The move to file-based delivery of finished programmes means that archive copies for long-term storage will also be file-based. The industry is still working on agreeing standard file formats for master copies, and storage media and platforms are regularly up-dated as technology evolves, some becoming obsolete.

Some masters are preserved in traditional archives; some mezzanines are in the Cloud. Content management systems are not the same as “archives” as professionally curated resources. How do we protect our future heritage in the event of skills erosion, technology obsolescence and storage providers exiting the market? Are we facing the risk of content loss, or are there protections in place?

The panel will explain the challenges and address the concerns raised, suggesting ways to resolve the issues.
Our panel will be chaired by Sue Malden - Chair of FOCAL International, with speakers:
Steve Daly - Head of Technology, BBC Archives, BBC
Dale Grayson - Director of Content Management & Information Policy, ITV
Charles Fairall - Head of Conservation, BFI National Archive
Tom Blake - Director, Imagen

Sue Malden is the current Chair of FOCAL, the Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries. She is an independent consultant in audiovisual archive management and research working in places as far apart as Barbados and Qatar, having moved on from the BBC many years ago. Sue is also Secretary of the British Entertainment History Project, a media industry interview collection celebrating its 30th birthday, and the Chair of MACE, the Media Archive of Central England.

Producer: Carol Owens
FOCAL Adviser: Paul Collard