America’s Test Kitchen

Overview

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Streaming Distribution and Playout Manager to oversee the seamless distribution and playout of ATK’s FAST content across various platforms. As the Streaming Distribution & Playout Manager, you will be responsible for managing the end-to-end process of delivering high-quality OTT streaming content to viewers, ensuring efficient and reliable scheduling & playout operations through Amagi’s Cloudport platform. This role requires a strong understanding of FAST, streaming technologies, Amagi’s Cloudport, or other similar playout systems, and a keen eye for detail to maintain a superior viewing experience. The primary focus of this role is not the hands-on video encoding, transcoding, and delivery, however, an understanding of the requirements and the ability to ensure specifications are met is critical. Additional development opportunities include support on the content, video, and social media teams.

Responsibilities

• Content Preparation and Delivery:
• Coordinate with distribution partners and internal teams to ensure timely delivery of streaming TV content.
• Coordinate internal technical teams to ensure the encoding, transcoding, and packaging processes to deliver content with compatibility with various streaming platforms and devices.
• Optimize content delivery workflows, ensuring efficient bandwidth usage and reduced latency for live and on-demand streaming.
• Quality Assurance and Monitoring:
• Develop and implement quality assurance protocols for streaming content, including video and audio quality, closed captioning, and metadata accuracy.
• Monitor live streams and VOD playback, promptly addressing any technical issues or interruptions to maintain a seamless viewing experience.
• Conduct regular audits and performance evaluations of streaming platforms and CDNs to identify and resolve issues.
• Playout Operations:
• Manage the playout operations, including scheduling, timing, and monitoring of streaming TV content.
• Ensure compliance with platform regulations, content restrictions, geotargeting, and licensing agreements.
• Collaborate with the programming team to maintain an accurate content schedule and implement last-minute changes when necessary.
• Analytics and Reporting:
• Track and analyze streaming performance metrics, such as video start time, buffering rates, viewer engagement, and quality of service.
• Generate regular reports on streaming TV distribution performance, identifying trends, areas for improvement, and actionable insights.
• Work closely with data analytics teams to optimize content delivery and enhance the overall streaming experience.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing FAST TV distribution and playout operations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of playout & scheduling systems, preferably Amagi Cloudport certified.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions as it relates to programming scheduling.
• Strong organizational and project management skills to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners.

About America’s Test Kitchen

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) is to empower and inspire confidence, community, and creativity in the kitchen. Founded in 1992, the company is the leading multimedia cooking resource serving millions of fans with TV shows (America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Country, and America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation), magazines (Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country), cookbooks, a podcast (Proof), FAST channels, short-form video series, and the ATK All-Access subscription for digital content. Based in a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot test kitchen in Boston’s Seaport District, ATK has earned the trust of home cooks and culinary experts alike thanks to its one-of-a-kind processes and best-in-class techniques. Fifty full-time (admittedly very meticulous) test cooks, editors, and product testers spend their days tweaking every variable to find the very best recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques. Learn more at https://www.americastestkitchen.com/.

Why America’s Test Kitchen

We’re passionate about cooking, and about creating the best place to work. We’re small enough for your ideas to make a big impact, and large enough to offer you opportunities to grow professionally at any stage of your career. We want you to take risks and make mistakes — that’s how innovation happens in our test kitchen, in our offices, and in life.

We at America’s Test Kitchen believe food media can be a powerful force for social change. We are passionate about building an inclusive workforce that represents many different cultures, backgrounds, abilities, identities, and perspectives.

We welcome your application.
America’s Test Kitchen

ATK is on a mission to find an enthusiastic and dedicated Assistant Editor to join our TV & Video department. In this role, you will assist in various tasks within the post-production process and play a key role in media management and archiving, with a special focus on supporting the company’s OTT (“over-the-top”) efforts, which delivers our content to various streaming platforms. This is an onsite position. Our HQ is located in Boston’s seaport area.

The ideal candidate will be meticulous, curious, self-directed, and comfortable in a fast-paced production environment. This position reports to the Director of Post-Production.

Responsibilities Include

• Assist with overall TV, Video and OTT post-production needs.
• Manage media transfer and backup during TV, OTT & Video shoots.
• Ingest and archive footage, assets, and all final deliverables.
• Organize assets, rename clips and sync footage.
• Multicam, gather elements, and prepare Premiere projects for editors.
• Create platform specific exports for our various digital and OTT platforms.
• Edit promos and extra promotional content for social platforms.
• Handle basic color correction, audio, and motion graphic tasks.
• Generate and review closed captions scripts.
• Build and maintain deliverable checklists for various OTT platforms.
• Track specs and other requirements for all deliverables.
• Identify and gather assets for OTT Deliverables.
• Coordinate with offsite and onsite editors the delivery of OTT files.
• Build and keep an Archive of all TV episodes and Video shows for OTT.
• Implement quality control review and log ad breaks for all delivered content.
• Basic editing to bring videos up to specs.
• Maintain a database of OTT archives and deliverables.
• Create metadata spreadsheets for all OTT channels.
• Facilitate final file delivery to OTT platforms by outlined deadlines
• Support with project management for video production/post-production of each OTT series.

Additional Requirements

• 1-3 years working as an Assistant Editor on Television productions.
• Comfortable with Mac and Windows based computer systems.
• Experience with file servers and file management of media assets.
• Knowledgeable with encoding, transcoding, proxy workflows, and aspect ratios.
• Competent in Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Experience with motion graphics, color grading and audio mix is a plus.

Why America’s Test Kitchen

We’re passionate about cooking, and about creating the best place to work. We’re small enough for your ideas to make a big impact, and large enough to offer you opportunities to grow professionally at any stage of your career. We want you to take risks and make mistakes — that’s how innovation happens in our test kitchen, in our offices, and in life.

We at America’s Test Kitchen believe food media can be a powerful force for social change. We are passionate about building an inclusive workforce that represents many different cultures, backgrounds, abilities, identities, and perspectives.

We welcome your application.

ATK considers the safety of its employees and the community a top priority. As part of this commitment, ATK requires all new and existing employees who will be on site or who will engage in any work-related travel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they obtain prior approval for an accommodation for medical reasons or due to a sincerely held religious belief, or are otherwise exempt from this requirement due to applicable state or local law. Qualified candidates who are offered the opportunity to join ATK will be required to comply with this policy and will be asked to provide proof of their vaccination status prior to the first day of work.

Individuals who need additional information concerning ATK’s vaccination policy or its process for requesting an accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected].
America’s Test Kitchen