STV Launches High Definition With Brightcove

Brightcove Inc., the leading online video platform, announced that leading Scottish broadcaster, STV, has launched a series of new HD-quality, long-form video initiatives for catch-up viewing purposes using the Brightcove platform. “Scotland Revealed” a landmark, three-part documentary series filmed in HD is now available on STV’s online TV on Demand service, STV Player, for 90 days to viewers around the world.

“Scotland Revealed is one of STV's key landmark programmes for 2009, and I'm delighted that viewers across the world can watch this stunning series in all its HD glory on the STV Player,” said Alistair Brown, head of new media at STV. “The world class quality of the STV Player and Brightcove’s online video platform ensures that we can offer an unrivalled viewing experience of this breathtaking, high definition programme, which I hope viewers in Scotland and beyond will enjoy.”

Scotland Revealed is a visually stunning series that offers a spectacular look at the country, including some of its most iconic landmarks, landscapes and cityscapes, to provide viewers with fascinating insight into what has shaped Scotland. STV is employing the full range of capabilities provided by the Brightcove online video platform to support its new video initiatives. Brightcove’s long-form delivery capabilities enable STV to deliver HD-quality, full episodes of the Scotland Revealed series.

“STV was one of our first major broadcast customers in Europe, so it’s been particularly gratifying to witness the evolution and expansion of the organization’s online video initiatives,” said Jeremy Allaire, Brightcove chairman and chief executive officer. “We’re proud that STV has chosen the Brightcove platform to support its groundbreaking Scotland Revealed series and look forward to contributing to the success of its future catch-up TV offerings.”

STV, a long-time Brightcove customer, rolled out its first catch-up TV offerings with the Brightcove platform in July 2008 and more recently through the re-launched STV Player site. The site ensures quick access to important and popular content and showcases programs in the context of STV’s other listings, all while ensuring the best possible viewing experience for the end user. STV also took advantage of Brightcove’s wide range of Media and Player APIs to provide more flexibility around its content workflow.

Sorenson Squeeze 5 Enabling First Seamless Editing, Encoding and Publishing Workflow

Sorenson Media announced that the latest versions of Avid video editing solutions – Media Composer(4.0), Symphony (4.0) and NewsCutter (8.0) – integrate Sorenson Squeeze 5, providing users a seamless process for editing and encoding the highest quality video content in the most popular formats. Through Sorenson Squeeze’s unique integration with the Sorenson 360 online video platform, Avid customers may further benefit from a workflow solution that enables users to seamlessly edit, encode and publish the highest quality video online.

This most recent product offering is the latest in a six-year relationship Sorenson Media has maintained as the encoding tool integrated with Avid software. As the gold-standard video encoding application, Sorenson Squeeze enables editors, producers and filmmakers who use Avid video editing software to easily deliver video in all of the most popular video formats, with advanced encoding options and superior results.

Avid is dedicated to providing customers the highest quality video solutions that help them achieve their creative vision. By integrating our industry-leading editing software with the newest versions of third-party applications like Sorenson Squeeze, we help deliver the ultimate creative toolset.” said Mark Overington, vice president of product management at Avid. “Our customers have asked for a seamless all-in-one workflow and we continue to work with industry partners to extend the existing capabilities of our editor solutions for added functionality throughout the post-production process.”

Through the Avid software interface, video editors are able to send their video files directly to Sorenson Squeeze for encoding without adding any additional steps. Using Sorenson Squeeze’s simple workflow, users can output content in a wide variety of formats, including Flash, QuickTime, Windows Media, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, for online, DVD or mobile delivery. The software also encodes in HD for MPEG-2, Flash, VC-1, and H.264 formats. Video professionals can compress and encode multiple files simultaneously and apply advanced pre-processing filters to produce higher quality video.

Additionally, the latest version of Sorenson Squeeze integrates seamlessly with the Sorenson 360 online video platform. This unique process creates an all-in-one editing-to-publishing solution for Avid customers, enabling them to efficiently publish videos of the highest-quality to the Web without adding any additional steps to their workflow. Once uploaded to Sorenson 360, users can easily deliver their video content to any Web site by cutting and pasting an automatically generated embed code and gain access to powerful analytics and other video management tools.

“We are thrilled that Sorenson Media continues to enjoy a strong relationship with Avid as the encoding tool of choice for their exceptional editing applications,” said Peter Csathy, CEO of Sorenson Media. “With the integration of Sorenson Squeeze – and, in turn, the additional Sorenson 360 platform – Avid customers are able to edit, encode and publish their videos efficiently on the Web or prepare the best quality videos for mobile media playback, DVD and other uses.”

