CBS News has deployed the Volicon Observer System, a multichannel broadcast monitoring, streaming and archive system, enabling CBS to keep an eye on six of its competitors.

The Web-based Observer is based on video compression and streaming technology developed at Volicon, allowing users to monitor multiple broadcasts, compare content and archive media. CBS can view its own transmissions as well as its competitors from any PC using Microsoft's Internet Explorer, although the system will be accessible by other browsers such as Mozilla in future versions.

Volicon, based in Burlington, Mass., develops digital video archiving and streaming technologies for the broadcast industry and became incorporated in 2004.