution of databases over multiple storage devices can provide significantly improved I/O.
For large group systems, from an organizational perspective, allowing data from each regional property to be positioned in its own database provides huge benefits. For example, if a property is ever sold, having their own data in their own database which can be easily detached from a central system, and reattached to another standalone system provides a great advantage to the system owner.
From a data protection and recovery perspective, the task of backing up (and restoring) a system becomes much faster. For example, it is not unusual for a very large database to take several hours to back up (and restore) and this is a real issue for IT departments to balance with their users. Splitting that large database into multiple databases allows each to be backed up in parallel. E.g. if one database takes 2 hours to backup, then dividing into 2 databases reduces the time to 1 hour, using 4 databases reduces to 30 mins etc.
And from an affordability perspective, one of the major costs of operating a digital asset management system such as MediaServer is the cost of licensing the SQL Server RDBMS software. Microsoft does provide a free (Express) edition of their SQL Server software, but the database size is limited to 10 GB. However, Microsoft does not limit the number of databases that can be used, and so for a system like MediaServer that supports multiple databases, then the use of SQL Express Edition enables a very low cost but still viable solution (at least for certain implementations).
How does this granularity present itself to users?
As mentioned, from the outset we have designed MediaServer to be granular and this is achieved through the creation of SCC “libraries”. Libraries are searchable containers within the MediaServer system and one or more can be easily selected by a user for searching.
Are there any limits to the size of libraries, do I really need to have more than one?
No, there are no restrictions to the size of a library. If a site really wants a MediaServer system with all their data in just one library then they can do that, which would be equivalent to the other systems we have encountered.
So why again would I benefit multiple libraries?
The ability to create multiple libraries adds a whole new dimension to the organizational and permissions structure of the MediaServer system. If you wish, you can use libraries to separately store photos, from stories, from graphics, from pages, from videos, from assignments, from budgets etc. – and since each of these media types typically requires a different metadata field structure (schema) each SCC library supports its own customizable set of fields.
And for a large group-based system which holds data for multiple regional properties, you can easily create library "groups" to store photos, graphics, stories, pages, videos etc. separately for each property (site).
Do SCC libraries support permissions?
Yes, each SCC library has its own permissions mechanism. E.g. a photographer may be allowed to edit the metadata in a photo library but not in a story or pages library, whereas a librarian or an admin user may have permission to edit all libraries.
And in the multi property sharing context, users at site "A" may have permissions to edit data within the site "A" library group but not within site "B" or site "C" library groups etc.
What about searching the system? Does each library have its own full text search index?
Yes, in addition to its own SQL table schema, each SCC library also has its own full text search index. Again those other systems we have encountered with a single database/table structure are also limited to a single full text index. This means that any requirement to rebuild or redesign that full text index requires the entire system to be down for the duration of that rebuild, and we’ve heard horror stories where systems have been down for many days while that single index is rebuilt.
This is not the case for the MediaServer system, any decision to rebuild or redesign a full text index only affects that one particular library and is very fast.
But do multiple libraries get in the way for users searching the system?
No, that’s where the magic comes in. The MediaServer system search engine supports multiple libraries (and multiple full text indexes) completely transparently. i.e. searches can be performed against one library, against 10 libraries, against 100 libraries without the user having any knowledge of that, just as if only one index existed.
However in a well-organized asset management system, it would make sense that users have the option to pick a certain library if they are interested in photos only, or another library for stories only, or to pick multiple libraries to search multiple data types for example, but that comes down to customer preference and how our SCC client interface is designed for each system.
For our large group based multi property systems users search their own “site” libraries primarily, but with the option to also expand their search (depending on user permissions) to other sites across the enterprise.
So the use of libraries facilitates rights management, correct?
Yes, exactly, by creating a system where data is organized into libraries, rather than having everything smashed together into a single table, and where the system supports the allocation of permissions at the library level, makes it possible, and in fact very easy to manage rights for data originating from each individual property, and also critically for data originating from agency sources.
You started out talking about databases, but then moved onto libraries, how do databases and libraries relate to each other?
It is not mandatory to position libraries in multiple databases, for small standalone systems it is typical to store all libraries in a single database.
But for large multi-property systems we would definitely recommend positioning library sets for each property in their own database (site A, site B, site C etc.), since as mentioned above, parallelism is significantly increased, backup/restore times greatly reduced, rights management controlled, and it just makes good sense to keep the data for each property stored separately – scaled upwardly and outwardly rather than upwards only.
It appears that libraries can be used for any purpose e.g. I have all kinds of small legacy databases, created in Filemaker Pro, in Access, in FoxPro etc. I could relocate the data in each of those to a MediaServer library, right?
Yes that’s the cool thing about MediaServer that I’m not sure everybody understands. The fields in our libraries are completely customizable, permissions are completely customizable, and you get a full text index for every library for free.
All you need is the user interface to each library, which is easily created by SCC, or by yourselves via our Rest API developer tools.
This is exactly how we have created our news budgeting (events diary) and assignments workflows for example, and our own story authoring/editing environment. Couple all of that with our sophisticated delivery engine, and you have everything you need to plan, assign and originate content all in one place, and to deliver on completion the necessary data structures (JSON, XML etc.) to your print and online playout devices.