ViewCast Selects Rahul Commerce as Master Distributor

ViewCast Corporation, a developer of industry-leading solutions for the transformation, management and delivery of digital media over IP and mobile networks, today announced that it has expanded its business relationship with Rahul Commerce, a leading distributor of multimedia technology in India. Previously a ViewCast reseller, Rahul Commerce has been designated a master distributor of ViewCast solutions, servicing India via offices in Mumbai and Pune and further extending ViewCast’s presence among Indian technology dealers, system integrators and broadcasting outlets.

“The new designation gives Rahul Commerce the opportunity to leverage its industry expertise and rich experience with ViewCast’s streaming media product portfolio in India, a country emerging as a significant market for streaming video in public and private enterprises,” said ViewCast Senior Vice President of Sales Gary J. Klembara.

“India’s rapidly developing Internet infrastructure represents a tremendous opportunity for its public institutions and private enterprises to leverage web streaming, video conferencing, IPTV and other rich media technologies to reach a larger audience within the country and around the world,” Klembara said. “Our alliance with Rahul Commerce promises to put ViewCast at the forefront of this technology movement, and positions us for accelerated business growth in the Indian market.” The market for streaming media technology in India has been driven in large part by the expansion of tele-education and tele-medicine programs across the government and education sectors. Broadcasting companies are proliferating in parallel, and are exploring Internet programming opportunities to extend the reach and revenue potential of the country’s 500+ television channels. With the roll-out of 3G and WiMax wireless communication services fueling the adoption of mobile streaming technology, and rising consumer demand for high definition (HD) programming, the market for ViewCast’s analog and HD streaming media product portfolio in India is primed for extraordinary growth.

“ViewCast’s Osprey video capture cards and Niagara streaming media encoders have been integral to Rahul Commerce’s success in the streaming media technology market, enabling us to provide our clients with reliable, high-performance streaming media platforms, backed by ViewCast’s reputation for quality service and support,” said Dhiren Shah, director, Rahul Commerce in Pune. “Working together with ViewCast in our elevated role as master distributor, we can capitalize on India’s rapidly growing demand for Internet streaming technology and services, as well as its nascent demand for mobile streaming capabilities and HD programming.”

Rahul’s capabilities in India are exemplified by the company’s work with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which has implemented ViewCast’s Osprey 230 analog video capture cards in schools and hospitals in remote locations around the country to help facilitate the organization’s expansive distance learning and tele-medicine programs. Utilizing its EDUSAT satellite system to aggregate and disseminate interactive programming from/to geographically dispersed educational and healthcare facilities, the ISRO counts on Osprey 230 cards to enable reliable, high-performance streaming of live and on-demand video content across a large network of facilities.

ViewCast Osprey video capture cards and Niagara streaming media encoders are designed to deliver the quality, features and ease-of-use that professional broadcasters demand. They are pre-configured, plug-and-play solutions that enable users to quickly capture and broadcast premium quality audio and video in multiple formats and at multiple bit rates - all simultaneously.

New Envivio 4Caster C4² Encoding/Transcoding Platform Boosts Performance

Envivio, Inc. introduced 4Caster C42, the second generation of the company’s Convergence Series video encoding/transcoding platform. 4Caster C42 uses the performance of the latest generation Intel multi-core server processors to deliver better quality video, make more efficient use of bandwidth and enable delivery of high definition (HD) video services to all three consumer screens. The 4Caster C42 joins the 4Caster C4 in the Convergence Series, building on the features of its precursor and giving service providers flexibility to tailor their video headend to match their requirements.

“The competitive pressure to deliver more entertainment options, to more subscribers, at the best possible quality, continues to mount,” said Envivio CEO Julien Signès, “yet bandwidth remains precious. 4Caster C42 drives performance and flexibility far beyond platforms based on ASIC hardware. As a result we can offer significant improvements in both video quality and bitrates. By simultaneously supporting multiple networks and many different consumer devices, 4Caster C42 enables an operator to meet the highest consumer expectations–including top quality HD service—on any viewing screen.”

