Comprehensive Sales and Marketing Solutions

Otv specialists regularly craft unique solutions with the client to meet their programme sales and marketing needs and advise on new areas to be exploited. 

Generally we work with clients to provide a total solution covering the 'at market' requirements, mobile sales needs and a full online pogramme sales website.

Otv will also encode/transcode/edit/store and maintain a client's digital catalogue.

The benefits of adopting a comprehensive solution with Otv are:

Substantial cost savings made from economies of scale.

Otv being accountable for all systems makes for high speed and efficient service.

The upgrade path on equipment, software and encoding services is built in.

Clients have constant consultative access to Otv expertise enabling new developments in software and hardware.

Quarterly invoicing spread over a period of time that takes into consideration a clients budgetary constraints.
For example we may have developed a site and launched it but have spaced payments over 3 years to include all services. This avoids a high initial capital outlay to get a site up and running.

High Quality Digital Video Market Sales System

This system enables clients to sell back-catalogue and latest programming easily and efficiently.

Currently in use with TV, film, distribution, production and entertainment companies at content markets and exhibitions such as MIPTV, MIPCOM, NATPE, AFM and Discop.

Otv builds tailor-made software and hardware solutions, and supplies, delivers, installs and maintains the necessary viewing and storage hardware required at the various venues.

At markets, Otv technicians work in tandem with stand builders to install bespoke screening areas where the clients’ entire back-catalogue and latest product is available. Viewing is via touch screens, wide screen monitors or laptop PCs, each displaying high quality full-screen video within half a second of a user selecting a title

Otv has now developed full administrative systems for use at Markets. In addition to screening, sales executives now enjoy full sales office functions on the systems in Cannes. Executives use meeting planners, ordering systems, and playlist creation during meetings allowing buyers to screen more comprehensively online after a meeting. All activity is recorded and rendered into the relevant reports.

Using an Otv Market Sales System alleviates paper, increases the efficiency of meetings, reduces screener orders significantly and saves the sales executives the headache of note collation and reporting to producers after market. For pictures please browse to the about section of the site.

Online Programme Sales Website

Otv designs and programs specialised distribution websites. Functionality includes: playlist creation, producer reporting, ordering systems, bespoke marketing tools and full client CMS controls.

An online programme sales website not only eliminates the need for DVD Screeners and international despatch, it enables sales teams to automate many of their sales and reporting functions giving rise to a comprehensive online system tailored to an individual distributors workflow. 

Otv offers a full project managed service, working with clients on a comprehensive design, development, launch and user training process. Post site launch we offer a full materials service including encoding, transcoding, uploading, testing, and QC.

Otv also offers deliverables sites to clients which allow buyers to download materials related to programmes they have purchased within their license period.

Otv uses the latest re-compression techniques to render full-length programmes or trailers compatible with the Internet.

Otv optimise all sites to display correctly in all industry standard browsers including: Internet Explorer 6/7, Safari and Firefox, an often overlooked service.

Otv has designed and manages it's own dedicated hosting backline located in the same London based Level 3 facility as Google, T Mobile, Yahoo and Microsoft. We offer a high speed, failsafe and secure environment for client sites. We have full time engineers and 24/7 alert systems monitoring every aspect of video streaming and site operations.

Whilst most of our B to B sites do not require search engine 'optimisation', a process whereby a site gets higher up the list of results returned after a search in say Google, we do offer this service where required. 

Laptop Video Sales System

Otv can transfer a client’s Sales and Marketing system onto laptops for use outside the Market environment, either for individual sales trips or one-to-one presentations at hotels or client offices. Typically the service is used for markets such as LA Screenings, AFM and Discop.

Most clients on sales trips between markets are using laptop PCs, either the client’s own machines or units supplied by Otv. This removes the need to transport large quantities of DVD's around the world. It's mobile and content can be located quickly (far quicker than loading from a DVD disc). No detailed training is required for users.

Otv laptops have travelled tens of thousands of miles since 1999 without one failure.

