MCI implements VidiNet at Radio Bremen

MCI has received the contract from Radio Bremen to migrate the existing media asset management system VPMS2 to the new VidiNet system from manufacturer Vidispine. With this forward-looking project, Radio Bremen is creating the technical foundation for an even more efficient, connected, cross-media production environment.

Digital transformation in broadcasting

At the heart of the project is the replacement of the existing VPMS2 system with the modern VidiNet system. This platform will in future serve as the central media asset management system and further strengthen collaboration between radio, television, and online editorial teams at Radio Bremen.
Another key component is the outsourcing of the archive to the IVZ (Informations-Verarbeitungs-Zentrum, information processing center). With this step, Radio Bremen is following the example of other ARD regional broadcasters that have already successfully introduced a central archive solution.
The goal is to simplify editorial workflows, accelerate material flows, and make cross-media production significantly more efficient.

As general contractor, MCI is responsible for the complete project planning and implementation, including:
- Functional planning and contribution to the detailed specification
- Planning and installation of the new IT and hardware infrastructure
- Set-up of four modern ingest kiosks for decentralized media ingest
- Software-side provision of the IT systems
- Migration planning and coordination

The new infrastructure includes, among other things, eight Lenovo servers, 15 Apple Mac Studio systems, redundant database systems, Kubernetes clusters, and a Fibre Channel SAN connection for high-performance data flows.

The new ingest kiosks will enable decentralized ingest of media content in the future, significantly increasing flexibility in day-to-day production. The custom-made desks were manufactured by Studio Hamburg Design Works.

Networked production of the future

With the switch to VidiNet and the integration of the process control software Helmut (MoovIT), a modern, scalable, and future-proof production environment is being created.
Another project goal was the optimization of workflows. For example, as soon as a production is planned, users automatically receive material collections and the associated Premiere project.
Automatic transcriptions (via an ARD service using sigm@r), faster material transfers, and the option to work remotely (“Radio Bremen Remote”) support the broadcaster’s ambition to provide journalistic content even faster, more flexibly, and across multiple platforms in the future. Interfaces to external systems such as d’accord, sigm@r, and OpenMedia ensure that all processes interlock smoothly.