AUCKLAND, 9 December 2024 – After an extensive assessment and tender process Silver Trak Digital (DAMsmart NZ) has won and is carrying out a major digitisation project for TAB NZ involving 7000 tapes in the TAB NZ archive.
In 1992, the TAB established a broadcasting platform in 1992 known as Action TV which would later change to its current name, Trackside.
In preparation for launching its own channel, the TAB purchased libraries of race vision from independent contractors dating back to the 1980s, with the majority of this content stored on U-matic tapes. This format remained the staple broadcast option for Trackside until 1998 when it upgraded to its first digital tape format, DVCPRO.
The U-matic tape library was stored by Trackside at its TAB office based in Petone and later moved to its Hamilton-based office in 2014 when Trackside’s broadcast operation moved to Auckland.
The Auckland move saw Trackside move its digital content onto Grass Valley’s Status platform with all race vision dated back to 1998 (DVCPRO) migrated.
With no viable pathway to digitise the U-matic stock, Trackside sought the assistance of an independent archiving specialist, with Silver Trak Digital NZ (DAMsmart NZ) winning the bid to be the successful service provider for the project.
Silver Trak Digital NZ GM David Elder explained, “There are approximately 7000 tapes in the archive containing decades of vital and treasured racing footage, and the archives are a valued resource that Trackside’s Maryanne Twentyman has been a driving force in seeking to preserve for future generations. We are delighted to have won this important project and that we can digitise and preserve these valuable assets for future generations.”
There are approximately 70,000 races currently being digitised by Silver Trak Digital including some from the 1970s and TAB NZ are also currently in the process of determining exactly how these races will become accessible to the general public in the future.
DAMsmart are using and have supplied their full digitisation expertise, many U-matic machines with service support – including baking and cleaning – to digitise the inventory of 7000 tapes and the project will be competed in 2025.
About Silver Trak Digital
Silver Trak Digital is a technology company providing content owners and media companies with innovative, software/cloud-based media logistics and distribution services. Silver Trak Digital is trusted by the industry’s biggest names and is an important supplier to broadcast, media, production, distribution and corporate markets. Our experienced staff has a wealth of experience in versioning and compliance, content aggregation, media management and sales fulfilment. Through many Australian media industry firsts, Silver Trak Digital’s media services enables content owners and media companies to address the complexities they face operating in a globalised marketplace.
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