The International Broadcasters Tape Numbering (IBTN) Scheme

Broadcasting throughout the world relies increasingly on the exchange of videotape programming, both in post-production and in sales distribution. All but the smallest facilities number their videotapes to ensure reliable tape location and, increasingly, tape movements are tracked using bar codes and bar code readers. Until now, there has been no large-scale attempt at standardization, and massive waste occurs in relabeling and rekeying program and technical details into successive computer systems. — The IBTN videotape numbering scheme, developed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), offers production houses the facility of generating numbers and bar codes that are unique on an international basis and which can be read by all other users around the world. To make it easy for companies to adopt the scheme, IBTN builds on a flexible “core” number, which is intended to accommodate all existing user numbering schemes. Building on the foundation of the IBTN number, it is proposed to define a data format to permit the interchange of a wide range of program and recording details.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1996-05

Content type

Information

DOI

10.5594/J04625