2022 Program Guide Showcases New Products From the NAB Show and in the Market
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his Program Guide takes you on a tour of new products introduced for TV, film, video, streaming, radio and pro AV professionals. The Best of Show Awards are for products introduced at the 2022 NAB Show in April. The Best in Market Awards offer an award platform for companies unable to exhibit at trade shows this year. This digital guide features all the nominees and winners that participated in the Future awards program. It offers an excellent sample of new technology on the market today and allows companies to tell you in their own words why they believe a certain product is noteworthy. Seven Future publications participated in the awards programs: TV Tech, TVB Europe, Broadcasting+Cable, Next TV, Radio World, Sound & Video Contractor and Mix. Manufacturers paid a fee for each entry and could enter multiple products. Winners were selected by panels of professional users and editors based on descriptions provided via the nomination form as well as on judges’ inspection at the convention. Turn the page to learn more and thanks for reading!
TV Tech
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 16
Creamsource ����������������������������������������� 29
DYNO
Vortex4
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 17
Dalet ������������������������������������������������������� 30
P120 — The NDI PTZ. Levelled Up.
Dalet Flex for Teams
Bitcentral Inc. ���������������������������������������� 18
Dejero ����������������������������������������������������� 31
FUEL + Powr.tv Video Streaming Platform
EnGo 265
AWS Elemental MediaTailor Channel Assembly
Black Box ������������������������������������������������ 19
Digital Nirvana �������������������������������������� 32
Apantac ���������������������������������������������������� 7
Emerald GE
MetadataIQ 4.0
SDM-MicroQ-12G — 12G Video Quad-Split Based
Boland Communications ���������������������� 20
EditShare ������������������������������������������������ 33
X4K27HDR5-OLED Broadcast Monitor
EditShare Multi-Site
Audio Design Desk ���������������������������������� 8
Broadpeak ��������������������������������������������� 21
Evertz ������������������������������������������������������ 34
Audio Design Desk
broadpeak.io
BRAVO Studio Virtualized Production Suite
AVIWEST ��������������������������������������������������� 9
BEST OF SHOW Adobe ������������������������������������������������������� 5 Auto Color
Amazon Web Services ����������������������������� 6
on Smart Display Module (SDM) Intel Platform
Canon ����������������������������������������������������� 22
Evertz ������������������������������������������������������ 35
LiveGuest
Canon DP-V1830 FW UHD 4K Reference Display
BB&S Lighting ���������������������������������������� 10
Canon ����������������������������������������������������� 23
NATX 32/64 100G Network Address Translation Router
Compact Fresnel Lights
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 11 Adobe Cloud Plugin
Canon EOS R5 C Full-Frame, 8K Cinema EOS System Camera
Canon ����������������������������������������������������� 24
Evertz ������������������������������������������������������ 36 XPS Live Video Encoder Series & Reflektor On-Premise & Cloud Signal Processor
Flex Zoom Lenses (CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F/FP and CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP)
EVS ���������������������������������������������������������� 37
Canon ����������������������������������������������������� 25
Firstlight Media ������������������������������������� 38
UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF
Firstlight Media Video CMS
Camera Director
Cinedeck ������������������������������������������������� 26
FOR-A Corp. of America ������������������������ 39
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 14
CD2
FA-1616
Central 2.0 — Enterprise Edition
Cobalt Digital ����������������������������������������� 27
Grass Valley ������������������������������������������� 40
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 15
9992-ENC and 9992-DEC SET
AMPP Live Solution Packages
Core 5 and Core 7 — The World’s First
Core SWX ������������������������������������������������ 28
Hitachi Kokusai Electric America �������� 41
NDI Monitor Recorders
Maverick
SK-UHD7000
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 12 BirdDog OG4 openGear card
BirdDog ��������������������������������������������������� 13
Neuron PROTECT
2 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Hitachi-Comark ������������������������������������� 42
TitanTV Inc. �������������������������������������������� 67
E-Compact EC700HP-BB3
MediaStar 4 — Direct Data Reporting
IHSE USA ������������������������������������������������� 43
Triveni Digital ���������������������������������������� 68
DP 4X1 KVM Desktop Switch
StreamScope® XM Monitor
IHSE USA ������������������������������������������������� 44 Draco Ultra SSFRC eSports Extenders
TV Pro Gear �������������������������������������������� 69 Digital Cinema Flypack
Interra Systems ������������������������������������� 45 Interra Cloud Services (ICS) – BATON Captions
LG Business Solutions USA ������������������� 46 LG UltraFine™ OLED Pro Monitor Line
LTN Global ���������������������������������������������� 47 LTN Arc
LYNX Technik ���������������������������������������� 48 yellobrik IDC1411 — Instant Dialog Cleaner
Marketron ���������������������������������������������� 49 Marketron Integration Suite
Marshall Electronics ����������������������������� 50 CV568 Micro Global Sensor Camera With Genlock (3GSDI and HDMI)
TVU Networks ��������������������������������������� 70 TVU Channel
Vislink Technologies ����������������������������� 71 IQ StellarCam — High-Quality AI Sports Production
VoiceInteraction ����������������������������������� 72 Audimus.Media
VoiceInteraction ����������������������������������� 73 Media Monitoring System
x.news information technology gmbh 74 x.news™ 3
Zeiss �������������������������������������������������������� 75 ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance Lenses
Matrox Video ����������������������������������������� 51 Matrox ConvertIP SMPTE ST 2110 Converter
Matrox Video ����������������������������������������� 52 Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM Extenders
Matrox Video ����������������������������������������� 53 Matrox Monarch EDGE REMI Encoders & Decoders
MediaKind ���������������������������������������������� 54 MediaKind Engage
Net Insight ��������������������������������������������� 55
TVBEurope BEST OF SHOW Amazon Web Services ��������������������������� 92 AWS Elemental MediaTailor Channel Assembly
BB&S Lighting ���������������������������������������� 93 Compact Fresnel Lights
Bitmovin ������������������������������������������������� 94 Stream Lab
Blackmagic Design �������������������������������� 95 Blackmagic Cloud Store
Blackmagic Design �������������������������������� 96 DaVinci Resolve 18
Brompton Technology �������������������������� 97 Brompton Tessera Software v 3.3
Clear-Com ���������������������������������������������� 98 Arcadia Central Station
Cobalt Digital ����������������������������������������� 99 9904-UDX-4K +HDR-TCHCLR-4K
BEST IN MARKET
Cyanview S.A. �������������������������������������� 100
Accedo ���������������������������������������������������� 76
Rio Live
Accedo One
Imagine Communications ������������������ 101
Actus Digital ������������������������������������������ 77
Imagine Aviator™
Intelligent Monitoring Platform V8
MediaKind �������������������������������������������� 102
Avid ��������������������������������������������������������� 78
MediaKind Engage
Avid Media Composer
Planetcast International �������������������� 103
Avid ��������������������������������������������������������� 79
Planetcast International Playout Disaster Recovery
MediaCentral Sync
SDVI ������������������������������������������������������� 104
NPAW and 3SS ��������������������������������������� 56
disguise �������������������������������������������������� 80
Net Zero Supply Chains With SDVI Rally
Insights-Driven Personalized User Retention Solution
disguise xR
SmallHD ������������������������������������������������ 105
Edgecast ������������������������������������������������� 81
27-Inch 4K OLED Reference Monitor
Quantum Corp. �������������������������������������� 57
Channel Scheduler and Syndication
Tedial ���������������������������������������������������� 106
Quantum H4000 Essential
Edgecast ������������������������������������������������� 82
SmallHD �������������������������������������������������� 58
Smartplay SSAI
smartWork — Cloud Native Media Integration Platform
27-Inch 4K OLED Reference Monitor
Evoca ������������������������������������������������������ 83
IP Media Trust Boundary
SSIMWAVE ���������������������������������������������� 59 SSIMPLUS® Video Quality Dial
Sumolight ����������������������������������������������� 60 SUMOMAX
Synamedia ��������������������������������������������� 61 Synamedia’s Edge Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Pilot Set-Top Box
LiveU ������������������������������������������������������� 84 Air Control
LiveU ������������������������������������������������������� 85 LiveU Ingest
LiveU ������������������������������������������������������� 86
Tedial ������������������������������������������������������ 62 smartWork — Cloud Native Media Integration Platform
LU300 HEVC
OWC �������������������������������������������������������� 87 OWC Flex 1U4
Telemetrics Inc. ������������������������������������� 63
Ross Video ���������������������������������������������� 88
reFrame Server
Ross Production Cloud
Telestream ��������������������������������������������� 64
Videon ���������������������������������������������������� 89
Teradek ������������������������������������������������ 107 Prism Flex
TSL Products ���������������������������������������� 108 TM1-Tally
Viaccess-Orca �������������������������������������� 109 Viaccess-Orca Secure Video Player With Advanced Features
Vidispine, an Arvato Systems Brand � 110 VidiEditor
VITEC ����������������������������������������������������� 111 MGW Diamond+ OG (openGear)
3SS - 3 Screen Solutions ���������������������� 112 3Ready Control Center 3.0
Stanza
LiveEdge® Compute
BEST IN MARKET
Telestream ��������������������������������������������� 65
ZIXI ���������������������������������������������������������� 90
Avid ������������������������������������������������������� 113
Wirecast Gear 3
Zixi Intelligent Data Platform (IDP)
Avid NEXIS | Edge
Teradek �������������������������������������������������� 66
Zixi ���������������������������������������������������������� 91
Ross Video �������������������������������������������� 114
Prism Flex
Zixi Software-Defined Video Platform
Ross Production Cloud
3 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Broadcasting + Cable
Pixellot ������������������������������������������������� 135 DoublePlay
BEST OF SHOW Amazon Web Services ������������������������� 115 AWS Elemental MediaTailor Channel Assembly
BLUESHAPE ������������������������������������������ 116 GO7 Green Power Generator
Broadpeak ������������������������������������������� 117 peakVU.TV
Covatic �������������������������������������������������� 118
ZIXI �������������������������������������������������������� 136 Zixi Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP) for 5G Networks
Zixi �������������������������������������������������������� 137 Zixi-as-a-Service (ZaaS)
Sound & Video Contractor
Genius Sports �������������������������������������� 119
Apantac ������������������������������������������������ 138 SDM-NDI-QR-NDI Quad-Split Based on Smart Display Module (SDM) Intel Platform
Marketron Integration Suite
Epiphan Video �������������������������������������� 139
BEST IN MARKET
Epiphan Video �������������������������������������� 140
INVIDI Technologies ���������������������������� 121
Epiphan Cloud
Conexus
Epiphan Video �������������������������������������� 141
AV.io 4K
Zixi �������������������������������������������������������� 122 Zixi ContentXchange
Epiphan LiveScrypt
Epiphan Video �������������������������������������� 142 Epiphan Unify
Next | TV
Angry Audio ����������������������������������������� 155 C4 Chameleon Livestream Audio Processor
ATEN ����������������������������������������������������� 156 UC8000 MicLIVE 6-Channel Podcast
Broadcast Bionics ������������������������������� 157 Bionic Table
Cobalt Digital ��������������������������������������� 158
BEST OF SHOW
Marketron �������������������������������������������� 120
BEST OF SHOW
AI Audio Mixer
A-Type ScoreLink+
Radio World
Epiphan Video �������������������������������������� 143
9904-UDX-4K +UDX-DANTE-16x16
Dielectric ���������������������������������������������� 159 FMP FM Pylon Antennas
DJB Software Inc. ��������������������������������� 160 DJB Radio Studio
Inovonics Inc. ��������������������������������������� 161 552 HD Radio Modulation Monitor
Marketron �������������������������������������������� 162 Marketron Integration Suite
Marketron �������������������������������������������� 163 Marketron NXT
Nautel ��������������������������������������������������� 164 AUI — Advanced User Interface
BEST OF SHOW
Pearl Nano
Nautel ��������������������������������������������������� 165
Cobalt Digital ��������������������������������������� 123
IHSE USA ����������������������������������������������� 144
Nautel Software-Based Air Chain
9992-ENC & 9992-DEC SET
DP 4X1 KVM Desktop Switch
Nautel ��������������������������������������������������� 166
Evertz ���������������������������������������������������� 124
IHSE USA ����������������������������������������������� 145
VX Series
Ease Live Interactive Graphics
Draco ultra SSFRC Esports Extenders
Evertz ���������������������������������������������������� 125
PTZOptics ��������������������������������������������� 146
evertz.io
SimplTrack Lite
Firstlight Media ����������������������������������� 126
Teradek ������������������������������������������������ 147
Firstlight Media Video CMS
Prism Flex
Imagine Communications ������������������ 127
TSL Products ���������������������������������������� 148
SureFire™
PMiD and PMiD-CO Intelligent
iSIZE ������������������������������������������������������ 128
Power Distribution Units
BitGen
LTN Global �������������������������������������������� 129 LTN Lift
Orban Labs ������������������������������������������� 167 OPTIMOD XPN-Enterprise
RCS �������������������������������������������������������� 168 RCS Disaster Recovery
Teradek ������������������������������������������������ 169 Prism Flex
The MaxxKonnect Group ������������������� 170 Thimeo StereoTool STXtreme Advanced Audio Processor
Wheatstone Corp. ������������������������������� 171
BEST IN MARKET AJA Video Systems ������������������������������ 149
Layers Server and Glass Software Suite
AJA HELO Plus
BEST IN MARKET
G&D North America Inc. ��������������������� 150
Telos Alliance ��������������������������������������� 172
VisionXS-IP-DP-UHR
Axia Quasar Soft
Ross Video �������������������������������������������� 151
Telos Alliance ��������������������������������������� 173
Ross Primestream Asset Management v 9.0
Axia iQs Virtual Broadcast Console
The Whip Media Exchange
Ross Video �������������������������������������������� 152
Telos Alliance ��������������������������������������� 174
BEST IN MARKET
Ross Video �������������������������������������������� 153
Blu Digital Group ��������������������������������� 133
Ross XPression Tessera One LED
Mix / Pro Sound News
BluSpot
Display Graphics Control System
BEST OF SHOW
Evoca ���������������������������������������������������� 134
Telos Alliance ��������������������������������������� 154
OWC ������������������������������������������������������ 175
Pilot Set Top Box
Telos Infinity Virtual Intercom Platform
miniStack STX
Marketron �������������������������������������������� 130 Marketron Integration Suite
NETINT Technologies �������������������������� 131 Quadra VPU
Whip Media ������������������������������������������ 132
Ross Production Cloud
Telos VXs Virtual VoIP System for Radio
4 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Adobe Auto Color Color is a vital storytelling element — it gives stories their character, evokes emotion within the audience, and allows editors and content creators to develop their own cinematic style. From the vibrant colors in Michael Riley’s “Birds of Prey” title sequence to Joel Coen’s bold black and white film “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” color is an integral part of the filmmaking process. Yet, the process of color correction can often be a tedious and painstaking task. Building on decades of Adobe color science, Adobe’s Lumetri tools have become an essential part of Premiere Pro with advanced controls that are both approachable and fast. With Adobe’s new Auto Color feature in Premiere Pro, users can now apply intelligent color corrections with a single click, accelerating the first phase of correcting and enhancing color, while still allowing users to tweak the parameters to reflect their personal style. Auto Color will replace the current Auto adjustment button in the Lumetri panel and provide more advanced color correction for better results in a sole click — saving editors and content creators precious time in their colorwork. Powered by Adobe Sensei, the company’s proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, Auto Color uses a machine learning model trained by color experts to analyze a wide range of settings including temperature, tint, tone, exposure, contrast, shadow, whites, blacks and saturation to apply more sophisticated, nuanced color correction to the image.
