Gefen ToolBox Extra Long Range Extender for 3DTV

Connectivity solutions provider Gefen today announced that the newest extension solution from its Gefen ToolBox line of wall-mountable hardware is currently shipping. The Gefen ToolBox Extender for HDMI 3DTV uses innovative HDBaseT technology from Valens Semiconductor to enhance the length and features of its high definition extension capability.

Small sender and receiver units link any hi-def source to an HDTV display using one industry-standard CAT-5 cable, delivering 1080p full HD with 3DTV pass-through, multi-channel audio and IR remote control up to 330 feet (100m).

Aside from streamlining cables and enhancing HDMI v1.3 support with 3DTV, this long range extender offers an IR back channel so customers can conveniently control their source(s) through a remote pointed at the display.

"The most compelling feature of this new product is its 3DTV extension support for the early adopters, reaching distances up to 100 meters using one CAT-5 cable," explained Hagai Gefen, president and CEO, Gefen.

The Extender for HDMI 3DTV is fully HDCP-compliant, with Gefen features such as locking HDMI connection cables and locking power supplies to improve performance and eliminate disconnects.

"Gefen was the first in the world to use the HDBaseT technology from Valens Semiconductor to power this long distance extension solution for HDMI," said Micha Risling, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Valens Semiconductor. "This technology nearly doubles the distance high definition video can be extended over just one CAT-5 cable."

The Gefen ToolBox Extender for HDMI 3DTV comes in two custom finishes, a glossy cream or flat black to better support decors of all types.

Additional Information:
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=9420

Nevion to unveil new video networking solutions at IBC

Nevion (formerly Network/VPG) will introduce comprehensive solution suites for broadcasters and video transport service providers at IBC this September 10 – 14 in Amsterdam (booth #B70). Nevion is leveraging the breadth of its Flashlink, Ventura and VikinX product lines to create complete solutions for:

· Video over IP
· Optical networking and in-house 3G / HD networking
· Contribution network solutions—compressed and uncompressed HD transport
· Nevion video links—sporting venue and outside broadcast solutions
· Nevion surveillance/monitoring and distance learning solutions

Also on display at IBC will be these new products:

· The Flashlink HD-TD-3GMX-2 transmits two HD-SDI signals over one 3GHD connection
· A new member of Nevion’s JPEG 2000 compression product family, the VS901-SED-03, which maps compressed video onto STM-1
· VikinX Modular 3G-SDI router
· Sublime SL-3GHD router with optical I/O
· Over 30 configurations of non-square Sublime routers
· A versatile multiplexer, the VS811-SHM combines 1 HD + 2 SDs or 8 SDs for transport over STM-16
· A universal fiber transport solution, the VS551-SDI
· The DA-3G-2x4 is a new Flashlink 2x4 DA with intelligent protection switching. This card can switch based on signal integrity (EDH CRC)
· A solution for carrying IP, E1 or T1 signals over ASI, the VS731-TRX
· A touch screen control panel for Flashlink and VikinX products

In addition, these previously announced Nevion products have been enhanced with new features:

· The VS908 ASI multiplexer now supports AES encryption, VLAN tagging, and a variable jitter buffer
· VS901 JPEG 2000 compression modules now include 3G support and higher bitrates
· SL-D32P+ configurable data routers are now available, expandable to 64, 96 or 128 ports

EVERTZ junto a BVS en Argentina

Con una exitosa NAB, Evertz nuevamente presentó en la convención de Las Vegas más de 70 nuevos productos, además de anunciar el nombramiento a la compañía BVS como su partner de negocios en Argentina.

Con el lanzamiento de más de 70 nuevos productos en NAB, que incluyen entre otros una línea completa de equipos 3G y 3D, nuevas adiciones a las plataformas de routing y sistemas de control, Multiviewers, un nuevo switcher master control 3G entre muchos productos, Evertz se posiciona con fuertes estrategias para que el 2010 sea un ano exitoso para la compañía a nivel mundial.

