In broadcasting, television channels are responsible not only for delivering high-quality audio and visuals but also for ensuring that logos and regulatory content (such as compliance indicators) are correctly displayed on-screen. Traditionally, this task has relied on constant vigilance from control room technicians. However, as the number of broadcast streams grows, managing this manually has become increasingly difficult.
To help alleviate this problem, TrackIt has created an application to monitor logos on-screen and recognize programs using audio fingerprinting.
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Solution Overview
The software application developed by TrackIt leverages Amazon Rekognition Custom Labels and DejaVu audio fingerprinting to automate the detection of logos, regulatory signs, and program identification in real time. It continuously monitors broadcast streams and keeps a reliable record of detections.
The application is designed to integrate easily into existing systems and helps broadcasters improve quality control, ensure compliance, and manage content more efficiently at scale.
Below are three examples illustrating how this solution can be applied:
Use Case #1 – Real-time Monitoring of Channel Logos and Regulatory Signage
Television broadcast streams often display logos, either as part of their brand identity or to comply with regulatory bodies, such as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the USA or the CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel) in France. Ensuring that these elements are correctly displayed on screen is essential, particularly during re-runs or live changes in programming.
The application allows control room technicians to check if the required logos are displayed correctly in real-time. Regular monitoring helps quickly spot errors, enabling immediate fixes to maintain compliance and consistent branding.
Use Case #2 – Program Recognition via Audio Fingerprinting
After a program is registered with the system, the software application is able to identify programs being broadcast automatically. The audio fingerprint of the program is compared with the pre-existing database to provide an accurate account of what is airing.
This feature is especially useful for pre-recorded broadcasts or when monitoring multiple streams at once. Technicians can easily confirm that the correct program is playing, reducing the chance of scheduling mistakes.
Use Case #3 – Detection History for Post-Broadcast Analysis
In addition to real-time monitoring, the application also offers a detailed history of visual and audio detection events. This enables technicians to conduct thorough post-event analysis to verify compliance (such as logo presence or content accuracy) or to address any incidents that may have been overlooked during live monitoring.
The historical record can also be used to generate reports for regulators or partners, providing clear evidence of what appeared on-screen at any given time.
Closing Thoughts
As broadcasting monitoring requirements continue to evolve, ensuring accuracy and compliance across platforms is becoming more challenging. Automated solutions like logo detection and audio fingerprinting simplify broadcast management by offering real-time insights that go beyond traditional quality control. These tools help ensure logos and programs meet regulatory and contractual standards, reduce errors, and enable technicians to focus on strategic tasks. This approach safeguards brand integrity and revenue by preventing content management mistakes.
About TrackIt
TrackIt is an international AWS cloud consulting, systems integration, and software development firm headquartered in Marina del Rey, CA.
We have built our reputation on helping media companies architect and implement cost-effective, reliable, and scalable Media & Entertainment workflows in the cloud. These include streaming and on-demand video solutions, media asset management, and archiving, incorporating the latest AI technology to build bespoke media solutions tailored to customer requirements.
Cloud-native software development is at the foundation of what we do. We specialize in Application Modernization, Containerization, Infrastructure as Code and event-driven serverless architectures by leveraging the latest AWS services. Along with our Managed Services offerings which provide 24/7 cloud infrastructure maintenance and support, we are able to provide complete solutions for the media industry.