Front Porch Debuts DIVAsolo

By Debra Kaufman

In October 2008, Front Porch Digital, a leader in content storage management solutions, acquired SAMMA Systems, whose solutions focused on the migration and preservation of videotape to digital files.

At NAB this year, Front Porch unveiled the results of that technology merger: DIVAsolo, an all-in-one migration path from legacy videotape to content storage management and archiving on secure, high-density data tape.

The turnkey solution integrates SAMMA Solo, which performs large-scale real-time videotape migration to multiple formats; DIVAworks, which combines with a datatape recorder Front Porch Digital’s flagship product DIVArchive, which manages storage and security of digital files; and DIVAdirector for intuitive search, browse and management of stored digital content from user desktops. DIVAsolo is scalable from small-market stations to large networks.

“We believe, and this show is reinforcing that belief, that DIVAsolo is a turnkey solution that every broadcaster needs,” says President-CEO Mike Knaisch. “They all have deep archives and it’s all on videotape, deteriorating and taking up shelf space. In that form, it’s also not easily findable, accessible or usable. With a DivaSolo or an even larger solution, we can handle anything from the smallest archive to the Library of Congress, which happens to be a client of ours.”

According to Knaisch, DIVAsolo is a shipping product. “It is an open standard product,” he adds. “People can plug in with other applications. That’s the vision: it operates with all the primary manufacturers of automation, traffic and editing.” He also reports that the company has completed recent deals with broadcasters, but said he can’t release more specific information now.