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Make every piece of content findable and billable

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We help broadcasters, publishers and studios digitise archives, track rights, automate ad operations and understand audiences across every platform.

Parts list

  1. Archive digitisation and MAM
  2. AI metadata tagging
  3. Rights and royalty management
  4. OTT and FAST channel launch
  5. Ad operations automation
  6. Audience data platform
Project
Media & Entertainment
Discipline
Digital transformation
Drawn by
Nexzem engineering
Scale
Not to scale

Valuable content is locked in tapes, drives and spreadsheets

Broadcasters and production houses often sit on decades of content stored on tapes and unlabelled hard drives, with rights terms buried in contracts that only the legal team has read. Ad sales still run on insertion orders and manual scheduling, subscriber and reader data is split across the website, app, print circulation and OTT partner reports, and nobody can say which shows or stories actually drive revenue.

Rules shape how digital content is published. The IT Rules 2021 require digital publishers and OTT platforms to follow a code of ethics, classify content by age rating and run a grievance redressal mechanism. The amended Cinematograph Act strengthened action against piracy, broadcasters report under TRAI frameworks, and audience data collected for personalisation falls under the DPDP Act.

Nexzem works from the asset outward. We digitise and tag the archive, attach rights and licence windows to each asset, and connect that catalogue to playout, OTT and syndication channels. Ad operations and audience analytics are built on the same catalogue, so revenue can finally be traced back to the content that earned it.

Media & Entertainment, drawn as a phased roadmap

Workstreams down, phases across. An illustrative sequence; your roadmap is set after the first audit.

Ph 1

Ph 2

Ph 3

Ph 4

Ph 5

  1. Archive digitisation and MAM
    Phases 1 to 2
  2. AI metadata tagging
    Phases 1 to 2
  3. Rights and royalty management
    Phases 2 to 2
  4. OTT and FAST channel launch
    Phases 2 to 3
  5. Ad operations automation
    Phases 3 to 4
  6. Audience data platform
    Phases 3 to 3
  7. Localisation workflows
    Phases 4 to 5
  8. Grievance and compliance tools
    Phases 5 to 5
  1. Ph 1

    Content and rights inventory

    We assess archive formats, catalogue quality and how rights are currently recorded.

  2. Ph 2

    Catalogue foundation

    MAM, metadata schema and rights data model are set up as the single source of truth.

  3. Ph 3

    Digitise and tag

    Archive ingestion and AI tagging run in prioritised batches based on commercial value.

  4. Ph 4

    Distribution channels

    OTT, FAST, syndication and ad operations connect to the catalogue.

  5. Ph 5

    Audience intelligence

    Audience data, recommendations and revenue attribution close the loop.

Media & entertainment transformation initiatives

Digitise archives, rights, ad operations and audience data so publishers, broadcasters and studios monetise content across platforms.

  1. 01

    Archive digitisation and MAM

    Tape and drive ingestion into a media asset management system with proxies, technical metadata and search, so editors find footage in seconds.

  2. 02

    AI metadata tagging

    Speech-to-text, face, object and scene detection that tags archive content automatically, turning unlabelled footage into searchable, licensable inventory.

  3. 03

    Rights and royalty management

    Contract terms, territories, platforms and windows attached to each asset, with availability checks before scheduling and royalty statements for licensors.

  4. 04

    OTT and FAST channel launch

    Streaming apps, subscription and ad-supported tiers, and free ad-supported channels built from existing libraries, with age ratings and parental controls.

  5. 05

    Ad operations automation

    Order management, scheduling, delivery tracking and billing that connect linear and digital inventory, replacing insertion orders managed in spreadsheets.

  6. 06

    Audience data platform

    Unified reader and viewer profiles from web, apps, subscriptions and partners, with consent records and segments for advertisers and editorial.

  7. 07

    Localisation workflows

    Subtitle, dubbing and translation pipelines combining AI first drafts with human review, managing versions for every language release.

  8. 08

    Grievance and compliance tools

    Content classification records, complaint intake and tiered grievance workflows that align with IT Rules obligations for digital publishers.

Why choose Nexzem for media & entertainment transformation

  • R-01

    Archive becomes revenue

    Tagged, rights-cleared content can be licensed, syndicated or programmed again.

  • R-02

    No rights breaches

    Availability checks stop content from airing outside its licensed territory or window.

  • R-03

    Faster ad turnaround

    Automated orders and scheduling shorten the time from booking to airing.

  • R-04

    Audience clarity

    Unified profiles show which content builds loyalty and which only draws one-time visits.

  • R-05

    More languages, sooner

    AI-assisted localisation gets content into regional markets faster.

How media & entertainment transformation unfolds, phase by phase

Sheet P-01, delivery sequence

Clear stages with a review at the end of each, so you always know what happens next and what it costs.

  1. S1

    Content and rights inventory

    We assess archive formats, catalogue quality and how rights are currently recorded.

  2. S2

    Catalogue foundation

    MAM, metadata schema and rights data model are set up as the single source of truth.

  3. S3

    Digitise and tag

    Archive ingestion and AI tagging run in prioritised batches based on commercial value.

  4. S4

    Distribution channels

    OTT, FAST, syndication and ad operations connect to the catalogue.

  5. S5

    Audience intelligence

    Audience data, recommendations and revenue attribution close the loop.

Media & entertainment transformation in practice

  • Detail A

    Archive digitization for a broadcaster

    A broadcaster digitizes decades of tape archives, tags content automatically with AI and editor review, and makes clips searchable for newsrooms, documentaries and licensing, turning a storage cost into a revenue source.

