07 March 2018

ITV is using Spectra Logic’s BlackPearl Converged Storage Systems (top) and T950 Tape Libraries (bottom) at two separate data centres.

ITV is using storage systems from Spectra Logic to protect and preserve its digital assets over the long-term. 

As the UK’s largest commercial television network, ITV produces massive amounts of digital content that needs to be stored for up to 30 years. It anticipates reaching volumes of up to 20PB over time, with an estimated increase of about 2PB each year.

The broadcaster therefore needed a solution that was high-capacity, durable and scalable to support its current needs and future growth. It was also looking for a system that was non-proprietary, open standard and highly flexible so that several creative departments within the organisation could easily access and move content to and from its archive.

ITV is already using three Spectra tape libraries at other locations throughout the UK. As part of a new deployment, it has now installed two Spectra BlackPearl Converged Storage Systems and two T950 Tape Libraries at two separate data centres in Greenwich and Leeds. The Greenwich centre is utilising Spectra’s equipment with five of IBM’s TS1150 drives, while in Leeds it is using the vendor’s systems with six LTO-7 tape drives.

Data are moved to and from the firm’s archive automatically via BlackPearl using a variety of integrated partner applications and a Customer Created Client that ITV built through Spectra’s developer programme. Data is also moved manually via the BlackPearl Eon browser.

The broadcaster also expects to deploy multiple new MAM (mobile application management) clients throughout several workflows in the future. Spectra says this will be made possible thanks to BlackPearl’s multi-tenancy capability. These certified clients will write content to one location, and BlackPearl will replicate that content automatically to a second location through its Advanced Bucket Management feature.