Bespoke Software Solutions

In addition to the creation of full distribution sites, Otv has created many bespoke software applications for distributors and producers.

These include systems such as the diary/booking system used in the Fremantle Tented Village and on the UK Indies stand at MIP, one off  'awards' voting sites such as the C21 Media Format awards of 2007 and dedicated materials sites such as the Film 4 site www.film4library.com

If you have questions about a 'one off ' software solution that you may require please contact us.

Encoding

Much of Otv encoding is applied to archive programming going back over 40 years by our team of expert operators working with sophisticated tools offering noise reduction, image filtering, editing and audio correction.

Otv offers encoding of video from all formats - HD CAM, Digital Betacam, Film, Beta SP, Betacam SX, MPEG IMX, DV, Umatic, SVHS, VHS.

Otv encodes to all MPEG formats including the full profile 4:2:2 50i standard seen as the digital equivalent of Digibeta tape. We encode to all standard formats including WMV, Flash and ITunes. We also encode to the emerging standard of MPEG 4 AVC typically in use for IPTV and VOD.

We are often required to edit out advert breaks, unwanted logos and clocks, all of which are included in a one off encode price.

With the majority of bradcasters broadcasting from digital file and increasingly accepting digital files when Otv encode we also offer a full digital delivery service.

Given the realities of production, and post-production we offer a full 'last minute' encoding service in the build up to Markets. We also have a full encoding and editing facility in Cannes at the two MIPS.

Storage and maintanance of clients encoded catalogues between markets is included in the one-off encode price.

Transcoding

This involves the creation of multiple digital video formats from a digitised file, typically MPEG or uncompressed AVI. This is an efficient method for  creating WMV, MPEG4 AVC, Flash, 3GP and ITunes.

At Otv we understand the most effective transcoding methods giving superior quality 'low resolution' video files for applications such as the online screening, IPTV and 'download to own' sites.

If we are holding client's digitised files on our servers we are ready to transcode at any time to any required format.
For example changes in Internet and browser technology sometimes demand an upgrade in the WMV files on a client's site. This transcoding is a service we include in the initial encode price if a client has opted for a comprehensive package with Otv.

We are also often required to watermark clients video files, this is a process that can be achieved during transcoding.

Otv is also a licensed Windows Media DRM packager for Business to Consumer video, enabling us to package a clients WMV files into an encrypted file, only viewable on the terms set by the business rules of the content owner. This technology is particularly critical in the Business to Consumer viewing sphere.

Otv has the in house facility to QC all digital files prior to delivery to the consumer. This is a process whereby the 'metrics' of a transcoded file are thoroughly checked ensuring that frame rates and image qualtiy are held at optimum levels.

Post Production

Increasingly our client's are needing a service to render back-catalogue or 'Long Tail' material accessible for viewing and purchase via the Internet. As a result of this we have developed in-house systems tailored specifically for back catalogue programming.

Otv encodes to the MPEG II 50i 4:2:2 standard or uncompressed AVI and take out unwanted advert breaks, logos and clocks. In some older footage, audio such as applause and music go under a disused logo prior to an advert break. We have developed high speed editing techniques to alleviate back-catalogue issues such as these.
Once a programme has been encoded and edited we then transcode to any format for streaming or download.

Otv has the in house-facility to QC all digital files prior to delivery to the consumer. This is a process whereby the 'metrics' of a transcoded file are thoroughly checked ensuring that frame rates and image qualtiy are held at optimum levels.

For clients involved in the Business to Consumer environment we can also wrap Windows Media files into a Digital Rights Management package enabling the content owner full control of how their product is distributed and viewed.

DVD and CD Creation

Otv designs and produces interactive CD ROM's and DVD's with particular focus on programme content. These discs are often used as sales tools and promotional references at market and exhibitions. For example Channel 4 International regularly ask us to produce enhanced CD ROM's for the launch of new programme genres.

Otv utilises the same high production values learnt in the broadcast industry in all its disc media production, from graphic design to scripting and editing footage.
Otv also produce DVD masters when encoding for screener duplication