En el caso de Argentina, anuncio Evertz el nombramiento a la compañía BVS como su nuevo Systems Integrator y partner de negocios en este país, resaltando la expansión que ha logrado en el mercado local en estos últimos años y su destacada posición y liderazgo en el mercado que ha alcanzado la compañía que dirige Facundo Favelukes. “BVS actualmente ha sido nombrado como “Authorized Systems Integrator de Evertz para Argentina” teniendo ahora dos compañías que nos representan en Argentina: BVS como Integrador autorizado de sistemas llave en mano, y Lade” como afirmó Rodrick Smith, Manager de Ventas para America Latina de Evertz.

Facundo Favelukes de BVS en el booth de Evertz en NAB 2010

Con referencia a este nombramiento, destacó el papel importante que alcanzó BVS en la industria profesional argentina: “Evertz seleccionó a BVS para ofrecer una mejor cobertura para los distintos tipos de proyectos en Argentina. Ahora, con las dos compañías, Evertz puede ofrecer representación oficial y Llave en mano, proyectos de punta a punta y sistemas para el mercado argentino, teniendo la posibilidad ahora que BVS pueda vender a sus clientes toda la línea completa de productos Evertz como parte de su oferta de marcas y productos.
Sin dudas considero que BVS puede agregar mucho valor a los negocios de Evertz en Argentina, ya que posee una excelente reputación con sus clientes y se han establecido como líder en la integración llave en mano en Argentina”.

Con miras al 2010 y su visión con miras al Conosur de America Latina, Smith es muy positivo en su mirada: “Sin dudas será este año muy importante, los prospectos para esta región son muy buenos realmente. Actualmente, Evertz tiene una buena cobertura en términos de distribución e integración de sistemas, pudiendo proveer los mejores servicios a nuestros clientes.
Este año parece tener un gran potencial para nuevos proyectos y negocios, por lo que estoy confiado en que con los canales de venta que tenemos establecidos, Evertz se encuentra en una buena posición para ofrecer excelentes ventas y el mejor soporte de servicio, junto a una oferta impresionante de tecnología de punta”.

Pulsar Televisión descubrirá el telón del HD

Con miras a la necesidad que se esta imponiendo en el mercado de producir en Alta Definición, la compañía lanzará al mercado sus novedades en esta gama (COPETE)

En los primeros días de Agosto y durante un evento selecto, la compañía Pulsar Televisión mostrará las novedades que lanzará al mercado en Alta Definición, presentando Pulsar Televisión HD y solo se destaca el slogan de: “Primer Móvil broadcast HD+3G+3D Ready de la Republica Argentina” donde estarán presentes los directivos de los fabricantes Partners de este proyecto y clientes de la compañía, recordando que en el caso de NAB 2010 en Las Vegas, SONY galardonó a Pulsar Televisión con el “Sony BPLA 2009 Tech Awards” como uno de sus clientes claves en America Latina, por la fuerte inversión realizada con la compañía japonesa en cámaras HDC durante el año 2009 .

Gonzalo Pampin, Directivo de Pulsar Televisión no dio muchos adelantos al respecto de este importante evento en la Argentina: “Mas que hablar o adelantar lo que sucederá en este coctel presentación, preferimos que todos nuestras invitados vean con sus propios ojos lo que Pulsar Televisión esta haciendo llegar al mercado de Argentina y toda America Latina, considerando que definitivamente y como es cultura dentro de nuestra compañía, buscamos llenar espacios que no estaban ocupados, siempre asumiendo los riesgos que significa una inversión económica del calibre de la que hemos realizado, lo cual muestra la importancia de esta apuesta realizada por nuestra compañía” -concluyendo Pampin con la aseveración de que - “La Alta Definición llega definitivamente a la Argentina de la mano de Pulsar Televisión”

Harmonic Powers End-to-End HD Digital Network in the Republic of Maldives

Harmonic will issue a press release announcing that its industry-leading digital video processing and delivery solutions have been deployed by CableNET for the first high definition (HD) and near video-on-demand (nVOD) network in the Republic of Maldives. For your reference, the full press release is enclosed below. Highlights of the announcement include:

CableNET, the premiere cable TV provider in the Republic of Maldives, has deployed Harmonic’s industry-leading digital video processing and delivery solutions for the first high definition (HD) and near video-on-demand (nVOD) network in the Maldives.

CableNET, serving 100,000 customers through its cable service in the capital city of Male and surrounding islands, and via a multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) throughout the rest of the country, selected Harmonic to provide integrated digital video processing, compression, on-demand, network management and edge infrastructure for its hybrid cable/terrestrial network.