Once done, the Auto Color results are shown in the Basic Correction sliders at the top of the Lumetri panel, allowing users to fine-tune their results to fit their definite color needs. For experienced users, Auto Color provides a fast track for color correction before moving on to secondary color tasks, like skin tone or sky adjustments, while also acting as a guide to help newer content creators familiarize themselves with adjustments available to improve color in their video. As video continues to dominate entertainment and social media content worldwide, color correction continues to become an increasingly important skill for creators to learn and editors to refine. Auto Color in Premiere Pro not only makes color correction faster and more accurate but more approachable for users with different skill levels and experiences.
https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
5 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental MediaTailor Channel Assembly AWS Elemental MediaTailor is a cloud-based channel assembly and personalized ad insertion service that allows video providers to create over-the-top (OTT) linear channels in a cost-efficient way, even for channels with low viewership. With MediaTailor Channel Assembly, virtual channels are created from existing multi-bitrate encoded and packaged content. Ad breaks can be inserted without having to condition the content using SCTE-35 markers, making it easier to monetize video. This is increasingly beneficial as free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels come online. Creating virtual channels with Channel Assembly is as simple as pulling together programming from existing sources and blending them into a linear playlist. Static or dynamic playlists can be created and streamed to viewers using previously transcoded video segments. Channel Assembly eliminates the need to re-transcode source content for multiple regional or viewer permutations. Using MediaTailor Channel Assembly to create a customized channel for a smaller audience group, such as a category of viewers based on interest or regional preference, is no longer cost-prohibitive. With Channel Assembly, users can select between multiple scheduling options such as loop content, or they can dynamically add programs into the schedule, either manually or by inserting a program lineup provided by a recommendation engine. They can also schedule ad breaks with intelligent program-aware rules. There are no upfront costs, and the service is pay-per-use, so that content owners can repurpose and monetize existing catalogs easily and affordably and deliver more personalized experiences to their audience. Seven West Media used Channel Assembly to create a sit-back channel of “Big Brother” season one content just ahead of the release of season two. The channel served as a segue to launch the upcoming season and drive new viewership. Available for 11 days leading up to the second season debut, the “Big Brother”
channel accounted for 41 percent of streaming minutes on Seven West Media’s digital-only channels, and the company also saw a 95 percent increase in VOD viewing of the content. Seven West Media tapped the technology again to create a similar channel ahead of the return of reality hit “Farmer Wants a Wife.” That content saw an uptick of 191 percent from a VOD consumption perspective, accounting for a 25 percent share of Seven West Media’s digital-only streaming minutes. Seven West Media has since started to build more channels that showcase exclusive sports, reality series and other programming using Channel Assembly, including channels for its ad-supported streaming service 7Plus. Channel Assembly was also key for streaming the tenth annual PBS Short Film Festival. Audiences watched a curated series of 25 short films from independent filmmakers playing back-to-back via an immersive WebXR beta experience accessible through compatible headsets or a web browser. Channel Assembly provided a simple, efficient and reliable way to quickly set up a live linear streaming channel to play each short film for the experience ahead of time.
https://aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/
6 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Apantac SDM-MicroQ-12G — 12G Video Quad-Split Based on Smart Display Module (SDM) Intel Platform SDM modules are transforming the market for broadcast and AV display and video wall installations by eliminating the need to deploy different monitors and standalone extension and connection solutions for each application with the use of Apantac’s SDM Receivers for 12G UHD, HDBaseT, AV over IP and NDI. New for the NAB Show is a 12G video quad-split SDM interface, the SDM-MicroQ-12G Intel has been standardizing the system architecture for displays to help reduce design and development costs for more than a decade with their OPS and SDM — Smart Display Module platforms. Apantac has partnered with Intel® and has built a series of SDM interfaces based on the Intel® Smart Display Module (SDM) platform. These modules plug directly into a designated slot on SDM-compatible displays, eliminating the need for external adapter boxes, power supplies and mounting hardware. Apantac SDM interfaces (cards) accept various input formats — 12G SDI, SDVoE, NDI, HDMI 2.0 over HDBaseT — and converts them into an HDMI 2.0 signal usable by a monitor equipped with an Intel SDM slot. Simply slot the Apantac interfaces into an SDM-capable display for maximum flexibility in your video wall or display application. Because they draw power from the display and deliver their signals directly via an internal PCI-E connector, these modules
eliminate the need for external power or external mounting enclosures. This presents several advantages over external converters including: 1. Compact and integrated into the display so saves space and power 2. Reduces components and cabling 3. Provides format flexibility today 4. Ensures future-proof format support 5. Improves reliability with low points of failure and easy troubleshooting Plus, the design is forward looking, so you can easily swap out one module that supports one format to another or even swap out the display and keep the same module. Apantac’s current line of Smart Display Module Interfaces include: • NDI Quad-split Multiviewer • NDI Receiver • 12G Quad-split Multiviewer (this product award nomination) • 12G SDI Receiver • UHD HDBaseT Receiver • AV over IP SDVoE Receiver on 10G Ethernet • AV over IP SDVoE Receiver over single mode and multimode fiber
https://www.apantac.com/products/crescent/SDM
7 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Audio Design Desk Audio Design Desk 2022 CES Innovator and Fast Company’s “Next Big Thing In Tech” Audio Design Desk, or ADD, is an AI-assisted software suite that reinvents the process of creating audio for video. It comes with more than 40,000 royalty-free sounds, loops and music cues. Used on productions created for Netflix, HBOMax, Amazon Prime and others, ADD gives editors the ability to perform sound design, sound effects and music in real time from their NLE timeline, turning hours of tedious work into minutes of inspiring fun. Using a patent-pending artificial intelligence called Sonic Intel-
ligence™, ADD recognizes the types of sounds a user wants and places them in the timeline, in sync, with the click of a button. Over time, ADD learns which sounds the user selects and which they reject, and can offer them sounds they are more likely to use. Deeply integrated into Final Cut Pro, Frame.io, Adobe Premiere, Pro Tools and others, or for use as a standalone tool, Audio Design Desk’s intuitive content creation tools empower filmmakers, sound designers, composers and creators to produce cinema-quality sound at the speed of thought with a level of creative control unmatched by any other software.
https://add.app
8 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
AVIWEST LiveGuest AVIWEST LiveGuest is an easy-to-use, professional solution powered by the cloud infrastructure for professional broadcasters. The solution helps to create engaging and innovative content for audiences by inviting remote guests to join a live video call that’s directly integrated within their production system. Ideal for guest interviews, remote sports commentary, virtual press conferences and expert contributions, LiveGuest allows anyone to join the conversation from anywhere. Guests simply click on the link they receive by email and are automatically connected to a StreamHub in the broadcaster's studio. No technical know-how or dedicated equipment is needed, and video streams received in the studio can be decoded and sent over SDI and NDI. AVIWEST LiveGuest is set apart from other solutions on the
market by its: • Easy Guest Integration: Guests can join a live session from their laptop, smartphone or tablet without the need to install software. Producers can manage virtual conferences or talk shows with up to 16 guests connected in parallel to a single StreamHub. • Seamless Integration With Production Workflows: Any video and audio content received can be sent over SDI and NDI. SRT and RTMP support also allows for the creation of fully cloudbased production workflows. • Bidirectional Video Return Support: Running on any web browser and any device, the solution supports bidirectional video return, which allows guests to receive, watch and hear content being produced in the studio.
https://www.aviwest.com/products/liveguest/
9 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER BB&S Lighting Compact Fresnel Lights The new BB&S Compact Fresnel lights come in both BiColor, tungsten and Daylight versions. The smallest footprint (5.5-in /14cm) LED Fresnels on the market, they draw just 40W. The BiColor outputs 2,400 lumens at 96 TLCI (tunable from 2,700 to 5,600°K). The Daylight version outputs 3,000 lumens. They offer a genuine curved glass 90mm Fresnel lens that ensures even field distribution in addition to excellent shadow rendering. All while being extremely cost effective and readily available, at under $700 each. The CFL family is completely designed in Denmark right down to proprietary designed LEDs and sophisticated lens technology to provide high TLCI and stable color temperature to render outstanding skin tones. CFLs output a hard-shadow beam that fades from 100 percent at center to 50 percent at the edges, making it exceptional for mixing and overlapping with other lights while eliminating blinding glare. The fit-anywhere fixtures weigh 3.5 pounds/1.6 kg and measure 175mm/6.5 inches long by 145mm/5.7 inches diameter, allowing quick repositioning within the same grid brackets or clamps as other CFLs. The CFL’s zooming capability is operated via BBS’ smart ring-controlled focus system with a range of 11–52 degrees. In addition to a generous focus range, they offer silent operation thanks to a highly efficient heat dissipation rear section rather than a noisy cooling fan system. The light may be operated via the BB&S 4-Way Controller that can provide DMX 512/RDM to two fixtures simultaneously. The range of power options includes: 40W Driver/Dimmer with D-Tap cable (battery operation), 65W PSU (any voltage worldwide 110-270V) and locking AC cable. CFLs are fully compatible with BB&S’ other studio fixtures and 4-Way Controllers well as the BB&S Tracklight system, which offers adapters for DMX or BTE Mesh control. Light control accessories include optional Rotating Magnetic Barndoors, Magnetic Top Hat and a Magnetic filter ring to easily add items like Magnetic Prismatic Ecliptic filters in 10x20°, 10x40° and 10x60°, as well as Lee 251, Quarter White, 253 Hampshire Frost and 450 3/8 diffusion. Ready to blend in, CFLs are available in black, white or custom colors.
BB&S CFLs answer the need for a low draw, high output light with an even field of light along with adjustable intensity and field size — all in a compact and lighter unit with a smaller footprint that is easy to mount on a grid or stand. Plus its rugged build and lower price point make them especially useful in large studio installations. New CFL is part of a complete range of either single color lights or a complete range of Bicolor lights that is delivered either for mounting on grids controlled by DMX via the 4-Way Controller, on power track with onboard drivers controlled by either DMX/RDM, or a Bluetooth mesh network. The power track system is a very fast tool for installing in a permanent studio so the ceiling looks clean allowing in frame presence. When anchor positions are changed in the studio it is a 10 second operation, moving a light from 1 track to another without dealing with cables.
https://www.bbslighting.com/collections/cbl-bi-color/products/compact-fresnel-bi-color-led-light
10 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
BirdDog Adobe Cloud Plugin BirdDog's new Adobe Plugin allows Adobe Creative Cloud users to directly connect to BirdDog Cloud Connect series of iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android Mobile and Android TV apps without having to leave the Adobe Interface. This opens up the world’s lowest latency remote editorial workflows for producers, directors and editors to collaborate from anywhere in the world as if they were in the same room. For example, the director can be in Hong Kong viewing the
timeline and output side by side using an Apple TV connected to their 75-inch TV, while the editor is in the edit suite in Burbank, Los Angeles. The producer could be in New York on an iPad. All this in as low as just a few frames latency. The actual receiver of the content has the ability to choose their own view without affecting the editor. So they can switch their view to full screen Adobe interface or full screen output.
https://birddog.tv/cloudconnect-overview/
11 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
BirdDog BirdDog OG4 openGear card OG4. The World’s First NDI® openGear Card. BirdDog OG4 openGear card, is the world’s First NDI® card featuring four independently configurable 12G SDI inputs and outputs. With full Dashboard support and two SFP+ ports for 10GbE connectivity. A true OG. openGear. United We Stand An open-architecture and modular 2RU rack frame system that allows for OG’s from various manufacturers to live together in the same frame in total harmony. Professional Cooling for Professional Power openGear frames include integrated cooling fans to provide maximum cooling for all cards that can be configured with dual, redundant power supplies for maximum reliability and uptime.
