As part of the ongoing #PreserveAfricaArchives programme, Broadcast Media Africa (BMA), in partnership with Apricity Consulting, embarked on an industry survey to understand the methods, principles, standards and plans that audio-visual broadcasters are deploying in order to achieve successful digitisation and preservation of audio-visual archives in their possession.
The collected survey results indicated that 61.1 per cent of broadcasting entities had a challenge with tracking their archived content, and a further 44.4 per cent indicated that the collection process still posed a significant challenge.
A key question asked in the survey was to unpack the method the entities used to evaluate their audio-visual libraries. Sixty per cent of the entities stated that they used the checklist method, whereas 50 per cent of the participants noted using database systems reflecting progress towards a digital future.
The survey results further indicated that broadcasting entities need to engage their staff in the planning process of preserving audio-visual content.
The research has revealed that the preservation of audio-visual content still needs funding, as 56.25 per cent of participants indicated that they use their organisation’s limited internal budget to finance all operations.
When we asked the participants whether the organisation had preservation and restoration equipment facilities, 50% of the respondents indicated that their organisation had storage facilities equipped with applicable temperature and humidity controls.
The #PreserveAfricaArchives survey forms part of Broadcast Media Africa’s quest to determine the status and condition of audio-visual content of broadcasters across Africa and ascertain the possible steps that broadcasters can take to preserve their audio-visual content.
A full briefing report will be available to all Preserve Africa Archive community members on Monday, 23 May.