To power the end-to-end digital infrastructure for the new service, called Medianet, CableNET has deployed a comprehensive range of Harmonic video and edge processing solutions:

ProView™ 7000 and 2900 integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs) receive the channel feeds from satellite.

Ion™ AVC encoders and the ProStream™ 1000 stream processing platform compress and multiplex the video signals for distribution.

The ProStream™ 8000 digital mosaic solution creates multi-channel mosaics.

The market-leading NSG™ 9000 universal edgeQAM is used in the distribution of the programming over CableNET’s cable and MMDS networks.

Harmonic’s NMX Digital Service Manager™ controls the entire digital headend.

Harmonic Powers End-to-End HD Digital Network in the Republic of Maldives
– Provides Integrated Digital Video Processing, Compression, On-Demand, Network Management and Edge Infrastructure for Hybrid Cable/Terrestrial Network –

Harmonic Inc. today July 22 2010 announced that its industry-leading digital video processing and delivery solutions have been deployed by CableNET, the premiere cable TV provider in the Republic of Maldives, for the first high definition (HD) and near video-on-demand (nVOD) network in the Maldives. CableNET serves 100,000 customers through its cable service in the capital city of Male and surrounding islands, and via a multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) throughout the rest of the country. Harmonic provides the powerful digital infrastructure to run simultaneous cable and MMDS services to the entire country with a single bandwidth-efficient MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) headend, making it possible for CableNET to be the first operator in the Maldives to provide MPEG-4 SD and HD, nVOD and digital channel mosaic services.

To power the end-to-end digital infrastructure for the new service, called Medianet, CableNET has deployed a comprehensive range of Harmonic video and edge processing solutions:

ProView™ 7000 and 2900 integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs) receive the channel feeds from satellite.

Ion™ AVC encoders and the ProStream™ 1000 stream processing platform compress and multiplex the video signals for distribution.

The ProStream™ 8000 digital mosaic solution creates multi-channel mosaics.

The market-leading NSG™ 9000 universal edgeQAM is used in the distribution of the programming over CableNET’s cable and MMDS networks.

Harmonic’s NMX Digital Service Manager™ controls the entire digital headend.

“The advanced digital processing technology and superior video quality provided by Harmonic were essential in building our new Medianet hybrid cable/terrestrial service,” said Ahmed Shafeeu, Managing Director at CableNET. “We needed a bandwidth-efficient system that did not compromise on quality for long haul, inter-island transmissions. Harmonic delivered the expertise that allows us to provide quality MPEG-4 SD and HD viewing and interactive services to our customers throughout the Republic of Maldives.”

“Harmonic’s end-to-end digital stream processing and delivery solutions are ideal for CableNET, providing a high quality yet cost-effective platform that builds upon their existing delivery infrastructure,” said Stalin Jekash Simson, Director of Regional Sales, India, at Harmonic Inc.

“The implementation of the Medianet hybrid MMDS and cable service puts CableNET in an excellent position to expand their service in the future to more islands throughout the Maldives, as well as to expand their interactive offerings.”

HARMONIC ANNOUNCES DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE OMNEON

Combination Will Create Global Leader in Video Infrastructure for Media Companies

Harmonic Inc. and Omneon, Inc., a leading provider of video production and playout solutions for many of the world’s premier media companies, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Harmonic would acquire Omneon for an enterprise value of approximately $274 million in cash and Harmonic stock. The proposed acquisition would combine Harmonic’s market-leading position in video delivery infrastructure with Omneon’s market-leading technology for the production, management and distribution of digital media.

“This proposed combination will position Harmonic to become a global leader in video infrastructure for the digital media industry,” said Patrick Harshman, President and CEO of Harmonic. “Media companies are being driven by ever-increasing demand for video content coupled with consumers’ desire to consume video anytime and anywhere. At the same time, the dramatic growth of video delivery over broadband and wireless networks is blurring traditional boundaries between content producers and service providers. With our deep customer relationships with content producers and service providers, and with our market leading technologies that span content acquisition through delivery, we believe that our combined company will be uniquely positioned to capitalize on these trends and to accelerate revenue growth.”

