New Mirrored Server System Boosts Playout Capabilities, Improves Performance and Capacity While Reducing Power and Space Requirements
“Through a virtually seamless upgrade of our Spectrum systems, which interoperate well with our existing automation and video files, we have gained valuable capabilities including back-to-back playout of SD and HD files, as well as increased capacity and performance in a smaller footprint,” said Saleh Abdulla Ahmad Lootah, chief technology officer at DMI. “The new Harmonic systems not only facilitate our ongoing transition to HD but also provide a cost-effective foundation for the addition of future channels without disruption to existing playout operations.”
Replacing an existing Spectrum installation, the new Spectrum systems installed at DMI include Spectrum MediaDirector™ media server controllers, Spectrum MediaStore™ storage arrays, Spectrum MediaPort™ real-time video encoder/decoders and the Harmonic Media Application Server (MAS) media management platform. Configured for 1+1 redundancy, each of the server systems provides 14 channels of HD/SD MPEG-2 playout and another two channels of HD/SD MPEG-2 play and record, with up/down/cross conversion and simulcast on each port.
The Spectrum media servers support ingest and playout and are integrated with an existing Harmonic MediaGrid shared storage system that provides nearline and external storage at DMI. The new systems support a higher channel count, provide higher server storage capacity, and improve performance while reducing power and space requirements. DMI now enjoys the ability to play out SD and HD content on the same server port and to output an SD/HD simulcast for any given file as standard. While these capabilities help to ease DMI’s transition to HD, they also enable the broadcaster to provide its viewers with enhanced picture quality.
“Companies such as DMI continue to rely on Harmonic as a trusted partner because we combine market and technical expertise along with a passion and commitment for customer success,” said Ian Graham, vice president of sales, EMEA, at Harmonic. “Our innovative product portfolio enables them to reduce the cost and complexity of delivering broadcast services differentiated by superior video quality. In deploying Harmonic solutions and taking advantage of our acclaimed support, DMI and other forward-looking media companies worldwide are optimizing their video infrastructure and, in turn, reducing their total cost of ownership.”
At IBC2015 stand 1.B20, Harmonic will showcase its comprehensive line of market-leading solutions that optimize the production and delivery of high-value video services in the broadcast, pay-TV and new media environments. Further information about Harmonic and the company’s products is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
About Harmonic
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, such as those more fully described in Harmonic’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec.31, 2014, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Harmonic as of the date hereof, and Harmonic disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.