CobbTV, the government access television channel for Cobb County, Ga. recently acquired an automated playout system from Pebble, a global provider of automation, content management and integrated channel technology. The contract was negotiated in co-operation with, and was installed by Pebble’s systems integration partner, CTI, in Julyfor an on-air date in August.

CobbTV is available on Comcast cable and ATSC terrestrial. Along with county commission and other local government meetings, the programming includes educational and informational programming and, in rush hour, live traffic information including highway cameras.

The county authorities sought an easy-to-use, highly reliable automated playout platform, which would involve very low operational and maintenance overhead, according to Pebble. Following a procurement exercise, the contract was awarded to CTI and Pebble.

“To meet CobbTV’s particular needs, we proposed a very simple configuration,” said Eric Paris, Project Manager for CTI. “It uses a single Pebble Integrated Channel device which is capable of supporting four concurrent channels. Under the control of Pebble Automation software, it provides links to Cobb’s NAS media storage and manages live inputs and recordings.”

Video inputs and outputs are SDI, with the capability of 12G-SDI for a future move to Ultra HD. As well as switching and routing, the Pebble platform also generates and inserts rich graphics. It also includes audio channel management and mixing.

“We are a government body with needs slightly different than a traditional broadcaster, so our chief goal was to identify a trusted partner who would give us the reliability we sought,” said Brad Plumley, Station Manager at CobbTV. “Pebble is internationally recognized as a leader in broadcast automation, yet also took the time to understand our specific requirements.

“The solution they proposed is compact and cost-effective, but comes with the Pebble reputation for reliability,” he added. “It is packaged in a single box which reduces system complexity, and they have been implemented against our timeline requirements.”

Pebble CEO Peter Mayhead said: “This project is an important pointer of the way the media industry is transforming. Once the province of monolithic broadcasters, video is now seen as the route for direct communications by businesses, sports clubs and - as seen here in Cobb County—by public-sector bodies who want to ensure their citizens are properly informed.

“We designed our technology to be scalable, not just in the number of channels but in the level of operational involvement,” Mayhead continued. “That means for non-broadcasters like CobbTV we can provide the highest technical and operational quality and reliability with minimal operator or engineer involvement.”

For more information , visit pebble.tv.

MUNICH—Rohde & Schwarz will highlight infrastructure solutions that have been updated to leverage the latest software architectures and techniques at IBC 2024, Sept. 13-16, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center.

“Leading broadcasters in Europe and around the world tell us their critical issues are operational efficiencies, interoperability and security,” said Thorsten Sauer, vice president of Rohde & Schwarz Media. “Those issues have to be addressed whilst also delivering against the business needs for revenue optimization, compliance and viewer experience.

“That is why we continue to innovate, to bring the right functionality into systems running efficiently on standard hardware,” said Sauer. “We push our development teams to adopt the best new technologies, which delivers real benefits for our users, including unique capabilities.”

The company’s Gallium and StreamMaster automated playout environment can now run under the latest versions of Windows or Linux. It leverages the latest .NET 6.0 technology to provide cost-efficient cloud deployment and a PostgreSQL backend, an advanced open-source relational database, the company said.

This enables broadcasters and service providers to build playout automation and delivery systems from a single channel to hundreds, whether on premises, as a multi-site operation or hybrid cloud, and controlled securely from any location via a web browser, the company said.

Gallium can keep track of the legal limits on advertising minutes, providing graphical, detailed indications of the status to assist users to remain in compliance with regulations. The configurable Gallium software also allows practical operational workflows through tight interworking. It supports the Telestream DIVA API, for example, to manage very large libraries seamlessly. Gallium and StreamMaster also support direct control of the Nevion VideoIPath media orchestration layer, it said.

The company also will feature the latest developments in its PRISMON software-defined, networked multiviewer and monitoring platform. Already delivering high channel density, the adoption of PCI 4.0 gives the platform an even better price-performance ratio on COTS hardware, the company said.

Fully implemented in software, PRISMON provides agility and capacity. The company is continuously updating the platform. For example, PRISMON has been updated to support the latest NDI, SRT, NMOS and SMPTE ST2110 standards, Dolby Atmos encoded streams and watermarking and signaling schemes. 

See Rohde & Schwarz at IBC 2024 Stand 7.B21.

More information is available on the company’s website.

WHITCHURCH, U.K.—CJP Broadcast Service Solutions Ltd. has announced that it delivered innovative automated app channels to the betting and gaming company William Hill. 

The two new channels transmit horse and greyhound racing live to sports fans and customers, with rich graphics, operated by the presenter alone. 

For the project William Hill wanted a racing television service linked by a live presenter in the style of a radio DJ. As well as providing live coverage of multiple meetings daily, the channels had to include rich graphics experience, including results, statistics, and jockeys’ colors, the companies explained. 

In addition, William Hill wanted to service to be cost-effective and scalable so the service and the system could operate daily without a team of operators and engineers. 