Omneon’s customer base includes the BBC, BSkyB, CBS, Comcast, Discovery Communications, Echostar, NBC Universal, News Corporation, Televisa, Turner Broadcasting System, Viacom and many other leading media companies worldwide. For the year ended December 31, 2009, Omneon’s revenues were approximately $105 million, of which 67% were outside the United States, with no single customer representing more than 10% of total revenue. Omneon’s gross margin was 58% in 2009. Omneon has approximately 280 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with research and development facilities in Sunnyvale and Beaverton, Oregon.

“The combined company will have industry-leading technology and expertise in video compression, processing and delivery, video-optimized storage, production and playout servers, and media management,” said Suresh Vasudevan, CEO of Omneon. “Not only are the technologies complementary, but we see unique opportunities to leverage our technology adjacencies and drive market-leading innovation. We are very excited about this combination and the opportunities it creates for our customers and employees.”

The products and solutions of the combined company are deployed with over 2,000 customers across more than 100 countries, for broadcast and on-demand video services delivered via cable, satellite, telco, terrestrial, broadband and mobile networks. The company will have a combined video-focused global R&D organization of 450 engineers, a combined global sales and service organization of 330 people and a network of over 250 global sales channel partners.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Harmonic will pay $190 million in cash and issue approximately 17.1 million shares of its common stock. This represents an enterprise value of approximately $274 million, based on the closing price of Harmonic common stock on May 5 and is net of Omneon’s cash balances which are expected to be approximately $32 million at closing. The proposed acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010. The proposed acquisition is also subject to the approval of Omneon’s stockholders, and Harmonic has entered into voting agreements with holders of a majority of Omneon’s outstanding shares of capital stock, pursuant to which such Omneon stockholders agree to vote in favor of the transaction.

Most of the Omneon executive management team is expected to join Harmonic at closing, including Mr. Lawrence Kaplan, a founder of Omneon, and Mr. Vasudevan, who previously held senior executive positions at NetApp, Inc., and also worked for McKinsey & Company, an international management consulting firm.

The transaction is anticipated to be neutral to Harmonic’s non-GAAP net income in 2010 and accretive to non-GAAP net income in 2011, exclusive of the amortization of intangibles and non-recurring charges such as restructuring and transaction costs. Harmonic will determine the appropriate purchase accounting for the transaction at closing and, accordingly, cannot reasonably estimate the impact on GAAP net income at this time. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

BofA Merrill Lynch acted as exclusive financial advisor to Harmonic in connection with this transaction.

About Harmonic Inc.

Harmonic Inc. is redefining video delivery with the industry’s most powerful solutions for delivering live and on-demand video to TVs, PCs and mobile devices. Harmonic’s technical innovation and market leadership enable the company to offer a unique and comprehensive solution portfolio—including encoding, transcoding, content preparation, stream processing, asset management, edge processing, and delivery. Broadcast, cable, Internet, mobile, satellite and telecom service providers around the world choose Harmonic’s IP-based digital video, software, and broadband edge and access solutions. Using these award-winning and industry-leading solutions, operators can reduce costs and differentiate their services by offering consumers a higher quality, personalized multi-screen experience.

Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The company’s customers, including many of the world’s largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.

About Omneon, Inc.
Omneon, Inc., is a leading provider of scalable media server and active storage systems that optimize workflow productivity and on-air reliability for the production, distribution, and management of digital media. Omneon is a pioneer in the use of advanced IT technologies and open systems for broadcast applications, producing a modular and expandable video server architecture in the Omneon Spectrum media server and highly scalable production storage with the MediaGrid active storage system. The company has an extensive global presence with customers in more than 85 countries on six continents. Omneon is on the Web at www.Omneon.com

Harris Multi-Image Technology Enables DirecTV Latin America Mosaic Soccer Channel

Harris Corporation announced that DirecTV Latin America successfully used Harris multi-image technology and core processing gear to enable an interactive mosaic channel with cascading windows for live, multi-angle soccer coverage from South Africa.

The special channel, called Mundial Mix, was on the air from June 11-July 11 and allowed DirecTV Latin America subscribers to watch multiple views of a game on a single screen. Views included main view, highlights, tactical (entire field), team A and team B. Viewers could also interactively select a window to tune into the game on its regular channel.