Interlaced Support Full 1080i support is included for all frame rates including 50, 59.94, 60.
Dashboard Support BirdDog OG4 offers full support for Ross Dashboard, the freely available unified control software for MacOS, Windows and Linux.
Independent Channel Control Each channel has independent control to mix and match frame rates and resolutions. Set channel 1 to 4Kp60 and channel 2 to 1080ip25.
Encode and Decode Up to 4Kp60 With support for all resolutions up to 4Kp60, including all HD resolutions, Encoding and decoding 4K Full NDI® has never been easier. OG4 supports up to 4x channels of 4Kp60 Encode and two channels of 4Kp60 Decode. Of course, OG4 supports four channels of 1080p60 decode.
SFP+ for 10GbE & Long Range Industry standard SFP+ connection allows for short, medium, and long-range connections over fiber, and supports Ethernet protocols from 1GbE to 10GbE.
https://birddog.tv/og4-overview/
12 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
BirdDog Camera Director Camera Director is software for creating automated Multicam productions using PTZ cameras. Simply it allows you to set each camera to do its own pan, tilt and zoom path; then it groups the cameras together so a single PTZ preset recall fires off all the cameras to move to their set motion path. Then you can stack up the presets in a playlist so the cameras move from preset 1 to preset 2 to preset 3 and so on. This then creates a totally automated production. You can then set off the playlist from the start to repeat the playlist. This makes Camera Director perfect for any production
with repetitive and predictable movements for sports such as horse racing, baseball, softball, golf, car racing, cricket, as well as live events such as awards ceremonies, houses of worship services and more. The ability to save and load profiles means you can set up a Multicam shoot with all the motion paths you need and quickly load that profile anytime, saving time on the next production. Camera Director teams up perfectly with BirdDog's All-Weather A200 and A300 outdoor PTZ cameras for set and forget installations in stadiums to bring a totally automated production.
https://birddog.tv/CameraDirector-overview/
13 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
BirdDog Central 2.0 — Enterprise Edition Video Preview Windows The video previews allow interactive browser-based monitoring and switching of sources making Central 2.0 a great option for pre-switching sources on large events and live shows.
Central 2.0 ushers in a new era of NDI routing control. Browser-based with SSO support, smart grouping of NDI receivers, real-time NDI routing, media playback engine and support for thousands of sources, Central 2.0 is your ultimate NDI management tool.
Media Player. Light as a Feather The built-in media player uses an insanely low amount of CPU power, regardless of playing the file back once or looping 24/7. It achieves this by pre-rendering sources to NDI so when you play them back they are already natively NDI.
Smart Grouping Group NDI decoders together to easily manage content distribution to multiple receivers. Central. De-Centralized Central 2.0 is browser-based so you can access anywhere on your network.
NDI Audio Re-Insertion Select any NDI video source and join it with a separate audio source to create a new mix. great for creating sub mixes for distribution in venue or remotely via BirdDog Cloud and works seamlessly with BirdDog Dante NDI Bridge software.
NDI Routing. 3 Clicks At its core Central 2.0 is an NDI routing application. Route NDI video across your network easily by selecting a source, a destination device or group, and hitting “connect.”
SSO Central 2.0 supports SSO to make life easy when working in an enterprise environment.
https://birddog.tv/central-overview/
14 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
BirdDog Core 5 and Core 7 — The World’s First NDI Monitor Recorders Encode. Decode. Monitor. Record. Core 5 and 7 are at the heart of live production offering format flexibility like no other. Convert any SDI or HDMI signal live into your choice of NDI, NDI|HX2, NDI|HX3, SRT, H.264, HEVC/H.265, RTMP or RTSP in up to 4Kp60. Record files to the USB-C port. Add a Cloud Connect licence and you have a globally connected camera with super low latency. The High Bright screens are viewable in direct sunlight and the video analysis tools include vector scopes, Waveform, RGB parade and more, while the SFP+ port allows for a direct 10GbE connection over copper or fiber for ultra-long runs. So, let’s get rolling with its standout components. Core is the ultimate camera sidekick. Use as a video monitor; use as a cross converter; a video analysis tool, an NDI encoder, an encoder to streaming formats like H.264 or HEVC. It’s kind of like having Robin, Chewbacca, Goose and Milhouse all in one. Core-rect they are the same, but also not (keep reading to find out, Core 7 has an additional four features). Core 5 features a 5.5-inch screen while the 7 has a 7-inch screen. Daylight viewable high bright screens give full confidence monitoring even in direct sunlight. COREtex our unrivalled NDI hardware processing engine, delivering multiple configuration options for maximum flexibility. Globally connected, Just add a Cloud licence to access your Core and the incoming video feeds from anywhere in the world to view the camera feeds with no computers needed. Simultaneously USB record your native NDI files while sending your preferred format over Ethernet. Formats supported: • NDI • NDI|HX3 • NDI|HX2 • SRT • BirdDog Cloud Connect • RTMP • H.264
• H.265/HEVC • HEVC Main 10 • HEVC 4:2:2 Main 10 Keep your screen clean with the physical buttons. Touch screens are great but it also means grubby fingerprints on your viewing monitors. An added benefit to buttons is you can learn where features are and drive them with your muscle memory without taking your eyes off what really matters — what you are shooting. NDI Genlock to become the timing master in multicamera environments. Industry standard SFP+ connection allows for short, medium, and long-range connections over fiber and supports Ethernet protocols from 1GbE to 10 GbE. A huge Tally light on the reverse side to the monitor. On top of all this Core 7 offers: 1. The etherCON connector is a ruggedized and locking RJ45 connector for maximum connection reliability. 2. Balanced audio over XLR via the included audio breakout cable. 3. An additional 12G SDI port adds an E-to-E, zero latency loop out. 4. Aircraft Grade Aluminium Chassis built for life on the road.
https://birddog.tv/core-overview/
15 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
BirdDog DYNO FREE NDI Network Analysis tool to check your NDI® network performance and capabilities. All in a beautiful interface. Test your network speed, performance and stability with a single NDI stream or multiple streams. Witness your network deliver rock-solid NDI® streams to your hardware and software receivers all on our top-notch interface. Oh, and it’s as free as a Bird (Dog) aka 100% FREE if you didn’t catch that. Test Everything. Speed Test a single point-to-point NDI® source, to ensure constant frame rates and that those frames are being received smoothly and predictably. View all NDI sources on your network including IP address, resolution/frame rate and source name. When included in a multiple source test run, Dyno will display performance characteristics of each source.
Scale Monitor a single source delivering multiple NDI® streams. This will show you how many streams of NDI® any given source is able to deliver across current network infrastructure to your receiving computer. Last but not least…
Confidence Monitor Built for Security View your NDI video source so you can watch graphs and videos while Dyno does its thing. If you are testing multiple NDI sources, you can switch between them without having to leave the Dyno interface.
Reliability Check that your computer and networking infrastructure can reliably receive video frames from all NDI® sources simultaneously. Ensuring that frame rates are maintained, and that the pace is delivered predictably. We have also built graphs to easily visualize all your data. Monitoring up to eight resolution-independent NDI streams that dynamically toggle on/off any streams you wish Dyno to display. Switch between Raw or Average data display or overlay Raw and Average simultaneously. With a built-in free NDI Analysis Tool that reports anomalies on an NDI source. All you need to do is ensure you have the free tools loaded on your computer and Dyno does the rest automatically. Let’s see what’s happening with the NDI Source list.
A Reliable and Accurate System Information Monitor in real time your CPU processing capabilities when receiving multiple NDI sources to ensure your receiving computer has the capacity and reliability to match your expectations. Display current network status for every network adapter in your system including current link speed, IP Address, network adapter type and driver. Verify the Windows build you are running, current system uptime, system name and graphics card model. Dyno even reports important CPU capabilities being present such as SSE, SSSE, AVX and more. And yeah, again, all of this is on us. Enjoy.
https://birddog.tv/dyno-overview/
16 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
BirdDog P120 — The NDI PTZ. Levelled Up. Full NDI PTZ Cameras taken to the next level. A new benchmark in format support, connection flexibility and picture quality, with excellent lowlight performance. Sony Exmor R back-illuminated sensor produces broadcast-quality pictures. P120 offer four output options including NDI, SDI, HDMI for live production work and UVC USB for connecting to Zoom and Teams. Output multiple flavors of NDI including full NDI, NDI|HX2 and HX3, as well as other options including SRT, H.264 and Cloud Connect. Supports FreeD output for AR/VR workflows, included for free. Boss level color tools with 64 levels of saturation and hue control over red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, and magenta. Plus, there’s also Kelvin control. There’s also an OLED display to show the IP address, 360° mohawk tally, filter thread, free auto-tracking and native NDI 5 support. Video Scopes include Waveform, Vectorscope, RGB Parade and Histogram. Unique numbering system with removable silicon numbers at the back of the P110 and P120 providing additional tally vision and easily identifiable cameras for the operator. The world’s most comprehensive and intuitive interface featuring: the number of active connections, current bandwidth usage and network traffic. RUDP for maximum reliability and error correction so you can
be confident that all packets are getting to where they need to go. With NDI Genlock you can select an NDI source to provide more predictable timing in multicamera environments. Globally connected so no computers are needed. By adding a BirdDog Cloud subscription, you can now access the PTZ cameras and all features from anywhere in the world. With P120 you can add the free Cam Control app, which is the easiest and most user-friendly way to dial in BirdDog cameras. Simply load on a Windows 10 machine on the same network as your BirdDog cameras and access all functions of the camera through a beautiful interface. Quickly dial in the look you like and copy settings across multiple cameras in seconds.
https://birddog.tv/p110p120-overview/
17 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Bitcentral Inc. FUEL + Powr.tv Video Streaming Platform Industry-Leading Streaming Platform: FUEL+Powr.tv FUEL + Powr.tv provides one unified workflow that simplifies video management, streaming, consumer application experience and distribution for broadcasters, publishers and media companies. This unified video workflow and distribution platform with premium OTT applications eliminates the vendor fatigue commonly in place in the market. It enables an end-to-end video workflow, lowers engineering integration costs, lowers content hosting costs and improves time to market, which all lead to increased content ROI. FUEL + Powr.tv is the streaming platform of choice for broadcasters, publishers and media companies who have rights to live and/or file-based video content, who do not have extensive internal resources to manually attend to the moving content thru a digital video workflow, or who currently have to manage multiple vendors’ solutions in order to stream to their owned-and-operated properties and FAST + aggregation platforms. This combined platform offering brings an industry-leading solution that: • Enables broadcast-quality live streaming management, real-time graphics and transitions, and dynamic playlisting for linear channels. • Enhances viewer engagement with real-time Live Chat and Watch Party functionality. • Offers Rapid Go2Market with best-of-breed CTV, mobile and web app solutions allowing publishers to control their revenue and audience. • Supports flexible and broad support of publisher monetization models, including AVOD, SVOD, TVOD, as well as syndication/FAST channel distribution.
• Dynamic linear channels • Rules-based dynamic playlisting • Automated content assembly with seamless content stitching • Automated graphic transitions/bumper insertion Broadcast-Quality Live Stream Management • Seamless VOD->Live->VOD workflow • Automated viewer messaging when switching to live • Eliminate “dead air” or “coming soon” slates Next-Generation FAST Channel Syndication • Dynamic linear channel functionality • Break to Live from VOD • Localized content based on viewer location
ADVANCED FEATURES: • Community building co-viewing • Live chat with emoji support + moderation features • Private watch party support — Live events + VOD • Includes content sync against host on VOD
Asset Augmentation • Cloud-based closed-caption creation • Speech-to-text synchronized with video • Automated metadata tagging
https://bitcentral.com/fuel/streaming-media/
18 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Black Box Emerald GE The newest addition to the Black Box Emerald® KVM-over-IP product family, Emerald GE gateway enables multiple users to connect simultaneously and control a virtual machine (VM) just as they would a physical system. Virtually every KVM system is designed to allow multiple users to connect to the same system, but until now, it was simply impossible or too complex and expensive to achieve simultaneous connectivity for users working on a VM. Emerald GE is the industry’s first solution to leverage PC-over-IP (PCoIP®) and PCoIP Ultra technology to support VM sharing and to ensure a secure, high-definition and highly responsive computing experience. The innovative solution from Black Box makes it possible for multiple users to connect simultaneously to a single VM with seamless access via any user console connected to the Black Box Emerald KVM platform. Unlocking collaboration across physical and virtual machines, Emerald GE empowers broadcaster teams to work together
more efficiently in remote production scenarios, unconstrained by their physical location or by the type of machine supporting their work. Emerald GE makes flexible, convenient access to VMs simpler and more affordable while also providing exceptional performance that ensures a user experience rivalling that of a direct connection. Eliminating the need for a thin client to access VMs, the new product reduces not only the complexity of accessing VMs, but also the cost. While support for VM sharing is unique to the Emerald KVM family, it’s not the only differentiator for Emerald GE. The Black Box system is also unique in making connectivity available on VMs via RDP/RemoteFX, PCoIP and PCoIP Ultra with extremely low bandwidth requirements. Offering unprecedented compression efficiency, PCoIP Ultra ensures unparalleled performance that gives users the responsiveness they need in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
https://blackbox.com/Emerald
19 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Boland Communications X4K27HDR5-OLED Broadcast Monitor A perfect desktop size from Boland's brand new X-4K OLED monitor series, this 27-inch model features a true 10-bit panel and processor, with a dynamic 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio that guarantees ultra deep black levels. 4K signal is delivered via 12G and 3G SDI (single or quad link), HDMI 2.0 and Sfp (2110) inputs. The next-generation X4K27HDR5-OLED offers PQ HDR, numer-
ous scopes and audio meters, 3D LUTs, time code, markers and multiple aspect functionality. All firmware updates are completed in-field using USB, and all X-4K Series models include VESA mount holes on the rear in addition to a desktop stand. The X-4K OLED monitor series is also available in 16-inch, 22-inch, 31-inch and 65-inch sizes.