The enhanced performance of 4Caster C42 extends the capabilities of the codec technologies developed by Envivio to further enable delivery of the best quality video within the tight bandwidth tolerances of different networks and applications. The new Envivio Extreme HD compression is exclusive to 4Caster C42 and enables operators to deliver a best-quality HD experience to IPTV subscribers using just 4 Mbps. For Internet TV, even lower bitrates are possible and can be combined with adaptive bitrate technologies such as Silverlight Smooth Streaming HD, Flash HD and Apple adaptive streaming to enable quality delivery over networks with no guaranteed QoS. 4Caster C42 supports all Envivio compressions levels for IPTV, Mobile TV and Internet TV.

Intel engineers have incorporated specific video compression routines submitted by Envivio into the IPP library of the latest generation Intel Xeon processors. The C42 compression engine benefits from these optimizations which provide the performance needed to deliver high quality HD video for the most demanding network scenarios.

In addition to the comprehensive suite of pre-processing tools found in 4Caster C4, the new 4Caster C42 leverages its increased processing power to add support for H.264 over IP input as well as spatial de-noising filters for HD content that corrects visual errors from HD video sources.

MediaMesh from Digital Rapids Wins STAR Award at IBC 2009

Digital Rapids -- the leading provider of tools and solutions for bringing television, film and web content to wider audiences -- announced that the company's new MediaMesh content distribution system is the recipient of a 2009 STAR (Superior Technology Award Recipient) Award given by the editorial staff of TV Technology Europe magazine at the 2009 IBC convention.

The STAR Award (Superior Technology Award Recipient) is designed to celebrate and showcase the preeminent technological innovations available to the broadcast industry. TV Technology Europe's editor reviewed a variety of products, examined the technical applications and their overall contribution to the industry, and then chose 25 winners.

"STAR awards are given to interesting new products that help a user save money or accomplish a task in an easier way," said Mark Hallinger, Editor of TV Technology Europe. "The products selected help advance the industry -- some were chosen because of technical novelty or innovation, some because they filled an important gap in the production or transmission chain, and some because they were just cool products."

"Reducing costs, streamlining operations and broadening distribution reach were themes that we heard repeatedly from content providers throughout the IBC show, and are all objectives that MediaMesh was designed to help our customers achieve," said Brick Eksten, President of Digital Rapids Corporation. "We're pleased that TV Technology Europe has recognized the benefits of MediaMesh, and honored to receive this award."

MediaMesh combines a robust, scalable delivery framework with full-featured, flexible receiving appliances, providing efficient distribution of digital media between content providers, contributors, aggregators and distribution partners. Enabling delivery of HD, SD and Digital Cinema content over terrestrial IP networks and satellite, MediaMesh significantly lowers delivery costs while streamlining the tapeless delivery of content ranging from ad spots and promos to syndicated series and long-form features. MediaMesh RX receiving appliances provide powerful functionality at the endpoints of the digital distribution chain, with integrated review, inventory management, transcoding, re-packaging and playout.

Enciris Technologies announces Windows Media Video/VC-1 HD video acquisition and compression board

Enciris Technologies announces the LT-100, a Windows Media Video/ VC-1 HD video acquisition and compression board. The proliferation of HD video in all market segments has created a significant need for compression technology to reduce the bandwidth and storage requirement. The LT-100 is the solution to this problem.

Enciris Technologies' LT-100 is a hardware solution that meets the needs of demanding real time true HD acquisition and compression. Specialized, high performance dedicated hardware for real time compression is the only solution due to the massive computational requirements. The low cost of the LT-100 now allows high quality HD compression to be used in product/ projects that previously would have been prohibitive. It is a perfect solution for the demanding needs of medical, surveillance, internet, broadcasting, videoconferencing, and video gaming applications.

The LT-100 can capture video from both analog and digital HD and SD video sources including DVI, RGB, component, S-video and composite. An HD/SD-SDI option is also available. Additionally, the LT-100 can function as a HD compression coprocessor for video supplied by the host via PCI or USB.

The LT-100 will compress HD Windows Media Video (WMV/ VC-1) up to advanced profile level 3 with resolutions from 176x144 to 2048x2048 pixels. The maximum compression frame rate is 240 frames per second at lower resolutions. At 1080p the LT-100 can compress 30 frames per second. All standard HDTV resolution are supported including the acquisition of 1080p60. The LT-100 can simultaneously acquire uncompressed video for preview purposes or occasional snapshots. Designed for low latency applications, the LT-100 outputs compressed video within only a few milliseconds of acquisition.

Drivers for WindowsXP/Vista and Linux are included. Under Windows, DirectShow is fully supported. A cross platform SDK is also available for Windows and Linux application development. Mac OS X support will be available soon.