DirecTV Latin America used Harris® QVM6800+C multi-image processing modules to build the five-view composite on one channel. While only five picture-in-picture (PIP) inputs were activated, the QVM6800+C modules are capable of supplying up to eight inputs for a single display.

“The broadcast of multiple sources on a single screen imitates a multiviewer in the home, which provided DirecTV Latin America subscribers and soccer fans with a unique and interactive viewing experience,” said Harris Morris, president, Harris Broadcast Communications. “The integration of these modules into DirecTV Latin America’s existing core processing frames allows them to take advantage of the cascading window functionality for future mosaic channels if they choose.”

DirecTV Latin America installed the modules within Harris 6800+™ modular core processing frames. The 2RU, 6800+ modular frames provide 20 slots, allowing broadcasters and production professionals to reduce frame counts and minimize rack space in core video processing systems. DirecTV Latin America configured the QVM6800+ modules within the 6800+ frames using Harris CCS Navigator™ control software.

For more information on the QVM6800+C, please visit:

http://www.broadcast.harris.com/productsandsolutions/Multiviewers/QVM6800QuadCard.asp

Harris inauguró oficinas en México

El evento exclusivo para la prensa se realizo en las nuevas oficinas de la compañía americana en México City.

El día Martes 25 de Mayo, Harris Corporation inauguró sus nuevas oficinas en Ciudad de México en un evento exclusivo para la prensa, con presencia de Nahuel Villegas, Vicepresidente Regional de America Latina y el Caribe de la División Broadcast Communications de Harris, Fernando Manfrini, Director de Ventas y Doreen Méndez, Directora de Marketing y Comunicaciones para America Latina de Harris, junto el equipo de la compañía en México, manteniendo de esta forma un nuevo paso en el crecimiento, desarrollo y la transformación que esta realizando la compañía en America Latina.

“Como ustedes saben nuestra presencia desde hace varios años se viene incrementando en la región, con la política de ser locales y estar cerca de los clientes, trabajando mas como una consultoría que como un simple proveedor y México siendo en efecto uno de los pilares de la región no podía ser la excepción. Esta historia comienza hace un par de anios cuando buscamos talento local y nos encontramos con el Ing. Sergio Yañez, quien esta a cargo de la operación en México de Harris y el pudo corroborar que todo lo que planificamos para este país se viene cumpliendo al pie de la letra y así fue creciendo nuestro equipo local, como resultado de lo bien que nos va con el crecimiento del negocio en México”, sentencio Villegas.

Sergio Yañez destacó: “Tengo 16 anios de trayectoria en esta industria, la mitad de ella trabajando del lado del cliente. Gracias a esa experiencia podemos ponernos en el lugar de los que servimos, con quienes nos comprometemos día a día a dar lo mejor de nosotros, como personas y como un equipo consolidado. También parte de mi experiencia en el pasado fue con un gran integrador (refiriéndose a su trabajo en la compañía Comtelsat) y doy las gracias a Nahuel y a Harris por estar aquí con ustedes”

El equipo de trabajo de Harris en la oficina de México se completa con otras 5 personas locales mas la supervison remota de toda la operación a cargo de Fernando Manfrini, Director de Ventas de México, Centroamérica y Caribe, trabajando desde la oficina de Miami.

CRECIMIENTO SIN PRECEDENTES

Villegas además destaco que en los últimos 12 a 18 meses, Harris en México obtuvo importantes logros y proyectos, dando algunos ejemplos de éxito, comenzando por una red de SFN con TV Azteca en el DF, “algo único en el país, el único sistema en SFN en ATSC para TV Digital, donde en el Cerro del Chiquihuite tenemos un transmisor Harris de alta potencia, más varios transmisores satélites, obteniendo como resultado de este proyecto mejorar la cobertura en zonas residenciales de altos ingresos que eran muy importante s para Azteca”. También hemos crecido con TV Azteca en el sistema de automatización de Harris que tienen hace varios anos, incrementando de 8 a 14 canales”.