  • Detail B

    Free ad-supported streaming channel

    A content owner packages its library into linear channels on free ad-supported streaming platforms, with scheduling, ad insertion and rights checks automated, reaching new audiences without building a subscription service.

  • Detail C

    Rights and royalty platform

    A music or film company tracks rights by territory, platform and window in one system, calculates royalties from usage reports automatically and stops content from appearing where it is not licensed.

  • Detail D

    Faster localization workflow

    A streaming platform uses AI-assisted transcription and translation with human linguists reviewing every file, cutting subtitle turnaround so new releases reach regional language audiences much sooner, while keeping translation quality under human control.

Digital Transformation for Media & Entertainment, in depth

Sheet N-01, general notes

N1

Where legacy systems hold media companies back

Media companies often hold valuable archives on tapes and hard drives that nobody can search, with metadata in spreadsheets or people's memories. Rights and royalty information sits in contracts and separate databases, making it hard to know where and when content can be distributed. Production, localization and publishing workflows move through email and file transfers, slowing every release.

Audience expectations have moved to streaming and on-demand viewing across phones, smart TVs and free ad-supported channels, while advertisers expect data-driven targeting and measurement. Legacy broadcast systems were not designed for this. Our media and entertainment industry page describes the platforms media businesses build today, and our guide to AI explains where automation helps. Regulatory requirements, such as content classification and grievance handling under the IT Rules for online platforms, add process needs that manual systems struggle to meet consistently.

  • N1.aArchives on tapes and drives that cannot be searched.
  • N1.bRights information scattered across contracts and spreadsheets.
  • N1.cManual metadata entry for every asset.
  • N1.dSlow localization and subtitling workflows.
  • N1.eSeparate systems for linear, digital and social publishing.
  • N1.fLimited audience data for advertisers.
  • N1.gCompliance tasks handled through email.
N2

A phased media transformation roadmap

Start by digitizing and organizing the archive in a media asset management system, with AI-assisted metadata tagging that makes content searchable. A rights and royalty management system then shows what can be distributed where, opening up monetization of older content. These foundations make every later step faster and less risky.

Later phases launch OTT apps or free ad-supported streaming channels, automate ad operations, build an audience data platform and streamline localization with AI-assisted subtitles and dubbing under human review. Content classification, grievance redressal and performer consent for AI voice work shape these phases; this is general information, not legal advice.

  • N2.aPhase 1: archive digitization and media asset management.
  • N2.bPhase 2: AI-assisted metadata and search.
  • N2.cPhase 3: rights and royalty management.
  • N2.dPhase 4: OTT apps and free ad-supported channels.
  • N2.ePhase 5: ad operations automation and audience data.
  • N2.fPhase 6: localization workflows with human review.
  • N2.gOngoing: compliance tooling and editorial training.
N3

Measuring media transformation progress

Media transformation should increase the value extracted from content and the speed of publishing. Archive hours digitized and searchable, time to find and license a clip, revenue from library content, time from final cut to multi-platform release, streaming engagement and advertising yield are useful indicators for leadership and content teams. Track localization turnaround and cost per language as well, since reaching new audiences often depends on fast, affordable subtitling and dubbing. Regular reviews connect technology investment to content revenue rather than to project milestones alone.

  • N3.aArchive hours digitized and searchable.
  • N3.bTime to find and clear a clip for reuse.
  • N3.cRevenue from library and archive content.
  • N3.dTime from final cut to release across platforms.
  • N3.eStreaming watch time and subscriber retention.
  • N3.fAdvertising fill rate and yield.
  • N3.gLocalization turnaround per language.

Technology for media & entertainment transformation

Proven, well-supported tools chosen for your scale, budget and team, never for novelty.

  • React
  • Next.js
  • Node.js
  • Go
  • Python
  • PyTorch
  • Hugging Face
  • Elasticsearch
  • Google Cloud
  • Cloudflare

Media & entertainment transformation FAQs

Something else on your mind? Ask a consultant and get a reply within one business day.

How do you digitise physical tape archives?

We work with your ingest hardware or specialist digitisation vendors for capture, then handle transcoding, proxy generation, metadata tagging and loading into the MAM. Priority is set by commercial value of each title.

How accurate is AI tagging?

Accuracy varies by content type and audio quality. We use AI tags as a first pass and give librarians a review interface to correct them, which improves search quality over time.

Can you help us comply with IT Rules 2021?

We build classification records, parental controls, grievance intake and escalation workflows that support your obligations. Legal interpretation of the rules remains with your counsel.

What drives the cost of a media transformation?

Cost depends on archive volume and formats, catalogue size, rights complexity, number of distribution platforms and analytics scope. A phased fixed quote follows a free consultation.

How long until we can launch an OTT or FAST channel?

If content is already digitised and rights are clear, a branded OTT app or FAST channel can launch in 10-16 weeks. Archive work runs in parallel.

Where should a media company start its transformation?

Usually with the archive and metadata. Making content searchable and knowing its rights status makes reuse, licensing and new channels possible. Starting with a flashy OTT launch before these foundations often leads to rights problems and thin, poorly organized catalogs.

Can AI replace human editors and translators?

Not for quality-critical work. AI speeds up tagging, transcription and first-draft translation, but editors and linguists review outputs for accuracy, tone and cultural context. The combination reduces cost and turnaround while keeping standards that audiences and regulators expect.

We work with clients across the USA, UK, Australia, UAE, New Zealand and India.

Where we work

Start with a clear roadmap.

Share where your systems and processes stand today. We reply within one business day with a suggested first phase.