Available as a combination PCI/USB board, the LT-100-VC1 can be either placed in a PCI slot or be connected via USB 2.0. It is ideally suited for OEMs and system integrators. The LT-100-SDI is an optional HD/SD-SDI daughter card. A USB only module, the LT-100-VC1U, is also available which includes a 140x100x40mm enclosure. The LT-100-VC1US is the USB module with the HD/SD-SDI option.

Brazil’s Arycom to Resell Streambox ACT-L3 Solutions

Streambox Inc. today announced that it has formed a partnership with Arycom, a major provider of satellite telecommunications services, to resell Streambox ACT-L3 solutions in the Brazilian marketplace. Through the partnership, Arycom will leverage its expertise in turnkey satellite and IP-based solutions to broaden Streambox’s presence in key vertical markets including broadcasting, government, telecommunications, and the military.

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Arycom is a leading provider of satellite capacity and services through the Inmarsat and Iridium satellite systems. The company’s core competencies in fixed and mobile IP technologies for land, air, and sea-based applications offer clear synergies with Streambox’s IP-centric solutions for newsgathering, video transport, and content aggregation. Based on the industry-leading ACT-L3 codec, Streambox’s software-based solutions enable broadcasters, government agencies, and enterprises to deliver high-quality live and file-based broadcast video from the field using low cost, low-data-rate IP connections.

Streambox and Arycom will be conducting a ‘road show’ in Brazil, scheduled for March 23-27, 2009. The objective for the ‘road show’ is to highlight the joint capabilities of the two companies and to do hands-on presentations of how broadcasters and other key user groups can stream high-quality, low cost SD and HD video over a variety of IP networks.

“Arycom is the ideal partner to help us expand our market presence in Brazil. The company’s deep experience in IP- and satellite-based technologies and solutions offers a natural fit with the Streambox portfolio of products,” said Bob Hildeman, chairman and CEO at Streambox. “In addition, we will be able to leverage Arycom’s established relationships with suppliers and major Brazilian broadcasters, as well as its excellent network and customer base in our traditional vertical markets.”

“The Brazilian broadcasting landscape is becoming intensely competitive as broadcasters race to become early adopters of the latest technologies. As a result, there is strong demand for turnkey ENG and IP-based video solutions,” said Svante Hjorth, CEO of Arycom. “Streambox’s software-based newsgathering and video transport solutions will give us powerful leverage as we seize this market opportunity with broadcasters as well as other key industry groups we already target.”

Niagara 7500 Makes Debut at NAB 2009

High-definition video streaming reaches a new level of quality and performance with the Niagara 7500 from ViewCast. Making its debut at NAB 2009, the Niagara 7500 simplifies the complex workflows associated with the transformation and delivery of high-definition video to IP and mobile networks. The Niagara 7500 features a sleek, innovative touch control interface with contextual menus that streamline and simplify the operation of this high-powered, dual quad core streaming appliance.

The unit features SD and HD SDI video inputs, balanced/unbalanced analog and AES/EBU digital audio, and eight stereo pairs of embedded SDI audio inputs. Users can switch on-the-fly between incoming SD and HD video, and stream in multiple bit rates and resolutions simultaneously in Microsoft VC-1, Silverlight, and H.264 Flash Live. The Niagara 7500 includes powerful video preprocessing tools such as closed-caption rendering, de-interlacing, and inverse telecine. Users can control multiple Niagara 7500 systems remotely with the included Niagara SCX Pro management software. Further, a robust SDK for application customization is also available, making the Niagara 7500 an ideal choice for the most demanding professional broadcasting applications. If you want to stop by the Viewcast booth they'll be at Booth #SL6020 (South Hall).

Streambox Releases HD and SD Encoder

Streambox Inc. announced the launch of the Streambox SBT3-9200 HD/SD Video Transport Encoder, the company's next-generation solution for HD/SD newsgathering, broadcasting, and video post production, the SBT3-9200 can be operated in HD or SD mode, enabling the user to capture, transmit, and play out live and file-based video. The Encoder provides stunning 1080i/720p/1080psf HD video at data rates from 256 Kbps to 30 Mbps and SD video from 64 Kbps to 15 Mbps.

The SBT3-9200 Encoder has been developed to meet the performance and quality requirements of customers in a variety of industry sectors. Movie and post production companies, for example, are using the SBT3-9200 to transmit high quality live HD and SD video over low data rate IP networks as a way to accelerate and enhance editing processes such as color correction. With the Streambox solution, video editors are able to send the edited video file over IP in real-time and gain immediate feedback and approval from clients who may be located in different time zones and perhaps even on different continents. It makes this part of the post production process more efficient and cost effective.