“En el caso de Televisa, colocamos un número importante de Master Control, con el branding, matrices e infraestructura ; un proyecto muy importante para el que trabajamos varios meses, donde se hicieron demos y se realizo una comparación de todas las plataformas que hay en la industria y la nuestra salio por arriba de todas estas, además de nuestro trabajo en el dia a dia con los propios ingenieros de Televisa. O sea, los clientes empiezan a percibir que no solo la calidad del producto hace la diferencia, sino que hoy están hablando directamente con Harris, hablan con personas que visitan permanentemente la fábrica y que dan respuestas inmediatas, y eso los clientes ya lo están valorando mucho”.

“Tuvimos un proyecto muy importante este anio con el Canal Once, con aproximadamente unos 20 transmisores e infraestructura, siendo este un proyecto gigantesco. Tuvimos tambien un proyecto importante de servers con Sky en playout para los canales de HD, con Cablevisión también hicimos proyectos importantes con equipos de fibra, con Grupo Imagen/CadenaTres colocamos un transmisor analógico de 120 Kilowatts que es el de mas alta potencia en el DF, tienen ademas, nuestro transmisor digital con plataforma completa para TV digital, hicimos proyectos importantes de radios con IMER y Grupo ACIR. Recientemente ganamos un proyecto importante de trafico con Dish . Como pueden apreciar, hemos tenido un aceleramiento importante de operaciones en México, sin olvidar que el anio pasado en Estados Unidos fue un anio de crisis, que pego fuerte aquí en México como vecino directo, mas la gripe H1N1, donde el país estuvo casi 2 meses parado, y aun nuestro crecimiento en México fue sostenido, pero no olvidamos que el anio previo al Mundial siempre produce un pico de negocios, y con eso cabe destacar que casi todos las móviles de Televisa en Sudáfrica tienen infraestructura Harris, por ejemplo”.

Dando como balance final, Villegas declaro que del ano fiscal 2009 al ano fiscal 2010, Harris creció en operaciones México alrededor del 120%, y ante tamaño crecimiento, por nuestra presencia local mas fuerte y directa, tenemos como expectativa para este ano un crecimiento mas conservador para el pais, de solo dos digitos, que sin dudas es muy importante ya que como parámetro, la industria ha proyectado un crecimiento maximo combinado de alrededor del 3 o 4 %.

EQUIPO DE TRABAJO SOLIDO Y TECNOLOGIA DE PUNTA

Las nuevas oficinas están diseñadas bajo un carácter funcional y abierto, basada en la dinámica que hoy presenta Harris al mercado. Cuenta además con sala de juntas para conferencias, entrenamientos, seminarios, una sala de laboratorios, coincidiendo en una característica en todas las oficinas de Harris en America Latina, están en el piso 8, tanto las oficinas centrales en Miami, como la de Brasil y asi ahora en México.

Con referencia a distribuidores oficiales de Harris en México, Villegas fue puntual: “Cambiamos totalmente el escenario, antes teníamos varios y hoy solo contamos con Promexar, la compañía de Christian Fragoso, quienes trabajan de acuerdo a los parametros que solicitamos y que nuestro representante en México deben tener. Queríamos trabajar con una empresa joven y ágil, que sea una extensión de nuestra operación y no el viejo estilo de compañías multimarcas. Promexar solo trabaja con Harris y Christian Fragoso es muy bueno en lo que hace, un ingeniero joven con mucho conocimiento, que se esta nutriendo de la experiencia en el mercado de su padre Alejandro Fragoso de Dicimex, pero sin dudas generacionalmente Christian se acopla perfectamente con todo el equipo de Harris México”.

Para concluir la inauguración de las nuevas oficinas, Donald Tenhundfeld de Harris Corporation, realizo unas demos en M/H en movilidad, basadas en las Conferencias que realizo en el evento VIII Reunión Nacional de Técnicos e Ingenieros y la IV Reunión Nacional de Productores que también auspicio Harris, ya que la compañía americana vislumbra que hay gran interés de distribuir contenidos en dispositivos móviles.

BRAINSTORM MULTIMEDIA - IBC 2010

At IBC 2010, visitors to Brainstorm’s stand will not only be able to participate in a demonstration of a stereoscopic 3D virtual studio, they will also get live demos of Brainstorm’s entire product range including the latest version of the flagship product and graphics engine eStudio
V.12 for unlimited broadcast graphics power and design options. eStudio V.12 enables both design and real-time playout of virtual studios and 3D graphics as well as the easy creation of customized applications.

