Abstract: A video storage system includes a storage area network and at least one local cache storage unit. Both the storage mechanism and the local cache storage unit store at least some content in common. In response to a read request, a read director determine which of the storage mechanism and local cache storage unit contains the requested content. Upon determining that the requested content resides on the local cache storage unit, the read director directs the content request to the local cache storage unit, thereby reducing the demand on the storage mechanism. If the content does not reside on the local cache storage unit, read director directs the request to the storage mechanism, but if the content is unavailable, the content request will be filled with filler data from a filler data source.