IBM's Digital Media Center solution has won its first contract in China with China Central Television (CCTV), the country's leading state-owned broadcaster.

CCTV will deploy IBM's Digital Media Center solution to manage news production and audio and video archiving for its Economics Channel, IBM said in a statement today.

IBM said its business partner, Jetsen Media Technologies, will assist in providing the solution, which is designed to support the creation, management and distribution of digital content.

"IBM's innovative technology, coupled with our business insight and the capabilities of our business partners, are easing China transition towards digital broadcast content production and distribution," said Peter Han, Director, Digital Media, IBM Greater China.

The new solution is designed to help CCTV transform its broadcast production environment from analog and videotape-based formats to a centralized, digital operation capable of providing access to broadcast content on demand.

Other broadcasters including CNN, the Australian Broadcast Corporation, Seoul Broadcasting Service and Swedish Television have already implemented IBM's Digital Media Center solution to manage their digital assets and production process.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2005)