Las Vegas, NV — Sony Electronics Inc. has announced that CNN will be the first beta test site in the U.S. for the newly announced Sony/EDS end-to-end digital asset management/archiving system. Just last week, Sony and EDS announced they had teamed up to offer a complete digital asset management solution for U.S.-based enterprises.

This system is comprised of the Sony PetaSite mass storage library, Sony DTF tape drives, EDS’ Media Vault software and Avalon Archive Manager(AAM) software. Sony and EDS are scheduled to demonstrate this new, comprehensive digital asset management system at Bally’s Event Center during the NAB ’98 convention from April 6-9.

The system installed at CNN is part of its ongoing effort to evaluate several approaches of how it will digitally archive and repurpose its vast library of video assets including 18 years worth of news footage amounting to over 700,000 video segments.

“Over the next several years CNN is committed to digitizing over 70,000 hours of its archive material,” said Gordon Castle, VP of Research and Development for CNN. “Our archive will be completely integrated into the production, on-air and content sales business. Powered by a system such as the Sony/EDS digital asset solution, the migration to digital storage will be transparent.”

“The Sony/EDS system is designed to provide CNN with a fully integrated solution for digitally archiving and repurposing its media rich assets,” said Ichiro Segawa, vice president of Data Systems for Sony Electronics’ Business and Professional Group. “The combination of DTF’s inherent speed and the scaleable capacity of PetaSite combined with the intuitive nature of EDS’s MediaVault and Avalon’s Archive Manager technology provides a powerful tool for CNN.”

“EDS’ systems integration expertise plus our MediaVault system, combined with Sony’s digital product line and storage capability allows CNN to seamlessly migrate to a digital environment,” said Charles Ansley, president, EDS Communications Industry Group. “This will become increasingly important as the industry moves to a digital format.”

“The enormous task of archive conversion to be undertaken by CNN is indicative of the future of video production and delivery,” said Joy Foglesong, CEO of Avalon Consulting Group. “Treating video as digital files will give CNN both the flexibility and efficiency needed for the fast-paced news environment. Both Sony and EDS have a long history of putting together quality solutions and we are pleased to be included as part of their team.”

EDS and Sony Electronics just announced a joint marketing agreement to offer a comprehensive solution to meet the growing demand for management of digital content and intellectual assets within U.S-based enterprises, including entertainment facilities (film, television, music), news organizations, advertising agencies, publishing companies, government agencies and Fortune 500 corporations. Improving the archiving and accessibility of digital media within companies allows those companies to repurpose and redistribute digital media in a way that maximizes its intrinsic value.