SCC has signed a contract with Lee Enterprises, Inc to add the Buffalo News (NY) to their existing Amazon AWS based SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition Digital Asset Management system. The Amazon cloud system is fully managed by SCC and enables sophisticated multimedia workflow and delivery functionality for news editors and content producers based at multiple properties within the Lee Enterprises group.
During the installation, SCC will export, insert and link 2 million photos, 2 million stories and 250,000 pages from the Buffalo News Newscycle (BRS/Search) legacy archive system into the SCC MediaServer system.
The Lee Enterprises SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition system is also replicated in real-time to a secondary (DR) system located in an alternate Amazon AWS region, providing a high degree of redundancy and protection for both the system and the data contained within.
SCC is pleased to announce a new add-on interface to the SCC MediaServer Web Client application, allowing users with appropriate credentials, to search, browse, preview and download digital content from Imagn, a USA Today Sports Media Group Company and a global leader in premium digital media content creation and distribution to media companies worldwide.
The SCC MediaServer Imagn interface has been designed as close as possible to the functionality provided for searching and accessing SCC stored assets, giving the user a sophisticated search, browse and download user experience for Imagn digital content. Advanced SCC client functions such as saved searches, image compare, slideshow, pan & zoom, print layouts, marked sets, server-side download/delivery, as well as user interface language localization and light/dark mode displays are all available for Imagn content in just the same way as they are for SCC stored content
SCC will be upgrading and allowing this new functionality to be used completely free of charge by all sites with both an active SCC contract and an active subscription to the Imagn service.
A video demonstration of the Imagn Interface can be viewed by clicking on this link
SCC is pleased to announce the immediate availability of a new web client application, available at no additional charge, to run alongside our existing SCC desktop web client and SCC mobile web client applications.
SCC MediaBrowser provides read-only access to SCC MediaServer content using a small footprint "one-page", "one-click" responsive user interface, and is ideally suited for operation inside of a standard "iframe" DOM element within a CMS, a workflow application extension, or a public facing website.
SCC MediaBrowser can also be accessed as a stand-alone "simple" client application for production users (toners, page editors etc.) requiring read-only access to a specific set of content, e.g. content marked for publication.
SCC MediaBrowser provides drag and drop to the desktop and to filesystem directories, the ability to create date/time limited media links for social media and/or web page production, and provides access to our powerful Delivery module allowing for media to be easily delivered server-side to downstream 3rd party production/CMS systems.
A video demonstration of SCC MediaBrowser incorporated as an Adobe CC extension can be viewed by clicking on this link
A video demonstration of SCC MediaBrowser operating inside a CMS "iframe" element can be viewed by clicking on this link
SCC has signed a contract with the Bakersfield Californian to supply a fully managed Amazon (AWS) based SCC MediaServer Cloud Edition Digital Asset Management system. The system enables sophisticated multimedia workflow and delivery functionality for news editors and content producers, and provides immediate access to 25 years of digital content including 500,000 photos and graphics, 300,000 stories and 500,000 pages. When operating out of the Amazon AWS cloud SCC MediaServer systems provide a high degree of redundancy and protection for both the system and the data contained within.
SCC is pleased to announce a new AP Media interface to our SCC MediaServer Web Client application, which adds the ability for users with appropriate credentials, to search, browse, preview and download/deliver multimedia content directly from the Associated Press, the definitive source for independent journalism from every corner of the globe.
Over the last few months, SCC software engineers have been working to bring this game changing functionality to our users. We have gone to extra lengths to ensure that the AP Media search, browse and download/deliver experience is as close as possible to the functionality we provide for our own stored assets. Advanced SCC client functions such as saved searches, image compare, slideshow, pan & zoom, print layouts, saved marked sets, server-side download/delivery, as well as user interface language localization and light/dark mode displays are all available for AP Media content in just the same way as they are for SCC stored content
SCC will be upgrading and allowing this new functionality to be used completely free of charge by all sites maintaining an active SCC contract and with an active subscription to the Associated Press.
A video demonstration of the AP Media Interface can be viewed by clicking on this link
SCC is pleased to announce the immediate availability of a major upgrade to our SCC MediaServer Web Client application, which now adds the ability for users with appropriate credentials, to search, browse, preview and download/deliver image content directly from Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace.
According to Mike Zarrilli, Senior Director, Global Strategic Development for Getty Images:
"With this exciting new integration, SCC customers will now be able to connect and access their existing Getty Images accounts directly within the SCC MediaServer platform. By using pre-built search criteria and sophisticated browsing tools, customers can now find, view, and download real-time and relevant visual content from their existing SCC dashboards, as well as download/deliver content to the various production systems supporting their publishing needs. We expect SCC customers will find this feature most valuable in reducing content access friction and minimizing time-to-publish."
Over the last few months, SCC software engineers have been working in conjunction with Getty Images’ technical team to bring this game changing functionality to our users. We have gone to extra lengths to ensure that the Getty Images search, browse and download/deliver experience is as close as possible to the functionality we provide for our own stored assets. Advanced SCC client functions such as saved searches, image compare, slideshow, pan & zoom, print layouts, saved marked sets, server-side download/delivery, as well as user interface language localization and light/dark mode displays are all available for Getty Images content in just the same way as they are for SCC stored content
SCC will be upgrading and allowing this new functionality to be used completely free of charge by all sites maintaining an active SCC contract and with an active subscription to Getty Images.
A video demonstration of the Getty Images Interface can be viewed by clicking on this link