The quality of the SBT3-9200 Encoder's compression was highlighted at the SBE/Ennes workshop held during NAB 2008, where the not-for-profit Research Channel presented findings from its Codec Comparison Project. The Research Channel had independently tested and compared a number of HD codecs, including Streambox ACT-L3, to uncompressed HD video.

"Video compressed at 30 Mbps using the Streambox SBT3-9200 was virtually indistinguishable from uncompressed video as represented in side-by-side waveform samples," said James Alls, acting director of engineering and operations for the Research Channel. "It speaks to the very high performance level of this particular Streambox solution."

"We are committed to delivering the finest technology available for streaming high-quality live and file-based video over a variety of IP networks. The SBT3-9200's leadership position in the Research Channel's Codec Comparison Project is further validation of the value we bring to our customers," said Bob Hildeman, Streambox's chairman and CEO. "By offering exceptional quality and unmatched reliability in one integrated solution, the SBT3-9200 Encoder plays an integral role in delivering mission critical live and file-based HD/SD video over low cost, low data rate networks."

Each SBT3-9200 HD system is outfitted with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing multiplex/de-multiplex configurations for video-stream redundancy. The second Ethernet port may be designated as a management port for instant access from anywhere. The SBT3-9200 is capable of outputting both HD and down-converted SD broadcast video simultaneously from a single HD source and it offers support for both digital and analog HD input/output formats. Built on Streambox's industry-leading ACT-L3 codec, the SBT3-9200 is equipped with advanced networking features such as robust forward error correction for enhanced performance, efficiency, and reliability. It also includes an expanded set of resolutions and frame rates which makes the system ideal for use in movie and post-production environments.

The SBT3-9200 Encoder operates seamlessly with the entire suite of Streambox client/server products, including video management and play-out systems such as the Streambox Store and Forward Server and the Streambox Media Station.
More information about the Streambox SBT3-9200 HD/SD Encoder and other Streambox products and solutions is available online at www.streambox.com.

Broadcom Chips Bring 1080p DivX Video to Digital TVs

DivX, Inc., a digital media company, announced the high-definition (HD) DivX Certification of three new digital television (DTV) system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip solutions from Broadcom Corporation.

The BCM3548, BCM3549 and BCM3556 are Broadcom's latest highly integrated single-chip DTV SoC solutions that allow TV manufacturers to offer their customers a variety of next-generation features and support including the benefit of seamlessly integrating DivX technology for full high-definition digital video at the 1080p profile.

"DivX has proven to be a major influencer in bridging the gap between digital video on the PC and consumer electronics," said Dave DiOro, Broadcom's Vice President and General Manager, Digital Television. "With the increasing demand for devices that support DivX such as digital televisions, we are pleased to continue working with DivX in developing solutions that deliver the seamless integration of high-definition video."

Digital televisions based on the latest Broadcom DTV designs give consumers the ability to play back DivX HD digital video across a variety of mediums. Video may be streamed over a wired or wireless home network or enjoyed via a range of USB connected devices, such as flash drives, portable media players (PMPs), and external hard drives.

DivX technology significantly compresses digital video without sacrificing premium visual quality and DivX Certification ensures this video can be experienced across a variety of consumer electronics devices including Blu-ray players, mobile phones, in-car media players, set-top boxes, and personal media players. This improved compression makes it easier to move and share high-quality content between devices, making the entertainment experience more enjoyable for consumers. By supporting HD DivX, the BCM3548, BCM3549 and BCM3556 products will play an important role in bringing these technology benefits to the market.

"These new chips from Broadcom provide digital television manufacturers with a premium solution for high-definition digital video," said Patrice Lagrange, Senior Vice President, Products, DivX, Inc. "We are delighted to work with Broadcom and believe these chips highlight our increasing significance within an important product category."

These DTV SoC solutions feature an advanced multi-format decoder, network connectivity, a 3D graphical user interface and unique 3D color management. The BCM3556 DTV SoC also adds compatibility for worldwide standards including digital video broadcast (DVB)-based platforms to address European and Asian markets while the BCM3548 and BCM3549 target the U.S. market.

Products that bear the DivX Certified logo have undergone a rigorous testing program to ensure interoperability, security and visual quality. DivX Certified products enable consumers to create, play, and share high-quality video content across a range of devices and platforms.