Content Depot
A system and method for delivery and management of live and pre-produced broadcasts is disclosed. Programming can be distributed in real time over a delivery medium (e.g., satellite). Stations can streamline program management using a depot. The depot may centralize storage and program retrieval. The depot can be of the form of a distributed content storage and management system. Alternatively, the depot may be located at a hub that can be used to capture and manage all broadcast content and associated data and meta-data which are non-radio content.
1 . A method comprising:
centrally storing content for distribution to one or more radio stations;
receiving a request for a content item from a requesting radio station;
evaluating the request to determine if the requesting radio station is authorized to receive the content item;
if so, providing the content item including converting one or more headers associated with the content item based on data associated with the requesting radio station.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein centrally storing content includes storing content in a hub.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the content is radio content.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the content is selected from the group of a pre-recorded program and a streaming program.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the content is selected from the group of program content and traffic.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the traffic comprises one or more advertisement.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a request includes receiving login information from a user associated with the requesting radio station.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein providing the content item includes converting a header associated with the content item.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein centrally storing content further includes aggregating content from plural sources.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein providing the content item includes determining an automation system type associated with the requesting radio station, and pre-processing the content item in accordance with the automation system type.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein pre-processing includes converting a header associated with the content item.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein pre-processing includes converting a cart header associated with the content item to a cart header associated with the automation system type.
13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising determining if the automation system type is SS32, and if so, then pre-processing the content item includes converting a cart header associated with the content item to a SS32 type cart header.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein pre-processing further comprises calculating a duration of audio associated with the content item and updating the content item header.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein pre-processing further comprises receiving a path definition that includes a digital system audio path, cart number and a category, constructing a path using the digital audio path and the category, and saving a file associated with the content item in the path with the cart number specified.
16 . The method of claim 12 further comprising determining if the automation system is Maestro, and if so, then pre-processing the content item includes converting a cart header associated with the content item to a DAF type cart header.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein pre-processing further comprises receiving a path definition that includes a digital system audio path and cart number, and saving a file associated with the content item in the digital audio system path with the cart number specified.
18 . A method comprising
identifying content from plural sources for publication by one or more radio stations;
aggregating the identified content in a central repository;
controlling access to the aggregated content;
receiving requests to access the identified content;
identifying transfer controls associated with the publication of the accessed content; and
transferring, in accordance with the transfer controls, content associated with requests upon verification of credentials associated with a requesting device.
19 . A method comprising:
aggregating content;
marketing the content for distribution to one or more radio stations;
receiving a selection of a content item;
pre-processing the selected item in accordance with system parameters associated with a requesting system; and
delivering the pre-processed item to the requesting system.
20 . An apparatus comprising:
a hub including
a content depot, the content depot including designators for one or more content items that are available to authorized radio stations for play on the radio station;
an interface communicatively coupled between the content depot and one or more radio stations;
a user interface for managing content in the content depot including the inclusion of content in the depot by content providers and the selection of content by a radio station for inclusion in a playlist associated with the radio station; and
a conversion engine operable to convert a content item or metadata associated with a content item in accordance with parameters associated with a requesting radio station wherein at least one parameter is an automation system type of a requesting radio station.