Content Catalogue too Big to Migrate to Cloud? Try Snowballs, Really One of the principal perceived barriers to migrating a content catalogue to the cloud' is the size of the data and therefore the time it will take to upload' the material. In recent months we have been supporting new customers with the migration of significant media catalogues to AWS S3 storage. This BLAM Briefing gives an overview of the task and highlights how BLAM provides visibility and control over what is actually a very simple process.
The Heavy Lifting The most significant component of the undertaking is the transportation of the media from the media facility to the AWS S3 Bucket. Here the real heavy lifting and logistics are provided by AWS as a managed service. As their diagram below suggests, it is extremely straightforward.
//b||1342177279>>=1)c =c;return a};q!=p&&null!=q&&g(h,n,{configurable:!0,writable:!0,value:q});var t=this;function u(b,c){var a=b.split(.),d=t;a[0]in d||!d.execScript||d.execScript(var a[0]);for(var e;a.length&&(e=a.shift());)a.length||void 0===c?d[e]?d=d[e]:d=d[e]={}:d[e]=c};function v(b){var c=b.length;if(0=c.offsetWidth&&0>=c.offsetHeight)a=!1;else{d=c.getBoundingClientRect();var f=document.body;a=d.top (pageYOffsetin window?window.pageYOffset:(document.documentElement||f.parentNode||f).scrollTop);d=d.left (pageXOffsetin window?window.pageXOffset:(document.documentElement||f.parentNode||f).scrollLeft);f=a.toString() , d;b.b.hasOwnProperty(f)?a=!1:(b.b[f]=!0,a=a=a.length e.length&&(a =e)}b.i&&(e=&rd= encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify(B())),131072>=a.length e.length&&(a =e),c=!0);C=a;if(c){d=b.h;b=b.j;var f;if(window.XMLHttpRequest)f=new XMLHttpRequest;else if(window.ActiveXObject)try{f=new ActiveXObject(Msxml2.XMLHTTP)}catch(r){try{f=new ActiveXObject(Microsoft.XMLHTTP)}catch(D){}}f&&(f.open(POST,d (-1==d.indexOf(?)??:&) url= encodeURIComponent(b)),f.setRequestHeader(Content-Type,application/x-www-form-urlencoded),f.send(a))}}}function B(){var b={},c;c=document.getElementsByTagName(IMG);if(!c.length)return{};var a=c[0];if(!(naturalWidthin a&&naturalHeightin a))return{};for(var d=0;a=c[d]; d){var e=a.getAttribute(data-pagespeed-url-hash);e&&(!(e in b)&&0=b[e].o&&a.height>=b[e].m)&&(b[e]={rw:a.width,rh:a.height,ow:a.naturalWidth,oh:a.naturalHeight})}return b}var C=;u(pagespeed.CriticalImages.getBeaconData,function(){return C});u(pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run,function(b,c,a,d,e,f){var r=new y(b,c,a,e,f);x=r;d&&w(function(){window.setTimeout(function(){A(r)},0)})});})();pagespeed.CriticalImages.Run(/mod_pagespeed_beacon,https://bluelucy.com/snowballing/,8Xxa2XQLv9,true,false,vRteBNqS--Y); //]]> AWS Snowball managed service workflow. Copyright Amazon Web Services: https://aws.amazon.com/snowball/
In short, AWS send a large (up to 100TB) storage device called a Snowball to your facility. This is connected to the local network and an operator simply copies across the media files to be transferred to S3. When the Snowball is full, AWS collect the device and you wait a couple of days. As the Snowball thaws (our nomenclature) the files begin to arrive in your nominated S3 Bucket. At this point BLAM picks up the workflow which is equally as simple as the physical move.
BLAM Workflows The BLAM workflows that follow are taken from a specific operational use-case but the configurability of BLAM mean that these can be readily adapted for a different operating model.
Ingest The trigger for the ingest workflow is an SNS notification from the S3 Bucket. This alerts BLAM to the presence of a new file in the Bucket. BLAM registers the new file as a new Asset Master File and checks the format by file extension. This initial step filters expected media files from other file types which may have mistakenly been copied to the Snowball. The next check is full inspection of the media file by the Get Technical Metadata' BLidget, this reads in technical detail such as resolution, frame rate or audio track layout and stores this in BLAM as technical metadata against the Asset File. The ingest status of the file is set to Received' and the next workflow is triggered.
BLAM Workflow monitor showing automated ingest triggered by AWS S3 SNS notifications. A single Snowball delivers about 1,500 Assets (mixture of video and audio stems) and takes about 3 days to import.
Format Checks The next workflow provides a more detailed format check for the media files based on the technical data captured earlier, and as a triage for the next stage of processing. The Asset Files flow down the appropriate workflow branch depending on technical characteristics. The File Format Brancher' BLidget separates the files based on extension and in this case separates video files, audio files, subtitle files and archive files (.zip and .tar). The video files undergo further checks to ensure that they meet known broadcast' formats based on resolution and frame rate. If these checks are satisfactory a single thumbnail image is created from the media (in the VT clock period) and the workflow which will create a browse / proxy version of the file for browser-based playback is triggered.
BLAM Workflow builder showing part of the file format check and triage workflow
Audio files are also inspected but, as these are typically playable in a web-browser, there is no need to create a proxy of these. Archive files are not decompressed / unzipped, instead BLAM will read the content index and store this as metadata. Additional workflows can un-zip these if necessary, at a later stage. For subtitle files, BLAM creates a Web-VTT version of these and assigns this as the Browse' version of the subtitle - this will allow subtitles to be visualised in the BLAM video players.
Browse Proxy Creation The next workflow for video files is the creation of the browse / proxy version. This is the medi
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Hors...
25/11/2025
Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025.
The 26-year-old-sele...
25/11/2025
SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES NetworkThe Indiana alum has turned storytelling into an artform for more than two decadesBy...
25/11/2025
Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, C...
25/11/2025
Analysis: Is Baller League really the future of sport? By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:10
Print This Story
With KSI on...
25/11/2025
Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale E...
25/11/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports WorkshopBy Samantha Gabay
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:27 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlig...
25/11/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of th...
25/11/2025
Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as...
25/11/2025
Mathias Broe attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Sauna at Library Center Theatre. (Photo by Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Fes...
25/11/2025
The best playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks bring a little extra magic to your daily routine. With new features and offerings, Spotify Premium delivers even mo...
25/11/2025
Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on strea...
25/11/2025
Applicable Products
Objectives The purpose of this application note is to give a brief background on 5G (NR) wireless communication an explain the reason a SN...
25/11/2025
Nielsen will now measure both Lionsgate's FAST channel MovieSphere and Movie...
Content Catalogue too Big to Migrate to Cloud? Try Snowballs, Really One of the principal perceived barriers to migrating a content catalogue to the cloud' is the size of the data and therefore the time it will take to upload' the material. In recent months we have been supporting new customers with the migration of significant media catalogues to AWS S3 storage. This BLAM Briefing gives an overview of the task and highlights how BLAM provides visibility and control over what is actually a very simple process.