To meet those requirements, CJP Broadcast integrated the necessary products, including a Ultrix router from Ross Video and the Cosmos playout automation and streaming platform from PlayBox Technology. 

CJP Broadcast also worked with media software specialist Squared Paper to develop the required data processing, graphics and intuitive user interface. This functionality was built with Squared Paper’s Busby software development kit. 

“We wanted to create something special in our racing coverage, to provide our customers with a better, richer racing experience,” said Mark Chesworth, head of broadcast at William Hill. “CJP Broadcast showed us that by using bespoke software, they could build a system that would bring our dedicated live greyhound racing channel to life. Showing more live greyhound races than any other channel, viewers are served real-time data, prices, and information graphics for each runner. Led by a team of presenters, each bringing their personalities and styles to the screen, the fully automated system CJP developed gives us the output we want, and one our presenters love to drive.”  

A vital element of the requirement was to allow the presenter to log in remotely. The Squared Paper software utilizes the data feeds obtained from racecourses and tracks and takes the relevant information to trigger HTML5 graphics templates for live insertion onto incoming SDI feeds. The system also facilitates the creation of the playlist, which is continually updated based on live schedules. 

“The system was specified for remote operation, but Covid lockdown meant we had to develop it remotely, too,” said Chris Phillips, managing director of CJP Broadcast Service Solutions Ltd. “We assembled the hardware rack and operations desk in our demo area; Squared Paper accessed it to develop the software functionality, and William Hill could also log in to monitor progress. At CJP Broadcast, our approach is always to select the best technology partners to meet the user specification and to work closely with them to pool all our knowledge and experience to exceed expectations on time and within budget. 

“This project for William Hill was particularly satisfying,” Phillips added, “because they started with an operational requirement rather than a technical description. They went out to potential suppliers with what they wanted to achieve. We were able to show them just how engaging, dynamic, and scalable the channel could be. The solution we developed, which we now call Smart Streams, applies to any broadcaster or streaming service provider dealing in data-rich live content in sports or other genres.” 

IBC2019, 13-17 September, Stand 7.A05:Pixel Power has today announced it will be adding uncompressed IP playout capability, based on the SMPTE ST 2110 family of standards, to its already well established StreamMaster playout technology. The development comes as a natural progression of incorporating new standards within its software defined technology platforms: StreamMaster Media Processing and Gallium Workflow Orchestration. Like all StreamMaster and Gallium functionality, SMTPE ST 2110 will be supported as software solutions whether on-premise or virtualized in a data centre.

“While we believe SMPTE ST 2110 is certainly the right long term direction, there is still mileage in standards such as ST 2022-6, since broadcasters like the similarity to existing SDI architectures,” said James Gilbert, CEO, Pixel Power. “Our new generation of playout and delivery products, including automation, graphics and branding are based on the StreamMaster Media Processing technology platform that can be easily updated using only software. The flexibility of IP-based, software defined playout and automation platforms are really showing their worth – that’s why we are currently deploying them with major national broadcasters around the globe.”

The SMPTE ST 2110 Professional Media Over Managed IP Networks suite of standards is a major contributing factor in the movement towards one common IP-based connectivity protocol for the professional media industries. The foundation for the SMPTE ST 2110 standards is Video Services Forum (VSF) Technical Recommendation for Transport of Uncompressed Elementary Stream Media Over IP (TR-03). The SMPTE ST 2110 standards suite specifies the carriage, synchronization and description of separate elementary essence streams over IP for realtime production, playout, and other professional media applications.

Pixel Power has a history of breaking new ground and was responsible thirty years ago for taking broadcasters into the world of PC-based graphics systems as they rapidly grew their channel count. As a first to market with live virtualized playout in the cloud in 2015, Pixel Power also took the first steps in showing broadcasters the power and convenience of workflows based on IP transport streams and application virtualization. At IBC2019, Pixel Power will show how broadcasters can benefit from moving to fully software defined solutions for production, playout, automation, branding and graphics.

Pixel Power can be found at IBC2019 (Amsterdam, 13 – 17 September) in its regular position in Hall 7, Stand 7.A05.

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About Pixel Power
Pixel Power provides innovative graphics production and integrated playout delivery systems for broadcasters, outside broadcast truck companies, playout facilities, post production houses, venues and sports complexes. Our award-winning branding and promotions systems, graphics-enabled master control switchers and sophisticated switchable graphics production systems allow producers to deliver dynamic live and pre-recorded content for any SD, HD, 4k, mobile, online or interactive application.

Pixel Power has 30 years’ experience of engineering prowess and dedication to customer support that has made it the industry’s first choice in graphics, branding and playout. With more than 2500 installations worldwide, customers including market-leading broadcasters such as Al Jazeera, BBC, CBC, Disney, Discovery, Ericsson, ESPN, Sky, ViaSat and WDR.

With corporate headquarters in Cambridge, UK, and with regional offices in Grass Valley, California and Dubai, UAE, Pixel Power has a global organisation and is supported by a well-trained and focussed distributor network.