http://www.bolandcom.com/product/x4k27hdr5-oled/
20 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Broadpeak broadpeak.io broadpeak.io is a new API-based platform offering content providers, pay-TV operators and OTT service providers an easy, fast and reliable way to deliver advanced streaming quality to subscribers. The first application available supports contextualized streaming needs, with a content replacement and scheduling service. broadpeak.io adapts streaming to the context of the situation (i.e., the content rights, network, location, device) in real time, ensuring viewers always receive the best stream. Running on the cloud, the software as a service (SaaS) offers unparalleled scalability, dynamicity and agility, helping solve the complexity of streaming distribution. broadpeak.io simplifies video streaming workflows through its application-as-a-service approach, allowing users to manage functional workflows more effectively. broadpeak.io supports multiple use cases, providing automatic orchestration for users: • managing the rights of linear channels, and needing to enforce programmers' requirements (i.e., blackout or Simultaneous Substitution), while complying with local regulations; • adapting feeds based on location for linear parity and regionalization purposes; and • that own VOD catalogues and want to explore additional monetization opportunities by creating linear channels such as FAST.
a per user and permanent basis. broadpeak.io dramatically improves video streaming, solving one of the biggest content distribution challenges — helping content right owners maximize monetization while eliminating the complexity distributors traditionally face. It is a platform where APIs can be adapted to local regulations; Broadpeak customers already reuse the broadpeak.io API in Canada to deal with Simultaneous Substitution, opening up many opportunities to fix regulatory issues quickly. For the end user, broadpeak.io is a game changer, ensuring content viewer watch is the most relevant regardless of the video delivery platform used. For anyone looking to operate a linear channel lineup, broadpeak.io is the answer. By using its powerful video API, FAST channel providers, OTT D2C service providers and vMVPDs can create personalized EPGs for each category of user or for each individual user. This level of ultra-personalization allows online video service providers to monetize content and propose a more fitting experience to viewers. The service also addresses the major industry trend to have more control and be more agile with technologies. To compete with big names like Netflix or Hulu, streaming providers must be fast to deliver features. broadpeak.io leverages CI/CD pipeline, agile processes and native public API, to help them remain competitive — allowing users to immediately access advanced technology and launch video streaming services fast.
broadpeak.io helps users create pop-up channels by mixing any kind of content, including live, VOD, ads and slates. Beyond supporting VOD-to-live and live-to-live services, broadpeak.io enables a mix of everything, which can be personalized to any category of audience and tailored to personal interests, which is especially ground-breaking. For live content specifically, broadpeak.io natively handles event boundary last-minute changes — a big challenge for streaming service providers when using linear workflows during live events. For sports, content generation and distribution rules can be updated on the fly. broadpeak.io is the first fully hosted cloud service to automatically contextualize the video streaming experience on both
https://www.broadpeak.io
21 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Canon Canon DP-V1830 FW UHD 4K Reference Display The DP-V1830 is Canon's first 18.4-inch UHD 4K/HDR professional reference display and features improved core components such as a high-quality display engine, a revamped set of high-resolution algorithms, new panels and a new backlighting system — all of which deliver an increase in image quality over previous Canon displays. The new reference display supports UHD (3840 X 2160) and 4K signals on a full pixel-by-pixel basis, making it an ideal selection for use in broadcast and cinema workflows where high mobility and connectivity is needed. It features a more compact and lightweight panel than previous displays, sized at 18.4-inches and weighing approximately 16.5 pounds, and is ideal for production crews to use in tight existing working spaces, outdoor broadcast vehicles, sub-control rooms and onset production tents. And as the monitor supports an SDR/HDR split-screen function, creators are able to do an on-set comparison of their footage directly from the field. The DP-V1830 also boasts improved HDR standards that are geared to best meet the demands from video production professionals — deep black levels, wider color gamut, smoother tone and color reproduction, greater precision in local backlight control, and wider viewing angles through a new optical design. The display achieves a peak luminance of 1,000 cd/m2 for white luminance, which meets the parameters defined in ITU-R BT.2100 for HDR, as well as featuring an improved imaging engine. Compared to previous models that required a different mode to achieve peak brightness but would disable local dimming, the DP-V1830 offers enhanced control over backlight illumination to better delineate dark and light portions of high contrast. With the help of these improvements, it is possible to accurately represent stronger and darker blacks, isolated black portions, and brilliant bright colors, even in challenging scenes. Canon developed a unique LED backlighting system that produces a wide color gamut and supports the ITU-R BT.20202 standard. Additionally, Canon's proprietary optical configuration helps mitigate luminance and color variations, providing an angle of view for the display that is wide enough to deliver
accurate images when several people are viewing the monitor at the same time. Canon is also launching a new, free firmware update and paid upgrade that will be available starting early July 2022. Added functions including a waveform monitor parade mode for checking YRGB signal levels simultaneously and a chromaticity diagram that displays color information for each pixel, users can visually confirm information like signal level balance and whether overall video is within the estimated color gamut. The firmware upgrade adds display functions including Mixed Display of SDI/HDMI that allows viewing of video from SDI and HDMI terminals at the same time; Individual Image Quality Setting for two or four split-screen viewing; and Multi Information View that enables viewing of waveform monitor, chromaticity diagrams and other information on-screen without overlapping. An additional switch-out function (paid upgrade) will activate the MULTIFUNC.SDI OUT terminal located on the rear of the reference display.
https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/reference-displays/4k-uhd-reference-displays/dp-v1830/
22 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Canon Canon EOS R5 C Full-Frame, 8K Cinema EOS System Camera Bringing together equal parts video and still imaging power, Canon introduced the EOS R5 C Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera — an enhanced compact, hybrid camera that combines the resolution and speed of EOS R5 still-imaging capture with the 8K, 4K and full HD video features of the EOS Cinema line. This camera is ideal for a wide variety of users from creative filmmakers and multimedia journalists to event photographers and drone users, all who routinely capture stills and video and are looking for an all-in-one solution to do so. This is Canon’s first cinema EOS camera with the ability to provide 8K video recordings at rates up to 60fps by using Canon’s 12-bit Cinema RAW Light recording (with an external power supply). The incredibly detailed 8K (8192 x 4320) resolution can be used natively or used for 4K cropping from within the frame. The ability to record two resolutions simultaneously means creators can capture in Cinema RAW light for the final version while also capturing either 4K 120fps, full HD content, or a proxy file for speedier, less storage-intensive editing. The 45MP full-frame CMOS imaging sensor is a particular benefit to the EOS R5 C’s still-image continuous shooting. The camera can capture burst speeds up to 20fps and with Canon’s groundbreaking Dual-Pixel CMOS AF technology, featuring Eye AF and EOS iTR AF X, it offers precise focus tracking even during split-second movements. With an ISO sensitivity as high as 51,200 even when a subject is looking away from the camera, this advanced deep-learning algorithm will recognize faces accurately. This camera is also best-suited for capturing moving wildlife, automobile product shots, events and more. Another enhancement geared towards hybrid shooters is the EOS R5 C has incorporated a new active cooling fan that enables long duration and continuous recording. It is compact and lightweight for ease of travel and use, features an OLED viewfinder, bright articulating LCD screen, 13 user-customizable buttons, and tough magnesium alloy body for professional durability. This camera offers the choice of an extensive range of record-
ing formats and tools for the creator to choose from, including three Cinema RAW Light options, XF-AVC and MP4. When compared to other cameras, it captures extended dynamic range with Canon Log 3, PQ and HLG recording, while utilizing professional tools such as Waveform Monitor and False Color. And now equipped with a multi-function accessory shoe for XLR/stereo mic input and dedicated terminals for timecode, the EOS R5 C still provides Canon-standard 3.5mm mic, headphones, micro-HDMI, flash sync, USB-C and extensive software application support. Featuring the RF mount, the EOS R5 C is compatible with an extensive range of optics including cutting-edge RF lenses, as well as EF or Cinema Lenses via the EF-EOS R Mount Adapters. Advanced 5-axis Electronic IS helps to achieve smooth and stable professional footage. The EOS R5 C is a blending of impressive features to best meet the demands of hybrid photographers and videographers.
https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/cameras/cinema-eos/eos-r5-c
23 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Canon Flex Zoom Lenses (CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F/FP and CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP) Canon has introduced a new series of lenses for the company’s EF Cinema Lens lineup — the Flex Zoom Lens series of lenses, which were developed to create cinema-style visual productions with greater workflow efficiency. The first lenses in the series that Canon is announcing are the CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F/FP wide-angle zoom lens and the CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP telephoto zoom lens. These new large-aperture lenses feature both high-level optical design and performance, while maintaining the style and ease-of-use of renowned Canon’s EF Cinema lens series. With the introduction of the zoom lenses, featuring focal length ranges of 20-50mm for wide-angle and 45-135mm for telephoto, Canon now offers zoom lenses that cover the same range as its six existing prime (single focal length) lenses. The versatility of these new cinema lenses supports efficient production workflows for a wide range of scenarios within entertainment production including film, television programs, commercials and much more. When paired with Canon’s fullframe or large-format cameras, these lenses fully leverage the cameras’ signature shallow depth-of-field look while providing smooth and natural background blur — helping to produce powerful storytelling imagery that is sought after by filmmakers, directors and creators when selecting the technology to use on their projects. The lenses also maintain a bright T2.4 aperture across their entire zoom ranges allowing for image capture in both natural light and darker environments. This particular feature helps to reduce the need for intricate lighting setups that need to be changed out for each shot — allowing for more efficient and cost-effective film and video production workflows. Engineered with an optical configuration that creates the optimal placement of lens elements, including a large-aperture aspherical lens and an anomalous dispersion glass lens, the CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F/FP and the CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP
lenses reduce the potential for color smudging and chromatic aberrations. This enables the lenses to maintain high optical performance from the center of the image to the periphery when paired with 8K cameras. In addition to supporting EF-mount data transmission, the new Canon lenses are also compatible with /i Technology from Cooke Optics. With this capability, recording metadata such as focus, zoom, aperture and lens model can be transmitted via the lens mount for visualization onto the camera itself. This direct line of information and detail for the filmmaker, director or creator helps to contribute to more efficient workflows not only during on-location recording, but also during post production and editing. The Canon CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F/FP wide-angle zoom lens and Canon CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP telephoto zoom lens are scheduled to be available in early June 2022 and early September 2022.
http://usa.canon.com
24 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Canon UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF Canon has introduced the UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF, a new zoom lens with autofocus (AF) for 2/3-inch sensor 4K broadcast cameras that features the world’s widest angle, longest focal length and largest zoom. And along with this lens Canon will also release two new focus demand models — the Canon FDJ-S31 and FDJ-S41. The UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF is Canon’s new flagship field zoom lens for 4K broadcast cameras, and the company’s first 4K broadcast lens to include built-in autofocus. The addition of autofocus brings superb high-speed and high-accuracy subject tracking to this lens, enabling creators to capture immersive, high-resolution video. This UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF meets a wide range of needs from creators and production crews while at on-location 4K workspaces that demand extremely precise autofocus, such as sporting events, concerts, live news reports and other indoor/ outdoor events. The predecessor for this lens, Canon’s DIGISUPER 100 AF that was released in June 2006, was an AF-enabled lens for HD broadcast cameras and garnered high praise from the broadcast market thanks to its high-performance phase-detect autofocus. The new UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF carries this legacy into the next generation, but now with support for 4K video. This new lens produces natural and smooth autofocus that
can rapidly focus on subjects, even when initially far out of focus, as well as track fast-moving subjects while maintaining a focus with high precision. Canon’s new UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF features a zoom range of 8.2 mm at the wide end and 1,000 mm at the telephoto end — a 122x zoom ratio that is the world’s most powerful zoom range for AF-equipped field zoom lenses for 2/3-inch sensor 4K broadcast cameras. In addition, the lens employs a built-in 2x extender that allows users to increase the zoom range two-fold, featuring a 16.4 mm focal length at the wide-angle end and a 2,000 mm focal length at the telephoto end. Alongside the new lens, Canon will also release two new focus demand models for autofocus-equipped lenses used with both HD or 4K broadcast cameras. The Canon FDJ-S31 and FDJ-S41 focus demand accessories enable focus control and provide a variety of powerful support capabilities, including: the ability to switch between three sizes of autofocus frames; move the autofocus frame within the screen; autofocus mode switching; and three different focus curve modes. Canon’s UHD-DIGISUPER 122 AF is the first boxed 4K lens to have autofocus built-in and has been developed to serve as an impactful tool for on-site creators, photographers, filmmakers and production crews to shoot live events without compromising focus and clarity in the moment.