Also featuring will be a new eStudio Designer interface, providing an environment and a toolset that make the product intuitive and feel familiar to graphic designers.

eStudio On Demand is powerful playout system that enables easy management and playout of complex graphics templates for broadcasters who require more than a simple rundown system.
Also highlighted will be the latest version of the Aston Character Generator, plus the sophisticated, template-based news graphics system BrainNews, which enables news departments to integrate Brainstorm’s real-time 3D graphics into their workflow without the need for constant input from designers.

EasySet simplifies virtual set design and operation while BrainSports provides sophisticated sports graphics in an application that offers easy creation, preview and playout of live sports graphics.

About Brainstorm Multimedia

Brainstorm Multimedia provides industry-leading real-time 3D interactive graphics solutions for all broadcast graphics types and workflows as well as for feature film production and 3D real-time stereoscopic presentations and broadcasts.

Brainstorm’s production arm provides an end-to-end graphics production service, being the supplier of choice for the critical live broadcasts of Elections, News, Sports, Finance, Entertainment programming and more, for many of the world’s leading broadcasters including the BBC, TVE, RTL, TSR, NBC and CNBC.

Pulsar Televisión llega a la Alta Definición con Ross Video

Pulsar Televisión de la República Argentina, desarrollando su transición total a emisiones digitales y en HD durante el 2010, adquirió durante el 2009 dos switchers multi-definición QMD/X de Ross Vision. La inversión marca la pauta en cuanto a modernización de procesos y equipo en la región.

La especialidad de Pulsar Televisión son los eventos en vivo y usará los switchers Vision 2.5 y Vision 3 para cubrir eventos en directo como conciertos músicales, deportes, reality shows, y noticias desde dos unidades moviles. Por ejemplo, ambas unidades fueron usadas en Febrero de 2009 para cubrir el Torneo de Tenis A.T.P. que se llevó a cabo en la Buenos Aires.

Los swtichers Vision QMD/X de Ross Video ofrecen cuatro llaves por ME y hasta 4 ME´s, disponibles en chasis de tamaño completo y reducido.

El chasis reducido, QMD es una unidad compacta que utiliza 3 unidades en rack y ofrece 4 ME´s: 6 llaves para downstreaming y 48 entradas de video multidefinición. El chasis más largo, QMD/X, ofrece 4 ME´s completos, 6 llaves para downstreaming y 96 entradas de video multidefinición.

“Estamos acostumbrados a cubrir muchos eventos en vivo al año, por lo que el margen de error que tenemos es demasiado estrecho”, dijo Gonzalo Pampin, Director de Pulsar Televisión. “La línea Ross Vision ofrece versatilidad y confiabilidad insuperables respaldados con un excelente soporte técnico, justo lo que necesitamos para nuestras producciones en vivo y en directo”

“En Ross Video estamos emocionados de formar una nueva relación en Argentina con Pulsar” comenta Fernando Paulino, Gerente de Ventas Internacional de Ross Video. “Vision es el producto perfecto para el mercado de las unidades moviles y estamos comprometidos en ofrecer a Pulsar Televisión lo mejor en tecnología para para producciones en directo y poder satisfacer todas sus necesidades, ahora y en el futuro"

Grass Valley Kayenne Serves as the Centerpiece of Trinity

Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the largest religious network in the world (based in Los Angeles, Calf.), has installed a Grass Valley™ Kayenne™ Video Production Center, as the centerpiece of a completely rebuilt high-definition production studio in Nashville, Tenn. that went live in February.

The new Nashville studio—one of eight major production centers that TBN maintains throughout the country—now serves as a model for the network’s continuing migration to HD at its other production facilities.

To date, the network’s facilities in Costa Mesa, Calif. Irving, Texas, and New York City all have Grass Valley Kalypso™ HD switchers installed. Going forward, all new and upgraded TBN studios will feature Kayenne switchers, including the network’s new Nashville facility as well as its new Orlando site, which is scheduled for completion in December 2010.

