Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/668755
B r o a d c a s t e r s S h o w D a i l y T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 2 1 , 2 0 1 6 8 IMAGINE COMMUNICATIONS BRINGS END-TO-END VIDEO CAPABILITIES TO THE CLOUD Imagine Communications, empowering the media and entertainment industry through transformative innovation, announced that its market-leading play- out, live encoding and dynamic ad inser- tion solutions are now available on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. In addi- tion to providing new monetization opportunities for broadcasters, video service providers and other media com- panies, this suite of solutions offers the potential to dramatically improve the speed, efficiency and flexibility of media workflow operations by enabling secure, scalable and on-demand access via Azure. This collaboration between leaders in the media and technology industries represents the most ambitious action to date to provide broadcast-quality video origination and distribution capabilities in the public cloud. Thousands of media companies from around the world can now have instant access to market-lead- ing playout, encoding and dynamic ad insertion technology from an efficient, centralized and virtualized workflow environment made available through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. "With more video content being managed and distributed over IP, media companies gain the benefit of network agility, flexibility and elasticity that cloud-based video capabilities offer," said Charlie Vogt, Chief Executive Officer, Imagine Communications. "Imagine has been investing in hybrid IP, software-defined and cloud-enabled solutions to future-proof today's buying decision and ensure our clients are pre- pared for the network of the future. Our collaboration with Microsoft advances the industry by providing incremental optionality for deploying our market- leading production, playout and distribu- tion solutions in Azure." The following Imagine Communications solutions are Microsoft Azure Certified and available through the Azure Marketplace. Microsoft Azure Certified solutions have passed stringent testing and compatibility requirements to operate seamlessly in Azure. Versio: The 100 percent-software, cloud-enabled Versio solution, now available in the virtualized Azure envi- ronment, offers market-leading integrat- ed channel playout capabilities, includ- ing graphics, automation and master control. This award-winning solution simplifies the creation and management of channels and enables media compa- nies to extend their brands and content with more freedom, visibility and con- trol than ever before. Versio enables channels to be developed and deployed in the cloud, with options for OTT distri- bution through the cloud and for tradi- tional distribution, including OTA, cable, satellite and IPTV. Media compa- nies can now use the combined flexibili- ty of Versio and Azure for a variety of revenue-enhancing and cost-reducing applications. SelenioFlex Live provides high- quality live encoding for high-value applications, from cloud DVR to live- event streaming to over-the-top (OTT) delivery of linear channels. With multi- format output flexibility and rich adap- tive bitrate (ABR) streaming support, SelenioFlex Live enables operators to reach audiences with superior-quality, live viewing experiences across the broadest range of devices. SelenioFlex Live in the Azure cloud provides media companies with affordable scale to match their rapidly evolving business needs, while avoiding the expense of purchasing premises-based, underuti- lized encoding and transcoding systems. xG AIM supports advanced ABR streaming to deliver hyper-targeted ads to smartphones, PCs, tablets, connected TVs and virtually any other device that receives live or on-demand video pro- gramming. The software-based xG AIM provides relevant ads in real time across various stream types, including live, VOD and cDVR, and on subscribers' preferred viewing devices. With xG AIM now available on Azure, media compa- nies can further monetize their media content globally with higher-value advertising. These solutions are the latest in an ongoing collaboration between Imagine Communications and Microsoft to bring end-to-end processing and distribution capabilities to Azure by offering Imagine Communications' software-based ad management, playout and networking and distribution products as cloud-ready, Azure Certified solutions. By moving operations to a cloud environment, media companies can real- ize an array of cost, service and perform- ance advantages: no upfront hardware investment; simple provisioning and decommissioning of resources; virtual- ization of operations; no additional data- center footprint investment; ability to use elastic capacity to support new launches or peak events; a geographical- ly dispersed platform with built-in secu- rity and reliability; media companies now have a choice of on-premises, pri- vate or public cloud or hybrid deploy- ment models for video processing and distribution. "Microsoft and Imagine Communications share the same vision of revitalizing media operations through the flexibility, scale and operational