https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/details/lenses/broadcast/4k-uhd-field-box-lenses/uhd-digisuper-122AF
25 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Cinedeck CD2 Cinedeck launched CD2, a software-only version of its ingest servers, in February 2022. The solution was launched in response to the industry need for greater flexibility over managing elements of broadcast production remotely, specifically ingest. CD2 shares the same rich features as the full range of Cinedeck Ingest Servers but as a pure software solution, it enables ingest to be managed remotely. The solution offers a fully customizable RESTful API making it simple to integrate with other parts of the production and post-production workflow. Cinedeck CD2 makes it quick and easy for broadcasters and content producers to ingest raw footage ready for editing and distribution. Users can ingest using CD2 and distribute live thanks to Edit While Record and Playout While Record features. For non-live, ingested content can be scheduled using the Cinedeck multichannel control app. It also enables multicamera ingest and supports a wide range of input formats, including JPEG2000, XAVC, ProRes, DNxHR, 4K Multicam and Cinedeck recorders. In addition, it supports all major input sources, such as SRT, NDI, 3G/12G and IP-2110. CD2 provides a broad selection of text metadata elements that can be burned into the video image of a file while it’s recording. It also provides control of character out as an overlay on the user interface and the SDI video output and/or as a burnin to the encoded video with fully adjustable position, size and color. Jane Sung, COO, Cinedeck, commented: “We are pleased to offer a software-based ingest tool to our customers. This new
development offers the same feature-rich program as our existing ingest servers, except we have removed the reliance on hardware. Cinedeck is continually looking for ways to make workflows more efficient for our users and CD2 expands on our plans to bring ingest to the cloud.” Cloud-based ingest has many benefits for broadcasters and content producers. There is a clear reduction in hardware costs and it is also very flexible. Its scalability enables vendors to handle data-heavy jobs without investing in costly ingest infrastructure. Added to that, when managing ingest systems in the cloud, it becomes easier to integrate with other tools and adapt workflow more quickly. In current times when there is still a level of uncertainty about what is around the corner, the ability to work flexibly is a huge advantage and Cinedeck’s CD2 meets that need.
https://cinedeck.com/cd2/
26 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Cobalt Digital 9992-ENC and 9992-DEC SET Many broadcast contribution applications require synchronized content decoding. In such applications, there are several video sources (typically cameras), whose content needs to be transported using encoders to an equivalent number of remote decoders. At the decoders, the playback needs to be synchronized — frames that arrive together in the encoders are required to come out together in the decoders. Typical applications are sports and worship, where multiple camera angles are generated and need to be played in lockstep — either for immediate consumption (worship) or live program switching (sports). There are a few products available today in the market that provide such functionality over IP, using proprietary protocols. The Reliable Internet Stream Transport (RIST) Activity Group is completing the work on TR-06-4 Part 1, which provides an open industry specification for providing synchronized multistream transport. Cobalt Digital is one of the early adopters of RIST and a
contributor to the Specification. The Cobalt 9992-ENC and 9992DEC encoder/decoder pair feature the first industry implementation of synchronized decoding using the upcoming TR-06-4 Part 1 Specification. Since the synchronization is based on NTP (Network Time Protocol) as the time base, it does not require that the incoming signals to the encoders be genlocked. The synchronization method does not require any special communication between the encoders — they do not need to be multiple channels in the same card, and there is no limit to the number of channels that can be synchronized. The same applies to decoders. In fact, not only do the incoming signals not need to be genlocked, but they do also not even need to be in the same format or frame rate. In addition, all the standard features of RIST are available with synchronized decoding. These include reliable low-latency delivery over the internet, multilink support (both in Bonding and in Seamless Switching modes), as well as encryption and authentication.
https://www.cobaltdigital.com/search/9992
27 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Core SWX Maverick The Maverick battery pack is the next-generation, all-encompassing block battery system for cinema and lighting applications. Built for high demand situations, the MV6 can sustain up to 20A draw on both 14V and 28V outputs simultaneously, while its internal charger can charge the pack back up in five hours. It’s all aluminum modular design provides a robust form to sustain the rigors of productions, while providing up to 4.5-inch of water resistance. The modular design also allows for servicing in the field to quickly get back up running. Built-in diagnostic and self-service functions maximize uptime and minimize downtime. Built with premium Nickel Metal Hydride cells from Japan, this pack will sustain several thousand cycles of usage with minimal degradation, and allow for easy air shipping and travel. The Maverick battery pack’s smart framework allows vitals to be monitored wirelessly with Core’s patented Voltbridge Fleet battery management platform. The Voltbridge platform is a local-based system of autonomous battery chargers controlled by a tablet through a mobile application, allowing a single user to oversee tens of professional video battery chargers and hundreds of battery packs along with an infinite number of Maverick systems. The primary mission of the platform is to streamline the process of determining what packs are viable, and which should be inspected more closely. The new addition to the Voltbridge system, released concurrently called “Mesh,” now allows large production/broadcast houses, as well as professional video and cinema rental companies to administer their fleet over an IP portal in the cloud. Whether managing your Mavericks or on-board battery fleet in New York, Los Angeles or London, all data is uploaded to one platform in the cloud and available anywhere in the world through a web browser.
https://coreswx.com/shop/mv6/
28 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Creamsource Vortex4 Built with durability and elegance in mind, the Vortex4 features world-class engineering, combining diverse production methods from precision-machined extrusions and high-strength die casting to leading-edge technopolymer components and aerospace-grade sealing technologies. The result is an IP65-rated water-resistant fixture that can take on weather, messy effects machines and extreme dust while integrated internal power supplies simplify rigging and cabling. The Vortex4 1-inch x 1-inch is a 325W high-powered LED for film production and the latest addition to the Creamsource lighting series. As part of the Vortex series, it seamlessly integrates with the Vortex8 2-inch x 1-inch LED for easily expanded lighting configurations to bring their artistic visions to life. Vortex4 features a narrow native beam angle of 20° and CCT range from 2,200K to 15,000K enabling the extreme versatility that Creamsource fixtures are known for. It can be used as a hard punch light to bounce or push through diffusion, or as a creamy soft light with the Creamsource diffuser or dome. This allows users to bring the fixture closer to the subject without the loss of space. Underpinning the entire Vortex series is Creamsource’s industry-leading firmware, CreamOS. With the latest CreamOS 1.2.0 architecture, the Vortex4 comes equipped for creative expression with pre-programmed effects, color gels, multi-zone control and the recently introduced FrameSync technology for even greater creative application. With FrameSync, Vortex series lights can be triggered from an external source, such as a sync generator (e.g. Ambient Lockit ACN-CL), or the genlock output of a cinema camera, to ensure that it is synchronized with the camera shutter. This is especially useful when using effects such as strobe, where a lack of synchronization between the camera and the lights can cause issues like frame tearing and flash banding. This feature alleviates the problem that most digital CMOS cameras can have with any flashing or strobing light source. It can also be used for frame-accurate strobing for advanced special effects, for frame rates up to 5,000fps. For even more versatility, Vortex4 adopts “Vortex Connect 2.0,” a connectivity suite including LumenRadio TimoTwo built
in, Ethernet with sACN, Bluetooth, 5pin DMX, Wi-Fi, USB type A and Creamsource Accessory port. This makes interaction possible between Vortex4 and various third-party instruments and protocols. The Vortex lighting series simplifies the way in which Creamsource introduces new products to market. Each Vortex fixture leverages the same artist-focused UI, which eliminates learning curves and downtime associated with rigging and programming multiple lights. All Vortex series lights work in concert with each other naturally thanks to the shared platform — it streamlines the entire lighting experience for users. The shared UI among Vortex fixtures makes it incredibly easy for lighting artists to expand lighting configurations and build out their lighting workflows. Creamsource relies on feedback from their highly engaged community of users that have real, on-set experience to inform R&D. By developing versatile and powerful lighting solutions for artists that reflect the realities of their craft, Creamsource strives to be the facilitator of creative excellence.
https://creamsource.com/product/vortex4/
29 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Dalet Dalet Flex for Teams Dalet Flex for Teams is based on the award-winning Dalet Flex media workflow platform and now offered as-a-service. The new, multi-tenanted SaaS offering democratizes key media logistics use cases such as library management and multiplatform content distribution through affordable, pre-configured workflows fully hosted and managed by Dalet. Dalet Flex for Teams makes it easy for customers to get up and running quickly and scale as needed with control over budgets. Dalet Flex continues to be offered as an enterprise-grade media workflow platform available in subscription, with custom offerings that can be tailored to any organization’s needs and specific requirements. Dalet Flex can be hosted by customers, in the cloud or on-premises, or by Dalet as a dedicated, single-tenant implementation. Dalet Flex has been cloud-native from day one, providing a strong foundation for our multi-tenanted SaaS offering. Key workflows like library management and content distribution were conceived with cloud operations in mind, and perfected through customer feedback and success allowing Dalet to bring these solutions packaged for fast deployment and easy adoption to a wider audience. Over the past three years, Dalet significantly expanded its customer success resources and shifted its focus towards cloud-native, subscription-based media workflow solutions. The introduction of its multi-tenanted media logistics solution is the culmination of the company’s efforts to bring the power of Dalet Flex to the hands of new users and teams. The new Dalet Flex for Teams SaaS offering features a multi-tenanted architecture that leverages economies of scale to lower the cost of entry to professional tools for media companies, sports brands and corporate creative teams. Proven, pre-configured workflows like “Library Management” and “Multiplatform Content Distribution” make it easy for customers to manage rich, multimedia content libraries; automate content distribution across traditional, digital and social platforms; support a hybrid or remote workforce, and/or building a living archive. With the elasticity of the cloud at their fingertips, customers can quickly scale resources as needed with full control
over budgets. Available on a subscription basis with three plans — Essentials, Growth, Advanced — Dalet Flex for Teams brings all the convenience and affordability SaaS has to offer in an agile media logistics solution designed to support the fluid ebb and flow of creative collaboration. Dalet Flex for Teams, which runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is designed with Dalet’s approach to security in mind, can be up and running within one business day. Customers simply log in via the easy-to-use web client to access Dalet Flex tools and workflows. The preconfigured environments are delivered with ready-to-execute workflows such as import/export, review and approval, and distribution. Its capabilities will be also updated regularly, bringing new features based on customer inputs and feedback. Secure auto-scaling and load balancing ensure high availability and resilience, removing the need for the client to deploy their own infrastructure or manage overhead. With the infrastructure complexity and costs managed by Dalet, users can focus on their craft, creating amazing content and meeting their audience’s needs, while enjoying a lower cost of entry.
https://www.dalet.com/products/flex/
30 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Dejero EnGo 265 EnGo 265 is a mobile transmitter and internet gateway two-in-one device that delivers unmatched wireless connectivity. With EnGo 265, field crews involved in news gathering, live events, sports and media production, can transmit broadcast-quality video, quickly transfer files and set up high-bandwidth access points for multiple devices in an instant. Featuring GateWay mode for wireless broadband internet connectivity in the field and glass-to-glass latency as low as 0.5 seconds over bonded cellular connections, EnGo 265 enhances the reliability in all latency settings with its improved blending algorithm. Providing the reliability and throughput of a wired network while operating in a scenario requiring wireless connectivity, the new GateWay mode is powered by Dejero’s award-winning Smart Blending Technology, which aggregates all the available networks to maximize reliability, expand coverage and increase bandwidth. Field crews can broadcast breaking news or live events, quickly transfer files to prepare and upload packages while in the field, and set up high-bandwidth access points for multiple devices. For film, television and commercial production, teams can leverage a reliable, ultra-fast connection to enable real-time collaboration with dispersed teams and accelerate delivery of content from the set directly to post production, regardless of location — thus reducing the number of people required on set and unlocking huge cost-savings. The new mobile transmitter also addresses growing concerns in the industry around security and data protection with AES 256 encryption, a security-hardened Linux OS and a cryptoprocessor to authenticate the hardware.
With its integrated global modems, user-accessible SIMs, and an internal battery that’s aircraft carry-on compliant, the EnGo 265 is ideal for domestic and international travel. When used with Dejero’s Vehicle Antenna Dock, the EnGo 265 can be securely mounted into vehicles and attached to external antennas to boost reception. Two-way, full-duplex voice communication between the studio and field personnel is possible with the EnGo 265 intercom feature, providing a second communication channel on top of the existing one-way interruptible foldback (IFB) channel. Not only does this support real-time communication from the field to the control room, it also allows for one channel to the talent and a separate channel to the camera operator — ensuring everyone is synchronized. A large, vibrant capacitive touchscreen provides video previews for confidence monitoring, status information and easy operation. Built-in automation detects video input and format to save the operator time, and a wired remote on the backpack shoulder strap provides access to controls and helps the operator monitor the status of the blended connection. Designed to withstand on-the-go daily use by news, sports and live production crews, EnGo 265 is built with aircraft-grade aluminum monocoque construction and polycarbonate ABS bumpers. It is vibration-, shock- and crash-tested to transportation safety specs — making it the most rugged transmitter on the market offering a longer lifetime in comparison to alternatives. The EnGo 265 is reliable, simple to use and built tough for field use.
https://www.dejero.com/products/engo-265
31 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Digital Nirvana MetadataIQ 4.0 Large broadcasters, especially those in live news and sports, ingest never-ending volumes of content that must be culled and available for air as quickly as possible. Most of it lacks context and needs metadata to be useful. Creating that metadata is traditionally a time-consuming, expensive manual task that yields very limited detail for producers to search against. MetadataIQ is a SaaS-based tool from Digital Nirvana that automatically generates speech-to-text and video intelligence metadata, increasing the efficiency of production, preproduction and live content creation services for Avid PAM/ MAM users. MetadataIQ relies on advanced machine learning and high-performance AI capabilities in the cloud (speech-totext, facial recognition, object identification, content classification, etc.) to create highly accurate metadata more quickly and less expensively than traditional methods. Crucially, MetadataIQ is the only tool that not only automatically generates speech-to-text transcripts on incoming feeds (or on stored content) in real time, but then takes the transcript, parses it by time, and indexes it back to the media in the Avid environment. No other such product integrates with Avid today. Since Digital Nirvana introduced MetadataIQ about a year ago, the primary use case has been generating speech to text in real time as massive amounts of live streams are being ingested, then sending that STT transcript into the Avid Interplay PAM system with time inputs. Two major news organizations — one in the United States and another in the Middle East — have been testing these capabilities in their live news workflows, and the results from real-time transcript metadata alone have transformed their operations. MetadataIQ 4.0, which was previewed at the 2022 NAB Show, will have two especially important developments: 1. Commercially available video intelligence: MetadataIQ’s transcription and other video intelligence capabilities — natural language processing, facial and object recognition, OCR and many more — will emerge from the proof-of-concept stage and be commercially available based on the overwhelming success of the beta testing.