“We were in the process of completing our fourth HD installation [Nashville] and were previously using Grass Valley Kalypso HD switchers because we like the way they operate, but we waited to finish Nashville until we received our new Kayenne,” said Russell Hall, General Manager of the TBN Nashville facility. “We liked the Kayenne so much that it will now be the switcher of choice for all of our facilities going forward. This includes Los Angeles and Miami, where we will deploy Kayenne switchers in 2011/2012.”

TBN Nashville uses the Kayenne for a number of different types of programming, including live concerts and events, as well as sitcoms, award shows, and talk shows. In Nashville, the shows are produced in the network’s 1,500-seat theater, as well as a 100x100 box studio. The Kayenne is being used to handle sources for both rooms–often times simultaneously.

At TBN Nashville, the HD upgrade (from analog equipment) started in May of 2009 and finished in February of this year. The facility is now completely HD-compatible, which includes a 4 M/E Kayenne, and also includes the addition of a new Grass Valley Trinix™ NXT 256x256 router.

“The Kayenne continues to impress customers and is following in the historic footsteps of our other notable Grass Valley switchers that have become proven workhorses in a variety of applications,” said Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President of Grass Valley. “TBN serves a large community across the country that requires the best production values possible to convey their message. The Kayenne gives them that and a whole lot more.”

“Some of our technical directors come from high-end sports and entertainment backgrounds and what they enjoy about the Kayenne is that they now have the ultimate platform in terms of flexibility to do any type of production, any way that they want,” continues Hall. “There’s not a single limitation that we have come across. Our crews can't say enough good things about it. I have personally been using video production switchers for many years [since 1986]. I have done extensive work on every major switcher ever manufactured and Kayenne is the best switcher in the history of the broadcast industry.”

In the past month TBN Nashville has enhanced its Kayenne with an optional ClipStore, which is based on Grass Valley’s proven and widely used K2 Summit™ and K2 Solo™ video servers and works in tandem with the Kayenne’s current internal ImageStore. Once installed, the ClipStore will allow TBN operators to store and recall still images and video clips from within the Kayenne’s ImageStore menu panel and E-MEM/Cue systems.

The 4-channel, 2 RU ClipStore integrated server system allows Kayenne users to access a huge library of SD or HD video for animations, replays, or any other type of video. The existing six optional ImageStore Channels (for stills) are not tied up when using the new K2-based ClipStore system for video. The ability to create folders and clip names has also been incorporated within the ImageStore menu to make it easier to manage the large amount of content now available.

Viditec lo invita al SONY ROAD SHOW HD 2010

ESPNs X Games 16 Taps Gefen Digital Signage Creator to Deliver Up-to-Date Essentials for Spectators

When ESPN’s X Games descends upon Los Angeles to celebrate its 16th year in providing world-class venues for the finest athletes competing in action sports, Gefen’s Digital Signage Creator will be there. From July 29 to August 1, 2010, Gefen’s DSC will help direct X Games attendees to all the radical action taking place throughout the city.

Fierce competitions between more than 200 athletes in Skateboard, BMX Freestyle, Moto X and Rally Car will play out in four key venues within downtown LA: STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre, the Event Deck at L.A. LIVE and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Pre-loaded templates on the DSC will be fed to a flat panel display within the X Games 16 Guest Services booth at L.A. LIVE. Totally up-to-date information on activities and competition schedules, comprehensive venue maps, live RSS feeds, and real-time X Games updates will be on display to keep spectators well informed of all the action.

The Event Deck at L.A. LIVE is hosting several BMX Freestyle and Skateboarding competitions ranging from Street to Park as well as X Fest, a free-to-the-public sports festival offering action gear from industry and sponsor booths, musical performance, product demos, athlete appearances and more.

The DSC works with any Windows browser, giving users full control over their digital signage content from a familiar platform. It is equipped with both HDMI and VGA with L/R audio to support digital and analog displays with RS-232 control.

"The Gefen Digital Signage Creator will allow us to keep up with activities and deliver competition schedules to all spectators arriving at X Games 16 and stopping by the Guest Services booth," said Sharon Bauer, assistant director, event productions, ESPN. "We were thrilled when we discovered how easy it is to combine multiple information sources and have them all displayed at the same time, with built-in automation. This will make sure spectators are always in the loop."

Gefen’s Director of Digital Signage, John Novak, added, "To be working with the recognized leader in sports is very rewarding."