Research Shows AmberFin Provides Superior Quality HD Video Content

User Analytics study reveals that 84% of consumers prefer the HD image quality of AmberFin’s iCR software when compared to a leading competitor

(LONDON) Jan. 29, 2009--In a recent study by independent research house User Analytics, 84% of consumers surveyed stated that the HD image quality of files transcoded by AmberFin’s iCR software tools were far superior to that of a leading competitor. The study took a selection of SD source material and up-converted it to HD content using iCR and a leading competitor’s solution. Results of the up-conversion were compared based on consumer perception of the image quality.

With consumer adoption and demand for HD content continuing to increase, the results from this study are crucial for broadcasters and content providers. They are faced with the challenging task of converting large amounts of archived video content, held in multiple legacy formats, to HD without compromising the quality of the master. Over the course of 2008 HD-display TV penetration increased significantly in Western Europe and North America and it is predicted that by 2012 HD-readiness of viewing platforms will stand between 75% and 100% in developed markets*.

AmberFin’s iCR software tools can easily convert between various formats and feature unrivalled scaling and deinterlacing technology to offer seamless up, cross and down conversion. Covering a multitude of formats, iCR is able to up-convert files and reduce the file size by as much as 25%, easing delivery system requirements without undermining image quality. Even with today’s complex business workflow systems, iCR is able to incorporate rich scripting capabilities enabling content owners to integrate any task or system into their workflows so that up-conversion is simply a part of the process.

Bruce Devlin, CTO, at AmberFin comments: “Whether you are reducing files to the smallest possible size, or creating astonishing streaming HD, the study clearly shows that the average consumer prefers the way AmberFin makes pictures. Great media businesses need to manage the trade-off between image quality and file size. Only AmberFin gives the media industry true control in this area.”

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Note

* Screen Digest, HDTV 2008, 01 July 2008

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximize the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues. AmberFin iCR, with four-time Emmy-award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want. As an open standard, future proof platform that digitizes and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices. AmberFin is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitization, review and quality control and repurposing of their content.

Privately held by Advent Venture Partners, AmberFin is, headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: www.amberfin.com

Editorial contacts

Kirstyn Langford

Hotwire for AmberFin

amberfin@hotwirepr.com

+44 (0) 207 608 2500

Jaime Tero

GBC for AmberFin

jaimet@gbc-usa.com

+1 415 989 9803