ITV

Tag: systems

  • SeaChange’s digital video systems serve TV18’s on-air look

    MUMBAI: TV18 is infusing its production and on-air operations with greater economy and a streamlined workflow as it rolls out SeaChange International, Inc.’s IT-based MediaClient architecture.

    Chosen by television companies worldwide, MediaClient gives editors and other devices across television enterprises ubiquitous connectivity to massive, fault-resilient media storage and streaming, informs an official release.     
                
          

    “Fundamental information technologies like Internet Protocol networks are universal and proven to deliver economical performance and connectivity,” says TV18 general manager operations Piyush Gupta.

    Gupta adds, “Managing our video editing, production, playback and other functions over open networks lets us attach any device to SeaChange’s scalable and reliable storage.”

    SeaChange’s MediaClient architecture enables television operators to store media assets in one place and to share them among many users – establishing an “edit-in-place, play-in-place” workflow. TV18 will centralize multichannel on-air playout with a SeaChange MediaLibrary 24000e supported by six MediaClient software codecs.

    Further, TV18’s Avid I-News production environment will have access to a SeaChange MediaLibrary X12100e online archive, offering 32-terabytes of format-independent storage for any IP-connected device. The operator is also integrating its Harris Automation software with the MediaClient architecture.

    “With innovations like MediaLibrary and MediaClient, SeaChange is empowering customers to efficiently run television operations in spite of an increase of disparate content formats, sources and outputs,” says SeaChange VP sales Asia Pacific Chris West.

    “MediaClient is helping our customers to better manage media enterprises, grow the business and get more out of media assets,” says West.

    The network’s Asia Pacific headquarters switched to SeaChange broadcast play-to-air systems in 2001, the same year that CNBC TV18 rolled out its first SeaChange systems. Today, CNBC reaches 40 million homes across the region.

    The media release adds that SeaChange’s MediaClient family of broadcast systems enable television operators to store and distribute video more flexibly and cost-effectively than ever before. Based on the Common Internet File System (CIFS), the MediaClient family is a series of standards-based client/server products optimized to support workflow throughout the television enterprise, regardless of video file type or compression scheme.

  • Buena Vista Pictures Distribution commits content to Christie/AIX for DCI-compliant digital projection systems

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Studios’ distribution arm Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (BVPD) and Access Integrated Technologies’ (AccessIT) Christie/AIX unit have entered into a groundbreaking non-exclusive agreement to supply feature films from Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures to DCI-compliant digital projection systems to be deployed by Christie/AIX.

    Christie/AIX will install between 2,500 and 4,000 systems throughout the US and Canada over the next two years.
     
     
     

    Just over one month ago, Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI), a joint venture of Disney and other major studios, issued the final technical specification for theatrical digital equipment. Christie/AIX’s installation plan marks the first mass deployment following the DCI specification’s release. The benefits of DCI compliance should be apparent to consumers as the systems initially deployed by Christie/AIX will include DCI-compliant compression, the state of the art in moving image projection which delivers the highest-quality DLP Cinema image to the movie screen. All systems will be upgraded to full DCI compliance as soon as the hardware is available.

    Disney is the first major studio to sign an agreement to provide content for Christie/AIX digital systems. Recently, in an unprecedented move, Disney led the film industry by introducing Disney Digital 3D, using Christie DLP Cinema projectors and Dolby servers. Audiences can enjoy this true three-dimensional digital experience in movie theaters on November 4, 2005, with the highly anticipated release of the Walt Disney animated film Chicken Little.

    AccessIT’s Christie/AIX unit serves as the funding vehicle and administrator for the company’s 4,000 screen digital cinema rollout plan expanded from the one originally announced in June 2005. Under the plan, Christie/AIX will act as a financing intermediary between content owners — including major studios and independent distributors — and exhibitors who will utilize DCI-compliant digital cinema systems including 2K projectors and related hardware and software. The raising of capital for funding of the initial 200 systems was completed on 21 July, 2005.

    “We are thrilled that we have come to an agreement with Christie/AIX to supply content to their digital projection systems, and we will continue to support other deployment plans in order to ensure the future success of the exhibition industry. DCI-compliant digital cinema rollouts will allow consumers to enjoy the highest quality cinema experience available while providing clear benefits to exhibition partners. We couldn’t be more pleased with the top-of-the-line performance of Christie projectors and look forward to seeing our films presented in the highest digital viewing quality available,” said BVPD president Chuck Viane.

    “We appreciate the importance of this signing as a major step forward for AccessIT and the industry. Disney has always been extremely forward-thinking in the digital cinema space, and in supporting this venture in particular. We expect this to be the first of several signings with studios in the next month or so, accompanied by agreements with exhibitors. The contribution of Christie to this and other contemplated signings cannot be overstated. As we expand the number of stakeholders in this groundbreaking venture, AccessIT is proud to be a key member on such an impressive team. We fully expect the deployment to begin in October with at least 150 screens in time for Christmas,” said AccessIT chairman and chief executive officer Bud Mayo.

    Christie president and COO Jack Kline said, “Exhibitors were one of our top priorities when we crafted the agreement. We wanted to ensure that maintenance costs remained similar to that of film projection while providing higher quality images. Disney, an innovator and leader in the art of entertainment, is an important part of the equation. By marrying their leadership with our understanding of the unique needs of the exhibition community, moviegoers everywhere will be the big winners, enjoying the spectacular visual experience of digital cinema technology that is unmatched by anything they have ever seen before.”

    Christie/AIX president and COO Chuck Goldwater added, “The Disney contract is the first of several announcements concerning our rollout plan that we expect to make in the weeks ahead. It re-affirms our confidence that the plan is viable, practical and workable for all industry participants. We are encouraged and grateful for the growing support from the studios and from exhibitors, which will enable AccessIT to continue to help drive the industry’s transition to the digital future.”

  • Billing solutions provider CSG systems wins global excellence award

    MUMBAI: Global customer care and billing solutions provider CSG Systems, a subsidiary of CSG Systems headquartered in Englewood, has won the Billing and OSS World’s 2005 Excellence Award for “Best Overall Company”.
     

    This is in recognition of the company’s commitment to its customers, its strength and success in the global marketplace and a record year in contract wins and overall customer satisfaction, states an official statement.

    Billing World & OSS, an industry trade magazine providing information on telecommunications billing, OSS, revenue assurance and service assurance, has cited CSG’s key contract wins, global market penetration including significant support in China and India, its proven track record and intense focus on serving the needs of its customers as the main factors for bestowing this honor upon CSG, the release adds.
     
     

    “Since the company’s inception, CSG has maintained a steadfast commitment to serving our customer’s needs. In this evolving market where new networks, services and consumer demands change the business landscape each day, it’s become more important than ever to deliver solutions that keep our customers ahead of the curve,” said Ed Nafus, president and chief executive officer of CSG Systems.

    CSG and its wholly-owned subsidiaries serve more telecommunications service providers in more than 40 countries. CSG provides services in next-generation billing and customer care solutions for the cable television, direct broadcast satellite, advanced IP services, next generation mobile, and fixed wireline markets.