Compix Media - Lan Merrill, Vice President of Engineering

Q. What broad technology trends do you think will be front-and-centre at IBC2009?

It is clear that the formally divergent worlds of gaming, online collaboration and Web-based applications are the future of – in a very narrow view - the character-generator industries. In the broader context, the online, offline, near line and next line user interfaces driving these end-user experiences will be the golden goose for our industry as a whole.

Q. Any thoughts on how the current economic climate will affect the show?

Now is the time for companies to strategically redouble their efforts to create products and services the marketplace needs, with the benefits those markets require, and at a price point that makes sense. In a nutshell, that is what our worldwide Compix IBC2009 story is all about.

Q. What's new that you will show at IBC2009 and that broadcasters should look for there?

At IBC2009, Compix will be showcasing our price and performance leading, top-of-the- line, Cynerg2 HD dual-channel CG systems, plus our CompactCG series, which is a ruggedized 1RU full-featured CG system for OB, live, sports, portable and other space-constrained applications. We will also highlight our OEM line of video card and software kits for international markets that can build their own high-performance computer systems, then add our 100 percent broadcast-quality hardware and software.

Q. How is your new product offering different from what's available on the market?

Our CG products range from good, old-fashioned analog composite NTSC and PAL, to SD-SDI, HD-ready, and HD-SDI. Every one of our products has 1) The features the customers told us they actually need, with 2) 100 percent SMPTE-compliant broadcast quality, and 3) at a fraction of the cost of our competition. We are different because we do it better, easier, and for less money than anybody else in the CG space.

Q. Where are you based, and how many employees do you have? Anything else we should know about your company?

We have been in business since 1986, have offices on multiple continents, with over 17,000 installations in over 80 countries worldwide. Plus, we are really nice to our customers. We are a multicultural and multilingual company, with less than 100 employees. We are continuing to hire rocket scientists and brain surgeons to help us take our company to the next level.

Q. How many years have you been going to the IBC show and what's your fondest memory? What's your favorite restaurant or pub?

This is year four for Compix, at the IBC conference, and we have every intention of continuing that relationship moving forward.

Favorite restaurant? Oh my gosh! The place that serves the thickest, juiciest, tastiest rib-eye steaks on planet earth? On plastic chairs and décor from 1972? Where I can always call the same day and get a table, or just walk in and have a seat at the bar…the bar that is right next to the grill? Yes, will you smell like a forest fire for the next week after sitting at that bar, but, oh my gosh, what a steak. So – what is the name of this place you ask? Stop by stand 8.A98, right across from EVS, and I will tell you. But, if I told all of you the name of that place in this article, my spot at the bar would be taken by all of you.