2. Integration with MediaCentral cloud: Instead of sending video intelligence metadata only to the Avid Interplay on-prem implementation, MetadataIQ will integrate with Avid’s cloudbased MediaCentral hub, where editors access multiple Avid applications to do their work. Thanks to cloud integration, instead of being able to search only one type of metadata at once like they’ve been doing in Avid Interplay, editors will be able to combine searches in MediaCentral based on multiple forms of video intelligence metadata. Combined search makes the entire video machine-readable, not just the words. For example, suppose MetadataIQ generates metadata using OCR, facial recognition and speech-to-text. When an editor enters search terms, MediaCentral will search all three of those types of metadata simultaneously. This means editors will get more precise results even faster. MetadataIQ’s unique ability to marry real-time transcript generation with real-time indexing in Avid means producers and editors can quickly find relevant media assets for their stories, thereby accelerating the entire production process. In fact, users have reported that the process of creating new content has been reduced from 15 hours to just two hours.
https://digital-nirvana.com/products/automated-metadata-generation-metadataiq/
32 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
EditShare EditShare Multi-Site EditShare Multi-Site is a powerful system to synchronize video content between multiple sites. In the new world of remote and decentralized production, it is a timely solution to a real business issue. Remote and decentralized post production means that facilities risk creating a number of silos of storage, with editors and other creatives struggling to access material that may be stored at another site. Storage silos also risk data security, without adequate redundancy. With Multi-Site, creative users have immediate access to the material they need, on local storage and therefore with maximum performance. Users define what content is needed at which locations, to make optimum use of storage space while still delivering the best performance. This is especially important, for example, for freelance editors working on individual projects from home studios: the latest material for that particular project is synchronized into their local server as quickly as possible, without the need to give them access to the enterprise-wide storage system. This is achieved through smart software running on EditShare EFS storage instances. Multi-Site ensures that each storage space is aware of the others in the same enterprise. That means they can make intelligent decisions on what they have and what they need to share. Very importantly, Multi-Site also includes file acceleration software to minimize the bandwidth requirements. This allows the synchronization to be dynamic, taking advantage of capacity in connectivity and in server demands to maintain all servers as quickly as possible. Multi-Site also incorporates Guardian analytics, allowing system managers to see how synchronization tasks are progressing. If there are clear bottlenecks in the process, notifications can be sent to the system manager and to EditShare support, allowing the most efficient solutions to be defined and implemented. It is implemented as a plug-in software package for EditShare EFS storage management software. This runs on EditShare
servers, or as a virtual machine in cloud storage such as AWS S3. Syncing with AWS allows facilities to build edit-in-the-cloud workstations using desktop mimic software like Teradici. Users can also move away from LTO tape archives, which are expensive and slow to recover. Definition of content to be shared and destinations, and other management tasks, is through the EFS control interface, which is a simple and intuitive HTML5 web interface. The result is a distinct and valuable business benefit across the production and post-production industries. Facilities can draw on the best creative talent, wherever they are, and ensure they are automatically updated with the latest material for their specific project, without security implications on other work going through the facility. Collaborative workflows are faster and more efficient, as material is seamlessly exchanged and updated between editors, graders and audio post. As a colorist works at one facility, an editor working in a different location will see the graded material arrive. For post businesses still nervous about taking their first steps into cloud operations, Multi-Site and its simplicity is a very significant driver.
https://editshare.com/editshare-boosts-media-workflow-performance-with-new-launches-at-nab2022/
33 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Evertz BRAVO Studio Virtualized Production Suite BRAVO Studio is a web-based platform that provides broadcasters and content creators with all the traditional elements of a production control room virtually within the cloud. BRAVO Studio has added even more advanced features and live production tools that look and feel like a traditional control room to help make operators feel more comfortable producing shows within a virtual environment in the cloud. By combining access to all inputs with web-based interfaces, and providing support for transport protocols like SRT, RIST and Zixi, BRAVO Studio ensures live UHD/4K video and audio signals are reliably and securely sent and received directly from the cloud with minimal latency. With comprehensive tools for live switching, video/audio mixing, dynamic graphics, support for external graphic engines, replays and highlights, BRAVO Studio can be used for any production, regardless of its size or scale. BRAVO Studio also now supports several new features to further emphasize the all-encompassing capabilities of BRAVO Studio. Studer Audio products have been seamlessly integrated into BRAVO Studio for advanced Audio-over-IP mixing, including audio production within the cloud. BRAVO Studio also leverages new metadata co-pilots to assist with simplifying production workflows and automating storytelling. Integration of Ease Live’s powerful graphics engine makes it much faster and easier for those using BRAVO Studio to enhance, gamify and monetize the viewing experience by producing data-driven interactive graphics. There is also the option of leveraging real-time data collected by sensor-based systems, including ShotTracker’s on-court and on-field sensors, to automate camera workflows.
Evertz recognizes that high-quality, cost-effective and data-driven storytelling will be a core driver for broadcasters over the coming months and years, and BRAVO Studio covers all aspects of this market, giving broadcasters access to a versatile and powerful toolkit that will help them minimize costs and maximize resources as they produce and distribute live content. Audiences crave new and unique ways of consuming content, and BRAVO Studio is a cost-effective and reliable solution that helps program makers create great stories, deliver interactive content that can be controlled by the viewer, and drive viewer engagement with personalized content. BRAVO Studio consolidates and simplifies production both on-premise and in the cloud to give storytellers virtually limitless possibilities in the way they connect with audiences.
https://evertz.com/solutions/dreamcatcher/bravo/
34 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Evertz NATX 32/64 100G Network Address Translation Router Evertz' NATX-32/64-100G is a network-based broadcast distribution solution utilizing a highly reliable 10/25/100GbE infrastructure for deterministic routing of video and audio, and network address translation, while offering unprecedented scalability and reliability. The single rack NATX-32/64-100G is constructed with built-in boundary clock support, Layer 3 functionality, and 256 ports of 25GbE, NATX-32/64-100G can dynamically configure and translate more than 32,000 unicast and multicast signals in real time. NATX-32/64-100G is based on an integrated multicast label switching architecture that unlocks the advantage of 25/100GbE without sacrificing flexibility and ease of control necessary for broadcast video and audio routing over LAN and WAN topologies. NATX-32/64-100G merges traditional networking with SDN networking by supporting MAGNUM OS orchestration for full control of high bandwidth broadcast video, audio and data signals in a simple, scalable and reliable way. MAGNUM recognizes new signal entry points, immediately discovers the multicast space and communicates it to NATX-32/64-100G to conduct the translation in real time to stitch a full NAT flow from end-to-end. NATX-32/64-100G is also ideal for remote deployments where multicasts addresses can be pre-configured without knowing the address of the endpoints prior to arriving on site. NATX32/64-100G is controlled using the same control methods of traditional baseband routers. Traditional control surfaces such as graphical user interfaces and hard button panels all can be used to control the NATX-32/64-100G network infrastructure. NATX-32/64-100G offers true wire rate of up to 100GbE ports, with zero contention at maximum bandwidth. NATX-32/64100G employs QSFP-DD technology and therefore can support
either 10/25GbE single mode or multimode fiber at each port. A single QSFP-DD can also be configured to support 2x 100GbE on up to 32x QSFP-DD modules. NATX-32/64-100G is a hot-swappable device, which allows for the hardware to be replaced without having to re-cable, saving hours of downtime. Using Evertz’ award-winning SDVN (Software Defined Video Network) architecture and operating as an expansion to Evertz’ lineup of EXE and IPX routing platforms, NATX-32/64-100G offers the power of IP with the simplicity of SDI. Unlike other ”off the shelf” network appliances, which require extensive IT knowledge and programming experience, the NATX-32/64-100G is a plug-and-play 25/100GbE switch fabric, customized to work seamlessly within a broadcast environment for the purpose of deterministic routing of high bandwidth video and audio data.
https://evertz.com/products/NATX-32/64-100G
35 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Evertz XPS Live Video Encoder Series & Reflektor On-Premise & Cloud Signal Processor XPS Live 4K/UHD/3G/HD Video Encoder & Decoder Series is a real-time video streaming platform that is designed for mission-critical applications. Available in a variety of form factors, this software-defined next-generation UHD live encoder platform can be used for encoding and decoding over IP networks and is ideal for live or cloud-based applications where security, high quality and low-latency are essential. Supporting SRT, RIST, Zixi and other transport protocols, the XPS Series provides broadcasters access to reliable, low-latency encoding over public networks, low-latency remote monitoring of broadcast facilities, and on-ramp/contribution encoder facilities for cloud production or playout hosted by public cloud providers. XPS Series supports up to four simultaneous 1080p50/60 HD video encodes or decodes and is software-configurable to switch between either a four-channel encoder, four-channel decoder or a combination of two encodes and two decodes. XPS is the only encoder/decoder on the market that supports bidirectional functionality at those resolutions. Additionally, the XPS Live Video Encoder Series supports up to 2160p50/60 4K UHD video resolutions with 16 channels of audio, with support for different compression standards such as H.265 / HEVC or H.264 over any IP network. In recent months Evertz has added 5G capability to XPS (MMA10G-TRXS-5G), making the product even more versatile, particularly for those who need to deliver remote contributions from places where IP connections are either unreliable or unavailable. The MIO-XPS module also adds a powerful new encode/decode tool to the SCORPION Smart Media Processing Platform — a staple of Evertz’ remote and live production solution. XPS-MIO joins an impressive catalogue of SFPs and Miniature input and output modules (MIOs) SCORPION leverages for diverse signal routing and conversion — and now streaming. XPS Series now supports the latest patent-pending iTrak technology for multicamera synchronization from multiple locations, and is fully integrated with Reflektor, Evertz’ software as a
service (SaaS) audio/video distribution tool that transcodes and duplicates video codecs to provide easy delivery to the cloud. Reflektor represents a key element within Evertz’ remote production solutions by providing customers with a powerful, low-bandwidth cloud on-ramp option for easy and convenient contribution of high-quality video with ultra-low latency for production and streaming applications. By deploying XPS Series to the edge, live video, audio and data can be fed to Reflektor for comprehensive processing and transcoding directly in the cloud. Reflektor is a valuable tool in managing the expanding number of signal formats (MPEG-TS, NDI, ST 2110, HLS, MPEG DASH, etc.) that can be produced by a traditional broadcast. Reflektor uses licensed microservices in the cloud to normalize signal types to best suit the needs of the end user or final application, making it an ideal cloud solution for UHD/4K field contribution, remote production, return feed monitoring, remote collaboration and cloud production.
https://evertz.com/products/XPS-HW
36 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
EVS Neuron PROTECT One of the most critical challenges in IP broadcast environments is how to address redundancy and remove as many single points of failure as possible. Moving to IP causes a huge increase in bandwidth usage and has a significant impact on the backbone’s resilience. Moreover, when an issue occurs to a single link, a multitude of signals will be affected at the same time. This needs to be prevented at any time. The most common solution that broadcasters implement to ensure redundancy in the IP domain is ST2022-7. However, while it does prevent system downtime caused by network issues, this method does not prevent black screens or audio silences when your broadcast equipment fails. Keeping in mind that anything can go wrong, even with the best processing equipment, EVS has introduced Neuron PROTECT, which is designed to fully protect broadcast networks from any single point of failure, using intelligent, redundant, isolated (automatic) changeovers. These are designed to communicate with each other, meaning that if one fails, the other continues to output content on the network, ensuring full
redundancy in any scenario. Available within EVS’ Neuron real-time IP media processor, the PROTECT cards use all modern encapsulation standards like ST2022 and ST2110 and are capable of handling up to 16 channels of full HD or four channels of UHD and transporting these over two redundant 100 Gbps Ethernet connections. Optionally, Neuron PROTECT can be enhanced with an SDI I/O module. This will add 40 physical SDI HD-BNC connectors, allowing easy integration of existing SDI operations in an IP environment, acting as bridge or gateway. PROTECT can be used as a multichannel AV-over-IP transceiver, AV probe, up-down-cross converter, (ACO) automatic change over and firewall. It provides the redundancy assurance broadcasters were accustomed to in the traditional SDI domain, but that has been missing since the migration to IP. It introduces a new, intelligent backup switching method to provide protection from unreliable or even hostile sources, ensuring full peace of mind during every live broadcast.
