---
title: TAMS and Zixi
slug: product-features/tams-and-zixi
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-11-25T15:17:37.974Z
---

## What is TAMS?

TAMS stands for **Time Addressable Media Storage**, a cloud-native platform designed to optimize how media content—especially live streams—is stored, accessed, and repurposed. Unlike traditional file-based workflows, TAMS organizes content into **time-stamped segments** rather than monolithic files. This architecture enables applications to retrieve only the exact time range needed, dramatically reducing latency and bandwidth consumption.

Originally developed by the BBC, TAMS combines:

- **Chunked media encoding**
- **Cloud storage orchestration**
- **Timecode-driven API interfaces**

This makes TAMS ideal for both **Video on Demand (VOD)** and **live workflows**, supporting real-time clipping, compliance recording, and rapid syndication without rendering or file transfers.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note: TAMS outputs require Zixi Broadcaster v19 or later. TAMS targets will also be available in ZEN Master in February 2026.**
:::



## Typical Use Cases

1. **Live Sports and News Clipping**
    Broadcasters can extract highlights from live events in seconds, enabling near-instant publishing to social platforms or OTT services. This is critical for monetizing live sports and breaking news.
2. **Compliance Recording**
    Regulatory environments often require long-term storage of live content. TAMS allows broadcasters to archive streams and retrieve specific time windows for audits without downloading entire files. 
3. **Cloud Editing and Collaboration**
    Editors can pull precise segments directly into tools like Adobe Premiere via API, streamlining workflows for distributed teams. This eliminates the need for heavy file transfers and accelerates turnaround.
4. **Syndication to Partners**
    Instead of rendering and shipping files, TAMS enables partners to access content via secure links and time ranges, reducing operational overhead and speeding delivery.

### Sample TAMS Workflow

![Sample TAMS Workflow](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/oPT3MfiG1V3LQ007BDqg--20251215-185355.png)

## How Zixi Works with TAMS

Zixi integrates TAMS into its **Broadcaster v19** and **ZEN Master** platforms, creating a seamless ecosystem for live video contribution, processing, and delivery. Here’s how:

- **Segmented Uploads via API**
   Zixi Broadcaster writes transport stream (TS) segments to TAMS using dedicated storage URLs and metadata exchange. This ensures time-indexed storage for frame-accurate retrieval. 
- **Rapid Turnaround Workflows**
   Integration supports real-time clipping and compliance workflows without leaving the Zixi environment. This “stickiness” reduces complexity and keeps customers within the Zixi ecosystem. 
- **Live and VOD Enablement**
   Applications can request segments via TAMS APIs or webhooks, enabling dynamic playout and cloud-based editing. Zixi’s orchestration layer ensures interoperability across IP-based workflows.