Media Technician

We have a great opportunity to join our Technical Operations team at Hearst Networks EMEA in London.

Responsible for handling all forms of media in and out of the company, we are looking for a proactive and diligent member to add to our team. Content receipt, ingest, QC, metadata validation, and delivery all fall into the remit of the Technical Operations team.

As a Media Technician, you'll play a critical role in making sure the content we receive is analysed and processed in a timely manner ensuring any issues are flagged.

You’ll be responsible for processing received media through our internal workflows and out to TX platforms. The role involves daily ingest, QC, metadata management and delivery. QC will also be required on content where English is not the primary language.

You will have a good understanding of file formats, be technically adept, and ensure content adheres to Hearst Networks EMEA technical specifications before throughput. You will work proficiently with our automated cloud‑based Content Supply Chain (CSC) model leveraging AWS storage and services. You will handle both longform and shortform and deliver out for VOD and linear transmission requirements across EMEA.

This position will liaise regularly with the Content Operations and Technology teams and is expected to provide exceptional service levels, helping to resolve any daily operational and technological challenges as they arise. You will be able to work collaboratively, be conscientious, and show good communication skills and initiative.

As well as having a passion for TV, it’s equally important that you enjoy working with systems, are able to troubleshoot, and optimise our processes for operational efficiency. A keen interest in both quality control and technical workflows is required as you are not only responsible for checking incoming media, but also for flagging system operational issues.

Strong teamwork, technical expertise, time management skills and initiative will help you to thrive in this role. You will work closely and collaboratively within your immediate Technical Operations team, as well as with the wider Media Operations and Technology departments. We work efficiently and proactively to support all our channels and reach deadlines. This role reports into the Head of Technical Operations.

This is a permanent position. The position is hybrid based in the London office (currently 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home). You will be working on exciting, award‑winning brands like Sky HISTORY and Crime+Investigation.

• Content Handling:
  Take receipt of longform and shortform media from suppliers. Download, upload / ingest to the Content Supply Chain System (CSC). Provide retrieval and ingest of any legacy content when required.
• Quality Assurance:
  Perform Manual QC on received media ensuring high technical quality according to standard EBU regulations and Hearst Networks EMEA technical specifications. Check the Automated QC flags against the content using the CSC processes.
• Technical Expertise:
  Show your understanding of file formats, video and audio codecs and wrappers, automated and manual QC systems, automated and manual QC issues terminology, broadcast terminology, EBU and Ofcom regulations. You will have or be willing to develop a keen understanding of cloud storage and services with AWS.
• Content Delivery:
  Deliver longform and shortform transmission materials to all our playout providers across EMEA. Deliver any longform and shortform to third party partners when required.
• Issue Identification:
  Use internal ticketing system to log any QC fails or technical issues with content that may require escalation and re‑delivery.
• Problem Solving:
  Provide routine checks on content process in the automated CSC, check any technical issues discovered with internal processes and troubleshoot as required. Provide escalation to our Technology dept. Update metadata against existing assets within the CSC system when required to enrich the content archived in it.
• Contact Liaison:
  Act as first point of contact for any technical content related issues or queries from playout and service providers.…