GBH, formerly WGBH, is US public television's single largest producer for television, the Web, and mobile, producing over one third of PBS content. WGBH has been broadcasting and producing programming for almost 70 years. GBH produces science, history, journalism, and educational programming, as well as arts and culture, children’s and local programming. Its renowned documentary series, such as "Frontline", "NOVA", "American Experience" have won numerous awards and international acclaim. - Stock Sales & Licensing
Archival highlights
The following are highlights from GBH Archives Submission: GBH Archives is at the forefront of preserving and making accessible past and present US public television content and is recognized nationally and internationally for its efforts.GBH (formerly WGBH), is the largest content creator for US public television (PBS), producing over one third of public television national programming.Over the past ten years, GBH Archives has digitized a wealth of its own public television content as well as content from other public television stations by securing numerous federal and private funding grants.This has resulted in increased access to content as well as increased licensing opportunities.
Work specifically completed in 2024 includes the relaunch of the GBH Archives Open Vault website with 5 new specially curated content collections.
In addition to Open Vault, GBH Archives is the website host and collaborator with the Library of Congress of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (“AAPB”). In 2024 alone, GBH Archives staff added 37,778 digital items of public television content to the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.
GBH Archives services both our internal productions as well as scholars, researchers and the public.It spearheaded an initiative to create speech to text transcripts collaborating with Brandeis University computational linguistics department.GBH Archive developers use open source tools such as Whisper and other cutting edge technology in pursuit of these goals.
Sky Clip Sales
Synopsis
Sky Clip Sales represents the archives of Sky News, Sky Sports and Sky’s Entertainment catalogue. In business since 1989, the team has supplied hundreds of hours of content into award winning documentaries, films and TV programmes. These three collections offer a library of hundreds of hours of footage, with new content being added daily.
The Sky News collection consists of the produced news reports, rushes and as-broadcast material generated by global news teams. The Sky Sports archive is home to thousands of hours of footage and commentary from a wide range of sporting events. The Clip Sales team represents Sky’s diverse entertainment back catalogue.
Archival highlights
The following are highlights from Sky Clip Sales Submission: In 2024, in response to client feedback, we enhanced our Media Asset Management (MAM) system by introducing a new shot-list feature. We approached our MAM supplier about the possibility of exporting shot-list data directly from the MAM into an Excel spreadsheet. With just a few clicks, we wanted to export only the relevant metadata for the client into a user-friendly format. This presented a challenge for our supplier as they had never been asked to develop or deliver similar functionality and it took several months of collaboration to refine features and ensure clients’ needs were met.
As a result of this investment, we can now deliver shot-lists in a user-friendly format. Clients can easily search clear and consistent data within a spreadsheet. A much-improved user experience means clients benefit by more easily understanding what material is available and helping them achieve their goal of making the best possible programme.
Additionally, the extensive in-house digitisation project, preserving Sky News’ archive continued at a pace in 2024. The Clip Sales team have also benefited from recently introduced industry leading technology which remasters legacy content. This means damaged or deteriorated file or tape assets can be restored back to their original state, or close to it. With over 50% of the archive now digitised, the sales team can access and deliver content to clients quickly. Work continues to obtain content from Sky News’ UK and worldwide bureaus, so that this is centrally available – a recent discovery being some never-before-seen Trump footage, hitherto hidden in our Edinburgh bureau! We believe investing in such work has a positive impact on the industry; the more content available to our clients the better programming we can contribute to and continue a positive impact in the creative industries as a whole.
PROGRESS
Synopsis
PROGRESS, founded in East Berlin in 1950, is one of the oldest and largest film distributors in Germany. Since 2019, the company has been digitising, cataloguing and distributing the entire DEFA collection and expanding its holdings to include international archive collections such as those of the Vietnam Film Institute and the Ukrainian State Archive. These collections are made accessible via the curated platform PROGRESS Film on which PROGRESS sets new standards for the preservation and global dissemination of film cultural heritage.
Archival highlights
The following are highlights from PROGRESS Submission: In 2024, PROGRESS focused on creating AI-generated transcriptions in different languages to enhance searchability for most of its content. The online platform is designed for both professional users and an interested public eager to experience and understand film history. In October 2024, we launched a new streaming platform for educational purposes for a German-speaking audience at https://filmmuseum.progress.film. A major milestone will be the launch of the streaming platform for a B2C audience in August 2025.
Additionally, PROGRESS is investing in its own digitization lab to ensure the best possible preservation of film and video materials in all formats. In close collaboration with the DEFA Foundation and other archival partners, film reels are digitized daily and systematically processed by a team of metadata specialists. This work not only guarantees the preservation of film collections but also enhances accessibility for researchers, media professionals, and museums. Last year, the PROGRESS team restored historical film material for the first time on behalf of several production companies using the Diamant software.
Another highlight is the History Summit, an international platform for archives, researchers, and the media industry. PROGRESS brings together experts from around the world to exchange ideas on strategies for preserving and utilizing historical film materials. The next summit is already in preparation and promises to be a unique forum for the archival and historical community once again.
Archival Ninjas
Synopsis
ARCHIVAL PRODUCTION, RESEARCH, RIGHTS AND CLEARANCES. Nimble, highly-skilled and seasoned in experience, Archival Ninjas has been a go-to Archival Production company. Here, we’ve provided production studios and businesses with everything from initial research and consultation to final licensing for film/television and beyond.
Archival highlights
The following are highlights from Archival Ninjas' Submission: Archival Ninjas distinguished itself in 2024 by delivering innovative archival production, rights, and clearance services across more than 60 diverse projects, including documentaries, TV series, commercials, and podcasts.
Of those, 24 were released in 2024, spanning themes of sports (In the Arena: Serena Williams), politics (Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court), true crime (Eyes of the Prize III, and music (Luther: Never to Much), among others. The team’s work garnered critical acclaim, with seven festival premieres at Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, and DOC NYC, three Oscar-eligible films, and a Sports Emmy win for Super League: The War for Football alongside a nomination for Goliath. Beyond its impressive creative output, Archival Ninjas prioritized meaningful industry engagement: attending major festivals and conferences (Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, FootageFest, and DOC NYC) and partnering with the Female Film Club to offer the first masterclass on archival production—empowering female filmmakers globally.
A key initiative for 2024 was enhancing operational efficiency and scalability. By automating scheduling, refining client onboarding, and streamlining team communication, Archival Ninjas reduced administrative overhead, allowing more attention to be devoted to client needs. This adaptability benefits both independent filmmakers seeking flexible support and large-scale productions requiring swift turnarounds. The result is a client-centered approach that consistently delivers premium archival quality on every project, no matter the size or scope. Through these improvements, Archival Ninjas has demonstrated leadership, excellence, and a commitment to elevating industry standards, making them a deserving candidate for the Company of the Year award.
