Simplifying Complex Metadata Ingest with MetaBroadcast

Every day, MetaBroadcast works behind the scenes to manage, harmonise, and normalise metadata—ensuring customers receive data that’s clean, consistent, and accurate. But ingesting metadata from multiple sources is rarely straightforward. Common challenges include:

• Inconsistent metadata formats
  
• Variable data quality
  
• Absence of universal standards
  
• High volume and rapid data velocity
  
• Duplicate records
  
• Complex hierarchies and relationships
  

At its core, metadata ingest is about connecting data points from different systems. But before any of that can happen, critical foundations must be in place: identifying data sources, selecting ingest methods, and mapping data into a unified schema.

Tackling the Complexity with Smart Automation

MetaBroadcast uses its powerful Atlas active metadata platform-as-a-service and in-house data expertise to automate the metadata ingest process. The journey begins with a clear understanding of what kind of metadata is being brought in.

• Is it factual data—titles, release dates, and cast details—from a content management system?
  
• Is it schedule data—when a show will air—from a commercial metadata provider?
  
• Or is it enrichment data—reviews, ratings, and deep links—that enhance existing programme descriptions?
  

Understanding the type and origin of the metadata is crucial. Since data often comes from multiple sources, establishing source prioritisation rules helps ensure consistency—so that a trusted source can override conflicting inputs.

Mapping the Data Landscape

Once the data sources are understood, the MetaBroadcast team focuses on mapping that data into a consistent structure, known as a consolidated schema. This involves answering key questions:

• What are the standard names and formats for each data field?
  
• Do the source feeds contain enough information to determine content hierarchy or match records automatically?
  
• Is the data accessible using the available protocols (e.g., API, file-based delivery)?
  
• Does the existing Atlas schema support all the necessary fields?
  

One of the biggest challenges here is naming and formatting inconsistencies. For instance, a title field might appear as Title, Programme Title, or Series Title. Descriptions could be labeled Synopsis, Summary, or simply Description. Even something as seemingly simple as a release date can vary in format. That’s why defining field names and structures early on is vital.

Confirming Access and Protocols

Next, it’s time to validate how the data is accessed. Will it be pulled via an API? Pushed through a file drop? Access to all required fields must be confirmed. Often, APIs were designed for front-end display and may not expose the full range of metadata needed for backend processing. When this happens, MetaBroadcast works with partners to update the API or find alternate access methods.

Timing is Everything

With protocols in place, ingest frequency is defined. Are updates expected to be processed daily, hourly, or on an ad-hoc basis? That will determine whether data should be pulled on a regular basis, triggered by an event (like a new file upload), or manually handled. The engineering team also evaluates data flow and volume to ensure high-volume ingests are processed reliably and efficiently.

All of this is monitored by Atlas, which tracks every ingest. It flags issues, validates data formats, checks for completeness, and logs every step. Exceptions are escalated to MetaBroadcast’s editorial team, while a source-by-source audit trail is maintained for every content record.

Best Practices for Smooth Metadata Ingest

Based on years of experience handling large-scale metadata workflows, MetaBroadcast recommends the following:

• Provide access to all available content records
  
• Include as many metadata fields as possible—more data equals richer records
  
• After the first ingest, only send updated records
  
• Define rules for handling expired or outdated content
  
• Clearly outline expected data flow (e.g., requests per second)
  
• Set up source prioritisation and ingest rules, where relevant, from the start
  

Metadata That Powers Great Experiences

A seamless and scalable video platform experience starts with smart, efficient metadata ingest. By addressing the core challenges—quality, consistency, data volume, and complex relationships—MetaBroadcast’s Atlas platform helps content providers unlock the full value of their metadata. Through a blend of automation, standardisation, and expert workflow design, we make the complex feel simple.