Digital Rapids has announced that Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is using a large-scale deployment of Digital Rapids’ StreamZHD multi-format encoding systems and the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager automated transcoding software to transform live feeds and on-demand content for delivery to multiple viewing platforms in support of Turner’s multi-screen video offerings and the pay television industry’s “TV Everywhere” initiatives. An array of StreamZHD encoders are used by Turner’s Network Operations group for ingest and encoding of live sources, while a distributed, multi-node Digital Rapids Transcode Manager deployment transcodes high volumes of mezzanine source files into a wide range of output formats for VOD and viewing on devices from PCs to mobile phones and tablets. StreamZHD is a comprehensive encoding system, delivering high-quality, multi-format video capture, encoding, transcoding and streaming in versatile, fully integrated configurations. StreamZHD seamlessly supports the transformation of media for applications from post production and archive to multi-screen live and on-demand distribution. Digital Rapids Transcode Manager combines outstanding quality, intelligent automation and exceptional performance for transforming high volumes of media between dozens of acquisition, production, archive and distribution formats. Scalable from small transcoding farms to global operations with hundreds of transcoding nodes, Transcode Manager is ideal for both dedicated transcoding applications and as part of complete ingest-through-delivery media workflows.
EVS has announced a major deal with the Host Broadcaster of next year´s major sporting event in London. The deal covers the equipment of the live and near-live production infrastructure for the event including camera and multiple feed recording, live replays, slow-mo and on-the-fly editing solutions, central media archive, advanced content management and media sharing workflow systems. The value of this significant agreement is similar to the project in Beijing three years ago. As part of this important contract, EVS will deploy more than 300 multichannel-XT series servers, across the all venues controlled by the advanced LSM remote system for all slow-motion, super-slow and ultra-slow motion replays over the two weeks of intense competitions. Additionally, based on the EVS servers unique hybrid networking operation system, all live recorded content will be fully controlled using IPDirector suites for quick highlight editing, first level logging, and fast turnaround media exchange with the IBC production teams. The centrally located broadcast centre will see the installation of the new generation of media server, an online archive and media sharing solution enabling Host Broadcaster production teams as well as broadcast right holders to access all broadcast feeds and complementary camera feeds coming from the different venues, as well as dedicated highlight packages and clips. The media server will be composed of 12 XT3 servers dedicated to live feeds recording, and a live centric near line storage server based on EVS XStoreSAN technology offering a capacity of more than 360 Tb and enabling to browse and exchange over 5,600 hours of HD content. In order to optimize media handling operations from any remote location, the Host Broadcaster will introduce the new web-browsing interface of EVS, IP Web-browser allowing production teams to review and select media hosted on the central server – based on auto generated proxy files – through the web.
Gilat Satcom, together with Tvinci, will offer a full duplex, satellite-based, OTT TV solution. Launched at AfricaCom, Cape Town, the solution uses Gilat Satcom’s satellite-based connectivity services and Tvinci’s unique Pay OTT platform to deliver accessible OTT TV content across PC, Connected TV, STB, tablet, and smartphone, to global regions in which broadband connectivity is low. The Tvinci and Gilat combined solution uses satellite communication to deliver video to edge points – for example, at education centres and Internet cafes – before being pushed to end-devices Over-the-Top. This enables viewers to consume compelling pay-OTT content such as Hollywood movies and popular TV series across PCs, tablets and smartphones.
Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) has enhanced its ProStream™ line of stream processing solutions by integrating audio transcoding and automated audio level control technology into its ProStream 1000 stream processor with ACE™ real-time transcoding. The new audio processing capabilities include transcoding and downmix support for all common audio codecs as well as Level Magic™ automated audio level and loudness controls, developed by German audio specialists Jünger Audio. These enhancements enable service providers to deploy HD and SD services without the need for a discrete solution for audio processing, saving valuable rack space and capital expense. Extending the architecture of the ProStream 1000 stream processor with ACE to enhance the TV subscriber experience, the integrated Level Magic automated audio level control technology addresses critical audio handling issues that often plague service providers. Level Magic seamlessly eliminates audio level variations within a channel during commercial breaks or when switching from one channel to another, creating a more pleasant viewing experience and helping the operator comply with the CALM Act, the U.S. congressional mandate to normalize the volume of commercials. Level Magic technology also eliminates the need to process audio channels at the baseband level, providing incremental cost savings and operational efficiencies for operators running IP-centric headends by consolidating all the necessary audio/video processing into a single chassis. The newly added audio transcoding capability expands the utility of ProStream 1000 with ACE by enabling “any to any” codec transcoding. In addition to advantages such as downmixing to support legacy set-top boxes during transitions to HD, the integrated transcoding enables the cost-effective roll out of bandwidth-efficient codecs such as HE-AAC and Dolby® Digital Plus, leaving more bandwidth for higher video bit rate and leading to better video quality.
