Digital technology like tape less cameras, workstation based editing and digital play out systems is rapidly replacing analogue technology in TV broadcasting operations. These new tools enable journalists to organise their work in totally new way; share, version and re-purpose materials quicker than ever before and get rid of tape based workflows and equipment for good.

In order to make this happen a broadcaster needs not only the new tools for material acquisition, editing, finishing and play out, but also a digital asset management system that supports all the required operations. The DAM system may enable broadcaster to ingest, store and share raw materials for further production purposes, make it possible to transfer the finished programme from the DAM system to a play out automation system, and finally provide its users and different kinds of publishing processes access to raw and archived materials, thus, the DAM system will become an active resource sharing system that provides efficient access to newly created content as well as old archived content. All this needs very careful planning and knowledge over the aimed way of working and possibilities of the new technology.

The paper will give its readers a practical overview of what benefits broadcasting companies may achieve when putting modern information technology to work. It also explains what should be taken into consideration while planning the working processes and setup of the future digital production, archiving and asset management systems.