Supporting international content delivery across platforms

ZEE is a global entertainment company based in Mumbai, India. The company launched India’s first private satellite channel, ZEE TV, in 1992 and now reaches 1.3 billion viewers around the world through its broadcast, digital, cinema and live event platforms.

Technology Involved:

Project

For ZEE TV, a major broadcaster, finding a solution to manage true peak loudness for their domestic content was essential. The challenge quickly evolved: ZEE TV needed a comprehensive solution to handle not only domestic content but also content prepared for overseas distribution, adhering to the R128 loudness standard, as well as short form and cinema content for their broader network.

As part of their daily operations, ZEE TV must optimise its loudness management process for a diverse array of media files, which includes analyzing and processing multiple audio formats. ZEE TV faced compliance and efficiency issues with their existing methods, which involved significant manual effort to ensure each file met the necessary loudness standards. To address this, ZEE TV sought to implement a more efficient system capable of managing their extensive audio requirements across different content types and distribution channels.

Through a strategic partnership with Emotion Systems, ZEE TV integrated Emotion’s automated audio processing software, Engine, into their workflow. This integration transformed their process by enabling Engine to perform both the analysis and automatic adjustment of media files to meet true peak and R128 loudness standards. By leveraging Emotion Systems’ technology, ZEE TV was able to streamline their audio processing, ensuring compliance and improving efficiency across their domestic and international content distribution.

Introducing Engine

Emotion Systems has provided ZEE with 2 Engines which are installed at their creative centre for global distribution in Mumbai. Both systems run a variety of modules including loudness correction, track mapping and conditional workflows. The modules and workflows implemented are primarily centred around the measurement and correction of loudness across and into a variety of formats.

Depending on the type of content and processing required, workflows are triggered in Engine using Eclient, watch folders or through a specially built connector with ZEE’s Telestream Vantage system. Engine also provides the ability to prioritise tasks via a “do next” function and by placing urgent content into a priority folder to jump the queue. These features illustrate the flexibility of the automation system required for audio processing across ZEE’s commercial, cinema and episodic content.

This project is a good example of how Emotion Systems work with customers to optimise our products so that we can solve their unique challenges. The off-the-shelf version of Engine is a powerful audio automation tool, but a small investment in customising the solution delivers massive cost and time saving benefits."

MC Patel
CEO

Summary

The ZEE and Emotion Systems teams conducted an extensive testing and development project to optimise Engine to meet ZEE’s unique domestic, international, and multi-platform requirements. Particular attention was given to ensuring that the dialogue in cinema content wasn’t compromised during loudness correction, and Emotion modified Engine’s loudness range processor to provide 4 easy-to-apply settings customised to suit ZEE’s content and delivery standards without requiring a highly skilled team of operators.

Engine is now used to correct loudness for all ZEE TV’s overseas content and much of their promo and commercial material. The entertainment giant has also subsequently bought six more Engines – one for each of their regional stations – to automate loudness correction for local content.



The Loudness module features all legacy and current metering options, ensuring compliance with any specification. This flexibility allows Emotion Systems' users to deliver content globally. For example, Zee uses a combination of Program Loudness and True Peak, customised to meet the unique requirements of the Indian market. While Program Loudness aligns with European and American standards, India's True Peak values can differ significantly, sometimes requiring a -10 True Peak. Emotion Systems' Loudness module makes meeting these varied specifications manageable and efficient.



The collaboration between ZEE TV and Emotion Systems' Engine has revolutionised ZEE's audio processing workflows. By automating and customising loudness correction, track mapping, and conditional workflows, ZEE TV can now manage its diverse content with exceptional efficiency. This integration not only simplifies compliance with international standards but also enhances content quality and reduces operational costs. This innovative approach exemplifies the future of media processing, where advanced automation and tailored solutions seamlessly meet the evolving demands of the global entertainment industry.

Enhanced Global Compliance

By integrating Emotion Systems' Engine, ZEE TV ensures all content, whether domestic or international, adheres to the R128 loudness standard. This facilitates smooth and compliant content delivery across various regions and platforms.

Improved Workflow Efficiency

The flexibility of Engine, with its ability to trigger workflows through Eclient, watch folders, or a specially built connector, has streamlined ZEE TV's audio processing. This reduces bottlenecks and enhances overall workflow efficiency.

Customisation & Flexibility

The extensive testing and development project with Emotion Systems allowed ZEE TV to customize the loudness range processor to their specific needs. This customization ensures the audio processing meets ZEE’s unique content standards without compromising quality.

Scalability

With the deployment of additional Engines at regional stations, ZEE TV can scale their audio processing capabilities to meet growing demand. This modular approach ensures that they can easily expand operations without significant overhauls.

Priority Processing

The “do next” function and priority folders enable ZEE TV to manage urgent content efficiently. This feature ensures that high-priority content is processed quickly, reducing delays in critical broadcast schedules.

Cost Savings

Automating loudness correction and other audio processing tasks reduces the need for manual intervention, leading to significant cost savings. This allows ZEE TV to allocate resources more effectively, investing in content creation and other critical areas.

Operational Consistency

With Engine handling the bulk of audio processing, ZEE TV has achieved a consistent operational standard across all their content types, from commercials to cinema to episodic content. This consistency enhances the brand's reliability and reputation.