Pixel Power can be contacted online at www.pixelpower.com.

Pixel Power contact:
Name: Ciaran Doran
Title: Exec VP
Email: cdoran@pixelpower.com
Tel: +44 7775 581301

PR Contact:
Name: Jennie Marwick-Evans
Company: Manor Marketing
Email: jennie@manormarketing.tv
Tel: +44 7748 636171

TVU Networks, the global technology and innovation leader in live IP solutions, today announced the company was awarded two 2018 Product Innovation Awards from Future Publishing. Publishers of TV Technology, Government Video, Radio World and Creative Planet/DV and VE magazines, the annual Future Publishing awards honor the year’s top product introductions in TV, professional video and broadcast/online radio technology.

The TVU MediaMind set of solutions for AI-based automated video content management was honored with a TV Technology Product Innovation Award; while TVU Producer for cloud-based multi-camera video production, was selected as a DV (Digital Video) Product Innovation Award winner.

“TV Technology and DV are well read and respected media outlets in the broadcast and video production industries,” said Paul Shen, CEO, TVU Networks. “We are delighted to have TVU MediaMind and TVU Producer selected for this prestigious honor. Both MediaMind and Producer have seen strong interest and adoption since their introductions. We wholeheartedly thank Future Publishing for this acknowledgement.”

Introduced in April at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in Las Vegas, TVU MediaMind consists of TVU Contribution Automation, TVU AI Engine, TVU Real Time Search Engine, TVU Workflow Engine and TVU Producer. MediaMind simplifies and automates the processes involved in creating a single port to feed all social media, digital and broadcast channels. A cloud-based model, it incorporates AI, voice and object recognition to enable the indexing of video clips down to the exact frame and the ability to share those clips instantly.

A component of TVU, with the web-based TVU Producer, video content can be cost-effectively produced for different platforms or audience groups completely in the cloud. Non-professionals can easily manipulate graphics, scoring and text overlays during production, thanks to its WYSIWYG interface. TVU Producer can handle multi-camera production from virtually any location. It supports simultaneously output directly to major social media platforms and virtually any CDN platform. It also offers a multi-channel IP video switcher, instant replay and slow-motion replay.

TVU also received two 2018 DMW (Digital Media World) awards for IP-based delivery and cloud-based production for TVU MediaMind and TVU Producer. During the latter part of 2018, TVU was named a finalist in Streaming Media magazine’s “Streaming Media 50.” In April of last year, TVU was honored with a “Best of 2018” award from TV Technology for its ultra-compact, cost-effective TVU Nano for TVU Router. TVU Nano uses TVU Router as a network accelerator to deliver Internet anywhere.

Now in its sixth year, Future’s Product Innovation Award recognizes excellence in manufacturing of products to serve the TV/pro video and radio/online audio industries. Winners are selected by a panel of professional users and evaluation criteria include innovation of concept and design, creative use of technology, price value, and suitability

TVU Networks has over 2,500 customers in more than 85 countries. The TVU Networks family of IP transmission and live production solutions gives broadcasters and organizations a powerful and reliable workflow to distribute live video content to broadcast, online and mobile platforms. TVU has become a critical part of the operations of many major media companies. The TVU Networks suite of solutions has been used to acquire, transmit, produce, manage and distribute professional-quality live IP HD footage as an integral part of news, sports and major global events. For more information about TVU Networks solutions, please visit .

ST. PAUL, MINN. – Pittsfield Community Television, a local provider of three Public, Educational and Government access channels, has upgraded its production and playout capabilities with Tightrope Media Systems’ Cablecast 6.0 automation and playout software.

PCTV's set-up of Tightrope Media Systems products

PCTV has used Tightrope systems since 2003 and was able to integrate Cablecast 6.0 with its existing Tightrope hardware. This latest version of Cablecast offers a redesigned user interface to help users work across more devices, including cell phones and tablets. PCTV’s other Tightrope systems include Cablecast Pro VOD server and two Cablecast SX2HD 2x1 video servers for a total of four playout channels and two encode channels. These systems are able to intelligently automate and update information across Tightrope products.

PCTV provides service to more than 20,000 cable subscribers in the Pittsfield, Dalton and Richmond, Mass., areas.

Tightrope Media Systems is a provider of digital signage and broadcast automation systems based in St. Paul, Minn.

ATLANTA – To bring the weekly magazine show “FIFA Football” and daily “Omnisports Bulletin” to its audience, digital sports content and media group Perform has selected Broadstream Solutions’ OASYS automated playout platform.

OASYS uses shared-file assets and incorporates an end-to-end, file-based workflow from ingest, through production and editing, to transmission. The OASYS is also able to expand its one channel solution to a variety of channels. The platform also prepares Perform for the IP transition.

Perform currently utilizes OASYS for five shows, totaling eight hours of programming a week.

Broadstream Solutions is a provider of playout tools for broadcasters, networks, cable and satellite operators, with headquarters in Atlanta.