Magna Systems modernises National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea with integrated file-based workflow

Magna, with support from the Australian Government’s Regional Media Support Fund, has completed a systems integration project for the National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea (NBC PNG), delivering a fully file-based production and content sharing environment that replaces the broadcaster’s legacy tape and manual processes.

NBC PNG’s new EditShare shared storage and media asset management system with Disk Archive supplied and installed by Magna Systems

NBC PNG, Papua New Guinea’s state-owned national broadcaster for more than 50 years, operates national radio services on 90.7 FM and 585 AM, Tribe 92FM and NBC Television. With news on the hour every hour, a nightly 6pm television bulletin and content contributions flowing in from geographically dispersed locations across the country, the corporation required a production platform that could keep pace with a demanding, deadline-driven schedule while bringing its operations into the digital era.

Future-Ready Solution

Magna was engaged to design and implement a reliable, future-ready solution. The engagement called for

• centralised file sharing
• dependable content access across multiple sites
• simplified ingest, editing and playout workflows
• improved system stability, redundancy, scalability for future HD and digital workflows
• ease of use for operational staff with varying technical expertise

The new solution centres on an EditShare shared storage and media asset management system paired with Disk Archive for long-form retention, connected through a high-speed network infrastructure and integrated with ingest, non-linear editing and playout.

Magna also supplied, installed and configured Apple edit systems to give journalists and producers direct, real-time access to centralised media. Backup and redundancy systems now protect content and ensure continuity of operations.

“We have moved from a fragmented, manual workflow to a fully integrated, file-based production environment.”
– Belsha Katun, National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea

“Magna delivered exactly what we needed,” said Belsha Katun, Acting Executive Director of the National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea. “We have moved from a fragmented, manual workflow to a fully integrated, file-based production environment. Our journalists, editors and producers can now ingest content from multiple sources, work directly from shared storage and prepare packages for broadcast far faster than before. The platform is stable, it is reliable and it gives us a clear, confident path to HD and digital workflows in the future. Magna understood our environment and our people and they delivered.”

Real-time Collaborative Environment with Significantly Faster Turnaround

The standout feature of the new solution is the transformation itself. What was previously a disjointed, tape-dependent operation is now a cohesive, real-time collaborative environment. A typical workflow begins with content ingested into the central storage system, logged and made available through the asset management interface, edited directly from shared storage, exported or transferred to playout and then archived for future reuse. This enables significantly faster turnaround of news content and a foundation that supports the corporation’s planned expansion into digital and HD services.

Magna group CEO Matthew Clemesha added, “We were delighted to be able to help NBC PNG with this key SI project. Magna was responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the project, covering system design and architecture, EditShare and Disc Archive supply and integration, installation and configuration of the supplied Apple edit systems, workflow optimisation, testing and commissioning and training of NBC operational staff.”

Benefits Beyond Technology

For NBC PNG, the benefits extend beyond technology as Belsha Katun concluded, “Our journalists, editors and producers now share content seamlessly between departments and locations, the production base is more resilient and as a result we are positioned to grow our HD and digital output without replacing the core platform. Our viewers and listeners also stand to benefit from faster, more reliable delivery of news and programming on radio, television and online.”

The NBC PNG project underscores Magna Systems’ continuing role in supporting broadcasters across the Asia-Pacific region in their transition to modern, file-based operations.