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.”

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.