https://evs.com/products/real-time-media-processing/neuron
37 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Firstlight Media Firstlight Media Video CMS Successful OTT services thrive where audiences meet content — understanding habits, capitalizing on rising trends, navigating ebbs and flows characteristic of subscription services. The Firstlight Media Video CMS delivers best of data insights, editorial and entitlement capabilities and AI tools, driving informed decisions for P&L owners, programmers, CPOs and CTOs. It uniquely combines real-time data insights on consumer engagement, subscriber management and QoS into dashboards and enablement tools to inform product, marketing, content investment, technology investment decisions to drive more consumer engagement, time spent and monetization opportunities. Proof point: Since replacing a standard OVP solution with the Firstlight Media Video CMS solution we’ve seen: 25% increase in subscriber adds; 65% increase in streams; and 40% increase in stream starts per subscriber.
business rules definitions, audit trail; and supports VOD, linear channels, live events, virtual channels via user interface/APIs. Storefront — Firstlight Media’s Video CMS provides editorial tools/automation to match users with content they want for personalized content experiences. The storefront mirrors end-user applications – i.e., carousels and landing pages; programmers can modify content selection/layout using remote configuration. Our storefront also supports multiple brands with one backend. Key features: Editorial and programmatic (i.e., query-based) content curation; recommendations based on content similarity, viewing habits, popular/trending signals, real-time metadata, plus A/B testing workflow; audience segmentation/targeting for zipcodes/ DMAs, language, subscription tier, custom attributes; automatic policy enforcement, e.g., blackouts, concurrency, geo-fencing. Insights — Engagement directly impacts bottom lines. Influencing requires clear information architecture, proper instrumentation to collect data across devices/third-party services, tools to visualize/evaluate emerging trends, and applied data science to extract information unavailable on first inspection. Key features — Real-time data pipeline: technology infrastructure consolidates audience, content, revenue signals; Engagement metrics/predefined dashboards focused on key OTT drivers: QoE, QoS, acquisition/churn, audience engagement, content performance, monetization; Actionable insights: cohort analysis to identify upsell opportunities, remarketing, churn prevention; Applied data science: AI/ML models trained to specific audience/ content context to drive personalization.
How It’s Built The Firstlight Media Video CMS is distinguished in the solution architecture: Datastore, facilitating discovery through data enhancement; Storefront, driving editorial with AI recommendation capabilities; and Insights, delivering dashboards and decision enablement tools. Firstlight Media's Video CMS is foundational to our end-toend, cloud native platform that is built with an open architecture to futureproof customer investments. It supports high-concurrency/security requirements for sports/entertainment use cases and is compatible with multiple Audio/Video pipelines, end-user applications, and user management systems. It is ideal for orchestrating end-to-end digital distribution strategies. Combined, the three components below deliver best-in-class Video CMS and business enablement. Datastore — Firstlight Media’s Video CMS uniquely blends large sets of content attributes, often from multiple sources, into the combinatorial complexity of content rights. Understanding content affinity, adding poster variations, or exploring permutations of catalogs prepares content for editorial processes and feeds recommendation engines. Key features: Flexible data model based on industry standards, enabling common content types (e.g., movies, TV series, sports shows, etc.); metadata aggregation/enrichment, multi-language support, bulk updates, custom workflows; entitlements,
https://firstlight.ai/products/#video-cms
38 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
FOR-A Corp. of America FA-1616 FOR-A’s FA-1616 software-defined multi-purpose signal processor supports HD/3G/4K/12G/HDR/WCG/IP (SMPTE ST 2022-6/SMPTE ST 2110) and audio for synchronization and conversion up to 16 channels.
https://www.for-a.com/products/fa1616/index.html
39 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Grass Valley AMPP Live Solution Packages Today’s content creators and distributors need a cost-effective way to produce much more content and format it for many different distribution outlets. Transitioning the media production chain to the cloud is the best way to accomplish that objective, and many companies are exploring how to make that transition. AMPP Solution Packages enable the quickest path to a cloudbased future and deliver fully hosted cloud solutions to create, manage and deliver any kind of media content at the highest quality. Each package is scaled to fit a production of a particular size and includes all of the expected tools for the application. • Live production packages offer a choice of production switcher options, from simple mixes to K-Frame on AMPP with traditional switcher panels. Graphics, replay, audio mixing, web capture and recording storage are all options for these packages. • Asset Management packages include editing through a web browser or advanced craft editing, audio management and voiceover tools, AI services and automated workflow management for simplified operations from the studio or the field. • Playout packages support a wide variety of formats including SMPTE ST 2022-2, RTMP, RIST, SRT and AMPP streaming with
audio management, SCTE triggering and advanced graphics, including DVE and text crawls. All of these packages are easy to use by a single operator or a distributed team. Built on the market-leading capabilities of GV AMPP’s comprehensive operating system, the packages include compute, storage and applications to provide end-to-end solutions for any part of their workflows. No previous experience in cloud is needed, as the packages come fully hosted, including compute, basic storage and egress. To simplify business operations, AMPP Solution Packages are available with monthly unified billing. There is no need to provision trucks and studios in advance or capitalize and maintain equipment. The intuitive AMPP app store allows customers to spin applications up or down whenever needed to strategically match changing needs. Whether creating live content for multiple platforms, localizing media for international distribution or producing one-day events, AMPP Live Solution Packages makes it easy for customers to tell their story with a toolset that matches the production requirements.
https://www.grassvalley.com/products/cloud-based-workflows/gv-ampp-live-producer/
40 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Hitachi Kokusai Electric America SK-UHD7000 Hitachi Kokusai is announcing its second-generation 4K Ultra HD broadcast and live production camera system, the SK-UHD7000. The new SK-UHD7000 continues the Hitachi tradition of delivering exceptional visual quality and superior price/performance. Hitachi is excited to bring the SK-UHD7000’s exceptional performance and extensive feature set to market at a cost-effective price point that makes native 4K live production accessible to more customers. It's ideal for a wide range of applications, from television broadcasters archiving their production workflows, to live production companies striving to offer the utmost quality to their clients, to houses of worship future-proofing with life-like video. The SK-UHD7000 incorporates three 2/3-inch, global shutter CMOS image sensors with native 4K resolution, enabling pristine capture of 3840x2160 UHD video. A new prism design with expanded spectral range fully complies with all international colorimetry specifications and enables superior color reproduction. The high-performance sensors and new prism combine to enable full-range BT.2020 UHD Wide Color Gamut (WCG) capture. A dual 4K and HDTV workflow supports separate controls for HLG HDR and SDR. The SK-UHD7000 continues the SK-UHD4000’s hallmarks of delivering extraordinary sensitivity and quality for Ultra HD production. Sensitivity of F11 at 59.94 FPS enables high-quality acquisition in limited lighting, with a SNR of 62 dB for ultra-quiet images. Advanced digital processing technology and a wide array of image refinement tools enable precise tailoring of the accuracy and look of productions. Operational features such as focus assist and viewfinder zoom make it easier for users to perform critical focus at 4K resolution. The SK-UHD7000’s powerful new processor also provides plenty of headroom for additional functionality in the future. The SK-UHD7000’s streamlined, one-piece camera chassis has a low center of gravity that allows easy handheld video acquisition. As a full-featured, broadcast-class system camera, the SK-
UHD7000 provides integrated prompter power, video monitoring and intercom connectivity at the camera body; a motorized, optical filter turret; and a lens mount that does not require a mechanical or optical adapter for standard B4 interchangeable lenses. Full-bandwidth, uncompressed, native 4K signals are transported from the SK-UHD7000 camera head to the new CUUHD7000 CCU via SMPTE 311M hybrid fiber optic cable over distances up to 6,500 ft. Single-link, 12G-SDI connectivity also provides 4K output directly from the camera head, while integrated HD down-conversion offers 1080p, 1080i or 720p output for multiformat production applications. Embedded audio is available on all SDI outputs and as listen-channels on the intercom connections. A trunk data interface supports video transport and control of TCP/IP-capable devices connected directly to the SK-UHD7000 camera head, enabling applications ranging from robotic movement and IP-based prompting to VR/AR, 3D space positioning. The new camera also retains compatibility with existing Hitachi control panels and third-party control systems.
https://www.hitachikokusai.us/BroadcastandProfessionalCameras/
41 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Hitachi-Comark E-Compact EC700HP-BB3 The EC700HP-BB3 product line is available with a single final power amplifier or up to 12 x PAs in parallel, producing from 1.1 kW to up to 13.2 kW respectively. These output power levels are measured after the mask filter. Improvements to the “BB3” series include: • Dual commercial off-the-shelf GE AC-to-DC rectifiers in the power supply of each PA • Hot-swappable rectifiers accessible from the front panel of the PA chassis • Newly improved system controller with a simpler user interface GUI • Optional front-panel touch screen for easier user access to the control/monitoring GUI • Optional outdoor cabinet for sites lacking adequate space in equipment shelter The E-Compact continues to feature the latest asymmetric broadband Doherty LDMOS amplifiers. The amplifier technology allows power efficiency of up to 44%. The air-cooled PA design includes automatic cooling fan speed control that provides lower acoustic noise levels during operation. The transmitters include a built-in web GUI and SNMP for remote control and monitoring. The E-Compact also features EXACT-V2 IP Optimized DTV exciters with DualCast technology and is easily upgraded from ATSC 1.0 to 3.0, protecting your investment today for use tomorrow.
https://comarktv.com/products/high-power-air-uhf-solid-state/
42 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER IHSE USA DP 4X1 KVM Desktop Switch The Draco DPS41 desktop series KVM switches offers a wide range of features that makes this one of the most flexible 4X1 KVM switches ever. The DPS41 can be customized to support single head, dual head, triple head or quad head computer systems. Starting with a base DisplayPort four-input single-head package, up to 4K60 can be supported. Additionally, it can support audio, USB-HID and USB 2.0 devices. As video standards continue to evolve, such as dual or quad head 4K resolutions, system integrators must match video hardware with the right type of switch or display management system. This complex task is especially difficult when multiple computers need to be accessed at the same workstation area that may be working across different platforms or networks. For users who need to monitor or manage several computers, the DPS41 provides an easy way to access them with a single mouse and keyboard. However, many desktop KVM switches are specifically built to a specific number of display I/Os and cannot be field upgraded when more display outputs are needed. The DPS41 is purposely designed to allow quick customization to support multiple displays. The DPS41 base unit is a standard two-slot desktop chassis with support for USB-HID, USB 2.0, and optional audio connections for up to four computers to a single DisplayPort monitor. When more displays are added, simply expand the DPS41 with the 4X1 video expansion card using IHSE’s standard six-slot chassis. All DPS41 cards fit in any IHSE frame type and integrate with any IHSE KVM systems. The DPS41 KVM switches series works in tandem with other IHSE switch products, making it even more secure and flexible. With a typical desktop switch environment, the CPU devices (computer or laptop) normally resides at the access point or endpoint device at the workstation. Each device must connect directly to the physical input of the switch and the USB-HID keyboard and mouse manages the process of changing what computer is shown on the display. When a DPS41 is added to a larger KVM switch, each input port on the 4X1 becomes the access point for a larger number of sources connected at the
KVM switch. With the operating system and software agnostic DPS41, multiple computers or servers can be accessed from the same user or operator workstation regardless of the operating system. Computers running Windows OS, Linux OS or Apple OS can all be accessed from the same extender point of access. With a typical network environment, normally all computer sources need to reside on the same network IP address. An added advantage of the DPS41 is the ability to have each computer or source on a different network address, thus allowing up to four different IP networks to be managed or monitored from a single workstation. Access to the sources can only be done through the control port of the DPS41. Since the transport layer between the graphics card is not based on TCP/IP protocol, each computer can be considered an autonomous separation between networks.
https://www.ihseusa.com
43 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
IHSE USA Draco Ultra SSFRC eSports Extenders In esports, competition milliseconds count. These professional, highly attended events are run on offline computers running frame rates of 120, 144 or even 240 fps. Therefore, video production must provide low latency and high frame rates for the gamer’s computers while producing audience previews in standard 1080p/60. Unfortunately, most streaming or production equipment used today are limited to 60 Hz, which means production teams need to be able to switch between real-world action and non-broadcast resolutions and frame rates without losing quality or interfering with the gamer's computer graphics resolutions, which can jeopardize the match and/or the viewing experience. IHSE has solved this problem with the introduction of Synchronized Sequential Frame Rate Conversion (SSFRC) technology available in its draco ultra series of DisplayPort and HDMI extenders. This technology can be used to enable live screen display, real-time broadcast or super-slow-motion (slo-mo) replay when combined with an EVS replay system. SSFRC technology combines high frame rate (HFR) computer actions and broadcast transmission workflows into one extender system. Not only does this simplify the onsite infrastructure but also ensures that the same content is available everywhere at a pristine quality level that greatly enhances the overall impact of the event and enjoyment of viewers. This is a great solution for larger esports venues that service the general public and where expensive computer hardware needs to be moved closer to the production team or locked away to prevent accidental damage or potential theft. Production teams simply place the keyboard, mouse and high frame rate display at the player’s station. Connections between the computer and player’s station can be separated up to 10 km using fiber optic cable connections. Each draco ultra SSFRC extender is then routed back to the main KVM switch systems,
allowing full control of the HFR computer used at each player’s station and which source is streamed to video walls, live broadcasts or media sites such as Twitch.tv or YouTube. With IHSE’s new Draco ultra SSFRC extenders a complete production system supporting up to 240 frames per second for offline computers can be accomplished while secondary outputs can be configured to stream at 60 frames without additional encoders, decoders or other signal transmission devices that could create excessive latency or GPU bottlenecks in the gamer’s computer. The result is a pristine esports event that meets the highest-quality broadcast production standards for today’s fast-paced and exciting matches.
