What is NGIS?
NGIS– the Next Generation Interconnection System – scheduled for 2007-2008 is an entirely digital system for program distribution based on stations and producers submitting their programs to PBS in digital form, and then PBS sending them out nationally as digital files for each station to cache for local broadcast. PBS is now in the process of setting a series of standards for the various file formats to be specified for final program submission, for distribution and for station storage and play-out. NGIS has been in the planning stage for a number of years, but in our original proposal, it is mentioned only in passing because its focus was exclusively on distribution. Over time, NGIS will transform into “NGI&PS” – that is, the Next Generation Interconnection & Preservation System.” Instead of treating those requirements needed for preservation as unrelated to those needed for distribution, we would attempt to alter the actual architecture of NGIS — to see if we can embed digital prese
