New Streambox Live IP-Based Contribution Service Receives STAR Awar

Streambox, Inc. announced that its newly launched Streambox Live IP-based video contribution service was honored with a 2009 STAR (Superior Technology Award Recipient) Award by the editorial staff of TV Technology Europe, at the recent IBC2009 show in Amsterdam. In addition, Streambox Live “caught the eye” of IBC staffers, who featured the product in a special conference session entitled “What Caught My Eye.”

Based on Streambox’s award-winning ACT-L3 technology, the Streambox Live service enables remote broadcasters and citizen reporters to upload compressed live video streams to broadcast studios through Internet-based Streambox Live Data Centers. The Streambox Live service interoperates seamlessly with Streambox's industry-leading platform of SD and HD broadcast-quality video encoders and decoders, as well as its complete line of broadcast and distribution servers.

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 Streambox Live as one of 25 winners. For the “What Caught My Eye” designation, the Streambox Live demonstration was captured by a roving IBC film crew and the footage was featured the next day in a presentation shown to conference delegates.

“We believe Streambox Live has tremendous potential to revolutionize news programming by enabling broadcasters to add citizen reporters and ad hoc contributors to the newsgathering team in an easy-to-use and cost-effective manner,” said Bob Hildeman, chairman and CEO of Streambox. “It’s truly an honor to be among only 25 solutions at IBC to receive a STAR Award, and it’s a real validation of Streambox Live's potential in the industry. And the fact that the ‘What Caught My Eye’ team picked up right away on the solution’s value and benefits really shows its instant appeal to broadcasters.”

Vizada and Streambox Partner

Vizada, the leading independent satellite communications provider, and Streambox, a leading provider of IP-based newsgathering solutions, have signed an agreement to provide media organizations with a high quality video streaming service without significant infrastructure investment. The companies announced the partnership at IBC, the leading international forum for the electronic media industry, taking place in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The partnership is based on the provision of Streambox’s Advanced Distribution Server (ADS) service, installed at Vizada’s data center in Amsterdam. The bundled service has been developed particularly for media organizations based in areas with more limited access to dedicated network infrastructure.

With the service in place, reporters broadcast live video images from location over a mobile satellite terminal, and these are in turn routed via Streambox’s ADS service. The ADS service makes the most of the higher bandwidth provided by Vizada’s terrestrial network infrastructure, and adds video management, packet redundancy, and forward error correction, to ensure that the live video reaches broadcasters offices in broadcast quality ready for transmission.

Vizada provides reporters with Inmarsat BGAN or ThurayaIP mobile satellite terminals capable of high-speed streaming data rates. Through its Terralink® family of IP & networking solutions, Vizada has also developed the terrestrial infrastructure necessary to house the Streambox server as well as relay the images from the mobile satellite terminal to the headquarter office.

“Operations of this kind generally involve a significant investment by the media organization, because to transmit broadcast quality images directly from the reporter’s location to the bureau, a dedicated, private network has to be put in place,” said Eric Verheylewegen, VP Commercial Sales, Vizada Americas. “We have the expertise to set this up, and do so for a number of media customers through our service providers, but not all our clients wish to invest this heavily, particularly for short-term projects.”

“It’s exciting to be partnering with Vizada to provide an innovative video delivery solution,” said Bob Hildeman, Chairman and CEO Streambox, Inc. “Our technology and software combined with Vizada’s networking expertise takes advantage of the Internet to provide an innovative solution that is both lower cost and easier to use.”

Vizada supplies mobile satellite services and solutions to the world’s leading media organizations, including CNN, Al-Arabiya News Channel, France24 and ITN. It provides the equipment, technical expertise, training and customer support to enable journalists to report live from anywhere in the world and transmit high-quality images back to headquarter office for broadcasting.

Streambox supplies IP-based newsgathering and video transport products and solutions to leading broadcasters and organizations around the world, including CNN, NHK, Sky, FOX, CBS, NBC Universal, and the US Government.

Frisco Fire Department Uses Innovative Streambox Video Technology

The Frisco Fire Department (FFD) in Texas is using state-of-the-art Streambox video technology to better manage emergency operations and effectively deploy resources. With Streambox ACT-L3 video transport systems deployed onboard its emergency response vehicles, the fire department is able to transmit live video from a fire or other incident back to the City of Frisco’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The video provides the EOC with a comprehensive view of unfolding emergencies.

Serving a rapidly growing city of 102,000 north of Dallas, the FFD previously relied solely upon radio transmissions from firefighters at the scene to understand the specifics of an incident. Then a couple of years ago, employees from a local TV station suggested FFD look into streaming video as a tool to gaining better intelligence about developing emergencies. FFD quickly realized Streambox would be an invaluable tool for providing a bird’s eye view of emergencies, and for helping multiple city departments coordinate resources when a quick response is necessary. “Now, our EOC staff can proactively deliver the required response based on what they see, rather than having to wait for someone to describe the scene to them,” said FFD fire chief, Mack Borchardt. “Judging from our success with streaming video I believe the technology holds great potential for other fire departments across the country.