effi- ciency of cloud-based services," said Steven Guggenheimer, Corporate Vice President and Chief Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation. "Together, we are accelerating solutions for the media industry by providing broadcasters, con- tent distributors and others with the abil- ity to reduce time-to-market while mov- ing from a capital-intensive business to a pay-as-needed operational model." As part of the Azure Marketplace, Imagine Communications' software solutions are now available in 20 Azure datacenters, which serve businesses in 140 countries, including China. For more information about Versio, SelenioFlex Live, xG AIM and other solutions, visit www. imaginecommunications.com. PCTV SERVES UP LOCAL PROGRAMMING WITH TIGHTROPE MEDIA SYSTEMS Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV), a local 24/7 provider of three PEG (Public, educational and government access) channels serving more than 20,000 cable TV subscribers in the Pittsfield, Dalton and Richmond, Massachusetts area, has upgraded its video production and playout capabilities with the latest version of Cablecast automation and playout software from Tightrope Media Systems. Cablecast 6.0 offers a substantial improvement over previous generations, including a completely redesigned user interface to help users work across more devices, including cell phones and tablets. These improvements help the modest PCTV staff work far more efficiently – and achieve more operationally – across the broadcast and production workflow. "So many of us now use mobile devices when interacting with the Cablecast software, so this was a helpful addition that comes at the perfect time," said Shawn T. Serre, Education Coordinator and Chief Engineer at Pittsfield Community Television. "We also still use desktops to schedule our pro- gramming, and the software automatical- ly adapts to whatever screen we use. Also, many of the menus and toolbars have been updated, making the user experience far more intuitive." PCTV seamlessly integrated Cablecast 6.0 software with its existing Tightrope hardware, which the broad- caster has leveraged and gradually upgraded for program scheduling, automation and playout since 2003. PCTV's complete Tightrope system includes a Cablecast Pro VOD server (which also includes Cablecast automa- tion software) and two Cablecast SX2HD 2x1 video servers. These servers provide PCTV with a total of four playout channels (HD or SD), and two encode channels. "We started with the basic Tightrope PEG channel configuration, using Cablecast for our main server and automation platform, and the Carousel digital signage system for bulletin boards. We later added downstream keying, VOD, live streaming, high-definition server playback, and separately added Tightrope's ZEPLAY instant replay sys- tem for our sports production," said Serre. "Tightrope products are integrated to pro- vide maximum impact with minimal workflow effort, and the software upgrades provide a level of enhancement one might expect with an entirely new system." That minimal workflow effort is achieved through the system's ability to intelligently automate and update infor- mation across the various Tightrope prod- ucts. Serre points to how Carousel bul- letins are updated with new information as schedule changes are made in Cablecast, with VOD les created at the click of a button. Additionally, PCTV's web schedules update automatically, with effortless downstream key branding. Serre adds that as a long-time Tightrope customer, PCTV has grown to rely on and appreciate its focus on cus- tomer service. "The technical support and customer service are first-rate. On the rare occasion where I have had to reach out for help, they have been a phone call or remote desktop away, and issues normally get resolved very quickly. The products are fairly priced, the technology is straight- forward and easy to master and the relia- bility is unparalleled. We never have to worry that our workflow, from scheduling to on-air playback, will fail. It is truly 'set it and forget it.'" About Tightrope Media Systems Founded in 1997, Tightrope Media Systems is the pioneer of web-centric dig- ital signage and broadcast automation systems. It provides station automation, video servers, internet video on demand, live streaming, the Carousel Digital Signage system and ZEPLAY, a multi- channel instant replay machine for stadi- ums, arenas and outside broadcast vehi- cles. Tightrope's award winning systems are used throughout the world. For more information, visit www.trms.com. NEW PRODUCT RELEASE P/N HNGR19A RACK MOUNTABLE CABLE HOLDER Nemal's new Rack Mountable Cable Holder is suitable for mounting either in or on the side of any standard 19" rack. It has 15 tapered slots for cables of varying diameters and comfortably allows for organized and secure storage of up to 45 cables. The slots taper from 3/4" to 1/2" to accommodate a wide range of cable types including SMPTE, OpticalCon, Expanded Beam, Triax and others. Nemal also manufactures seven dif- ferent versions of SMPTE 311 Hybrid Fiber Optic Camera Cable, SMPTE stan- dard patch panels, assemblies, adapters, test and cleaning equipment and tooling. For additional information, go to www.nemal.com.