Currently, the FFD has equipped its special operations and hazardous materials (haz-mat) vehicles with mast-mounted cameras and Streambox SBT3-7100 systems, which encode the video for transmission over low data rate Verizon 3G wireless connections. Streambox decoders play out the video, including thermal and infrared imaging, to command at the scene and back to the central fire station’s EOC.

The Streambox solution is particularly valuable for incidents which require a coordinated response from multiple city departments. In a recent example, a natural gas line ruptured near a main thoroughfare creating a hazard for traffic and the surrounding area. With a view of the scene from the hazardous materials vehicle, the EOC was able to see the full extent of the hazard and quickly coordinate a response with police and traffic control personnel. Subsequently, rush-hour traffic was safely and efficiently rerouted. Being able to view live video from accidents, fires, and other emergencies provides an additional perspective which significantly impacts the ability to deploy the necessary resources and coordinate potential evacuation plans.

With the initial success of the Streambox technology on the Special Operations and haz-mat trucks, the FFD plans to deploy more encoders/decoders on a new command vehicle that will arrive at the department in August. The new truck will provide an on-site command center and will be capable of streaming video simultaneously to the EOC and to either the haz-mat or special operations trucks.

“It was crucial for us to deploy a reliable and easy-to-use streaming solution so our firefighters can turn their full attention to the emergency at hand,” said Paul Siebert, assistant chief of the FFD. “With Streambox we are able to get set up and start transmitting video in a matter of minutes – and every minute counts in an emergency.”

“The Frisco Fire Department’s use of Streambox video technology is a great example of the value our solutions bring to emergency operations,” said Bob Hildeman, chairman and CEO of Streambox. “It clearly demonstrates the reliability and performance of our products and solutions over low cost, low data rate IP network connections.

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.

New Streambox Solution for File-based Video Over IP

Streambox Inc. announced the release of its innovative solution for file-based video management and acquisition. The solution, which is part of Streambox's platform for video over IP, comprises three products, each serving unique roles in the broadcast work flow. The Streambox Store and Forward Client, the Streambox Store and Forward Server, and the Streambox Media Station work together to provide greater control and management of field-generated video as it is edited and uploaded to the broadcast studio for multi-format play-out. The solution enables control room operators to better manage hundreds of video files as these are uploaded to the Store and Forward Server by field reporters or citizen reporters for on-demand or scheduled play-out via an easy-to-use web interface. The integrated web interface provides metadata information such as reporter name, file name, and location as well as a thumbnail clip preview of video file uploads and a list of active connections. The control room operator is also able to search video uploads based on metadata. The solution simplifies and streamlines the broadcast work flow from video file upload to video management and play-out.

The file-based solution is well-suited for a variety of applications such as IP-based newsgathering, streaming to the Web, and live and on-demand webcasting. The solution supports play-out of raw ACT-L3 files, QuickTime-wrapped ACT-L3 files, and other standard video formats.

The Store and Forward Client enables users such as field reporters and citizen reporters to upload video files to the Store and Forward Server. Field reporters will typically upload video via UDP while citizen reporters will use HTTP for file upload. After the video file has been edited using any QuickTime-compatible NLE application, field reporters connect to the Store and Forward Server and log in to the web application. Reporters are able to optimize UDP uploads by selecting a pre-defined connection profile. Following user authentication, the Server immediately enables reporters to begin video file upload. If the network connection is lost during upload, the Store and Forward Client automatically resumes the file upload once the network connection is reestablished.

The Store and Forward Server enables broadcasters to better manage and monitor field-edited files as they are uploaded by e.g. field reporters, remote bureaus, and citizen reporters. Capable of receiving hundreds of simultaneous video file uploads from multiple users, the Server maintains a complete list of active connections established through the Store and Forward Client software. The Server's web interface facilitates a thumbnail clip preview of video file uploads. It also provides searchable metadata information such as reporter name, file name, location, and date and time stamps. The Server can be customized to provide rule-based transcoding and scripting for multi-format play-out through the Media Station.

The Streambox Media Station supplies direct output for both live and file-based SDI and composite video. It works in concert with the Store and Forward Server to provide superior control and prioritization for the video play-out schedule. Once the producers or editors have selected the desired video files or clips, the operator creates playlists and schedules those lists for playout through the Media Station's web-based interface. The Media Station can be switched to decoder mode for live play-out.

"Streambox's versatile platform for file-based video over IP enables broadcasters and other users to enhance their video management capabilities from beginning to end while gaining superior control of the video play-out process," said Bob Hildeman, chairman and CEO of Streambox. "We believe this flexible solution will simplify broadcast operations and help our customers distribute high quality video for broadcast and broadband faster and more efficiently than ever before."