https://www.ihse.com/solutions/esports/
44 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Interra Systems Interra Cloud Services (ICS) – BATON Captions Interra Systems’ BATON® Captions automated captioning solution — part of the company’s comprehensive BATON automated QC platform — is now available to broadcasters and other media professionals as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution through the Interra Cloud Services (ICS) subscription-based service. By offloading the task of running and maintaining on-premises infrastructure, Interra Systems’ SaaS-based BATON Captions allows users to perform captioning operations for live and on-demand content more efficiently, accurately and more cost-effectively. Offering all the functionality of BATON Captions, in addition to several key updates, ICS — BATON Captions is a power-packed service for automating captioning workflows. What makes it unique is its industry-leading performance and technology innovation. Leveraging cutting-edge machine learning (ML) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology, the solution includes support for a wide range of captioning services and languages that allow broadcasters and other media professionals to address various captioning requirements, bringing simplicity and cost savings to the creation, management and delivery of captions for traditional TV and video streaming, while ensuring that when content is delivered in multiple video quality levels within OTT video streams, the captions maintain a high quality. For streaming media providers, ICS — BATON Captions is a game changer. It allows content providers to create captions and subtitles in a wide range of languages to cater to worldwide audience. The Software As a Service model offers the ease of use and flexibility in licensing, to fit the much desired CapEx model. Offering support for a host of subtitle and closed-caption formats, Interra Systems’ SaaS-based BATON Captions helps drive the globalization of content with advanced capabilities that allow broadcasters and other media professionals to QC captions and subtitles; create captions from transcribed audio; auto-correct errors; translate captions from one language to another; and regenerate captions to match different video deliveries. Its use of ASR technology adds accurate time to dialogs in scripts, resulting in faster and more efficient caption generation. The SaaS-based BATON Captions solution also provides multilingual support for QC, captioning and subtitling of media files; supports all embedded and sidecar formats, in addition to
all major text and document formats; offers rich reporting with a confidence score for easy review; and supports an array of content locations, such as FTP, AWS S3, Microsoft Azure Storage and GCP Storage, including YouTube URLs. Easily integrated with third-party tools, the application comes with a feature-rich review and editing platform with frame-accurate playback options. New features for BATON Captions include: • Captions as SaaS • Subtitling and recaptioning review • Enhanced ASR for English QC • Standalone sidecar QC • Format-specific and new QC checks • Enhanced transcoding workflow • New formats: MXF-TT for recaptioning; DFXP full profile added in TTML format • Conformance errors • Enhanced transcoding workflow • Caption insertion for lead-in and lead-out • English audio QC with different language subtitles • MCC and STL as export formats • Timecode in humanized format • Manual task cleanup • YouTube integration • Multiple nodes for parallel processing
https://www.interrasystems.com/BATON-Captions.php
45 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER LG Business Solutions USA LG UltraFine™ OLED Pro Monitor Line The new LG UltraFine™ OLED Pro series of reference monitors features new capabilities to meet the demanding needs of production studios and digital video professionals. Headlined by the new 65-inch display (model 65EP5G), the LG OLED Pro line also includes recently launched feature-rich 31.5- and 26.5-inch class monitors. The new 65-inch OLED Pro monitor is a 120 Hz UHD model that combines more than 8 million self-illuminated RGBW pixels with advanced calibration capabilities to achieve reference-quality performance and high color accuracy and uniformity. It includes LG’s proprietary SuperSign™ software for white balance and natively supports Calman color calibration software for spectacular picture quality. The LG 65EP5G also supports programmable hardware 1D and 3D LUTs (lookup tables) and multiple color-accurate profiles for rapid transitioning between calibrated modes. A major benefit of the commercial-grade LG 65EP5G is the convenient set of user-programmed function keys that provide quick access to on-screen features such as Markers, Zoom, Timecode functions and Audio Meters. A profile button also allows instant switching between user display presets for monitor settings and picture quality options. The monitor also is designed to be controllable by third-party devices through supported APIs. Separating the professional model from consumer models, the LG 65EP5G features a new custom user interface (UI) that allows for independent selection from 20 calibratable 1D LUTs (10 x SDR, 10 x HDR, 10 x DolbyVision™) and from 100 calibratable 3D LUTs (50 x SDR, 50 x HDR) for programming and activation. The input options are designed for professional creators, particularly the four loop-through 12G SDI ports that enable a single monitor to display up to four full HD feeds simultaneously. Additional inputs are HDMI, IP (SFP+ and RJ45) and Genlock, which is used in on-camera and virtual production applications. The monitor supports P3, Adobe® RGB and sRGB color profiles, in addition to broadcast standard profiles. Supported high dynamic range video formats include HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision, all of which can be user-calibrated.
The new 31.5- and 26.5-inch class LG Pro UltraFine Display monitors (models 32EP950 and 27EP950 respectively) are optimized for a variety of production uses such as HDR and SDR color timing, VFX editing, on-set monitoring, photo editing, and more. Featuring RGB pixels, both models produce excellent white and high color accuracy. They offer many of the same visual tech features of the 65-inch model, such as support for the VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black specification. Most notably, models 32EP950 and 27EP950 include hardware calibration capabilities for ensuring stable, highly accurate color regardless of workstation or output device. Both models feature LG’s new curved ArcLine stand design and offer two DisplayPort ports, one HDMI port and various USB ports, including USB C PD (power delivery). Rounding out the LG OLED Pro family are models 32BP95E and 27BP95E, which include the same color performance features as the other displays in a more traditional design. Rather than built-in hardware calibration support, each model uses a self-calibration sensor and monitor hood for maintaining color accuracy.
https://www.lg.com/us/business/NAB22-landing-page?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpImTBhCmARIsAKr58cxYgc3XxO8C6-n0YQCEG2HAlCJvTlzYjlu8aAshBSaDWCqrprSdJVkaAtZKEALw_wcB
46 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
LTN Global LTN Arc As consumer behavior evolves, content consumption is happening across various platforms and mediums. While major OTT platforms are building the capacity to ingest a large volume of content, they need a process to centralize feeds, decorate content and deliver customized streams worldwide in order to reach more customers across further platforms and geographies. But it's risky and costly to invest in OTT infrastructure. LTN Arc is a customizable, tailored solution that simplifies large-scale digital event versioning to capture dual-revenue streams through tailored solutions. LTN Arc is a fully managed service for large media companies who seek greater reach for their live event content. It is a production solution that utilizes LTN Live Video Cloud, LTN Transport and LTN Connect to enable customers with rights to large volumes of content to publish thousands of live events each year to repurpose and decorate games and events into customized streams for distribution on multiple channels. As a managed service, LTN Arc provides large media companies with extensive catalogs of live event programming rights to benefit from the breadth of LTN Global’s product portfolio via the company’s award-winning 30,000-square-foot, state-of-theart production facility in Kansas City. LTN Arc harnesses LTN’s industry-leading IP video network LTN Transport to acquire feeds from venues worldwide and deliver them for processing, where the dedicated LTN events service team decorates live content with graphics and remote voice talent. Fundamental to enabling the required efficien-
cy and scale, LTN Live Video Cloud provides a one-of-a-kind aggregation and normalization platform. Normalization, content conversion to a standard format, is significant when tackling thousands of live events each year. LTN Arc is an incredibly flexible solution that can be scaled up or down to meet fluctuating demand. The service is also fully customizable, with versioning services to prepare content for various destinations, watermarking, slating, video insertion and SCTE insertion, all provided as part of the managed service. Customers can add announcers or voiceovers in the local language when pursuing a global distribution strategy and active video clipping, highlights and decorated event recording. Customers are assigned a dedicated technical project manager as the main point of contact for pre-event preparation and logistics. LTN Global provides 24/7 support for all technical and operational issues with the LTN Arc managed service.
https://ltnglobal.com/solutions/arc/generate-reach-and-revenue-with-ltn-arc
47 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER LYNX Technik yellobrik IDC1411 — Instant Dialog Cleaner The IDC 1411 Instant Dialog Cleaner yellobrik module is designed to isolate speech and dialog by removing complex background noises in live broadcasts as well as recorded audio. It resolves many audio challenges that arise in broadcast and professional AV environments. It works unlike traditional noise reducers in the fact that it incorporates powerful Deep Neural Networks (DNN) AI technology from Audionamix. With the help of this technology, the IDC 141 analyzes audio and removes (in real time) background noises, e.g., road and air traffic, nature sounds, music and other ambient noises. This audio cleaning process separates the dialog and speech from the noises, providing a crisp audio signal that only contains the spoken word. How is this product different and more advanced? The AI technology automatically detects the voice regardless of the surrounding noises and preserves the real integrity of the dialog, unlike other available noise reduction tools, which are often not adequate. This tool is especially useful for live broadcasts, recording, editing and mixing audio from noisy broadcast and AV environments. For example: commentators reporting in noisy stadiums, journalists reporting news in outdoor settings and so on. The IDC 1411 can be used as standalone or installed in a yellobrik rack frame for larger systems installations. So, ideal
for small installations as well as large event installations that require a system approach. What a beta customer communicated: “LYNX Technik’s new IDC is an essential tool for dialog cleanup in so many broadcasters and AV environments. We have the constant challenge of cleaning noisy audio recordings and have tried many noise reduction tools in the past. This compact yellobrik helps us manage the amount of background noise in our audio and video workflows, which ultimately enhances the experience of our viewing/listening audience.”
https://www.lynx-technik.com/?type=1630505320&p=idc_1411
48 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Marketron Marketron Integration Suite Disparate applications and software tools create data silos that impact decision-making and cause organizational inefficiencies. The Marketron Integration Suite, which leverages open APIs, connectors and custom integrations, gives Marketron customers the ability to consolidate disparate data sources — including linear, O&O and third-party digital advertising systems — into a single ecosystem. Through this consolidation, broadcasters centralize data, reduce bottlenecks, provide visibility and propel innovation. Our prebuilt integrations with leading third-party platforms for business functions like CRM and accounting, allow order, AR and sales data to pass between Marketron and these key systems. This allows broadcasters to:
• Sync order data from Marketron’s traffic platforms to CRM providers for insights on best customers • Extract inventory and spot data from Marketron to an existing measurement tool to analyze airtime revenue with other business data • Load digital and linear orders from other platforms into Marketron’s ecosystem for comprehensive data views and invoicing Our integrations increase efficiency through automation by eliminating manual processes and the need for multiple services or platforms to complete tasks. With the Marketron Integration Suite, broadcasters choose the solutions that will scale their business and we make them work together.
https://www.marketron.com/integrationsuite/
49 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Marshall Electronics CV568 Micro Global Sensor Camera With Genlock (3GSDI and HDMI) The Marshall CV568 Micro Global Shutter POV Camera with Genlock (3GSDI & HDMI) features the latest in sensor technology, starting with a large 1/1.8-inch Sony Global Shutter sensor with 25% larger pixel size to capture more light delivering more accurate color even in challenging light characteristics. The CV568 Micro HD Camera is built into the same durable miniature-sized body as other Marshall CV500-series cameras with rear-panel connector protection, flexible interchangeable lenses, secure locking I/O connections and remote adjust/ match features. The similarity stops there as the CV568 packs a much larger, more powerful Global Shutter sensor with Genlock (signal-sync), producing crystal clear images even in fast motion capture. Global Shutter camera sensors are nothing new to the broadcast industry, however when customers are challenged to capture faster motion such as cameras mounted in cars or motorcycles, motion anomalies become more of a challenge. Global Shutter sensors perform better in these environments as all pixels are exposed simultaneously. A good example of this is evident when capturing video from a moving vehicle or as racecars speed by at production events. Global shutter sensors perform better in these environments as all pixels are exposed simultaneously similar to the human eye. Global shutter improves performance in fast-paced action, racing and movement to reduce motion blur, lean or distortion within the field-of-view. This high-performing camera is ideal for a variety of broadcast, sportscast and live event conditions to produce sharp, clear images even in low light. The CV568 contains simultaneous 3GSDI and HDMI outputs for flexibility and easy camera setup with portable HDMI monitors. It also provides Tri-level sync allowing multiple cameras
to be plugged into HD workflows already in sync (genlock). This enables seamless transitions between cameras with minimal amount of delay. Tri-level sync runs at a higher frequency making the signal sync more accurate and more seamless. Marshall POV cameras are used in all kinds of television production including sportscast, newscast, weathercast, reality TV, gameshows, concerts, esports, theatre, car racing, motorcycle racing, horse racing, plane racing and a variety of onboard camera applications. Having a Global Shutter offering at a highly competitive price point is fulfilling a gap in the industry.
https://marshall-usa.com/cameras/CV568/
50 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Matrox Video Matrox ConvertIP SMPTE ST 2110 Converter Switching from SDI to IP broadcast networks can be costly and complex. Matrox ConvertIP is a standalone SMPTE ST 2110 converter engineered to help you easily transition to IP. Supporting multiple input/output connectivity options, ConvertIP is designed to effortlessly convert HDMI or ST 2110 IP signals to or from SDI or HDMI. ConvertIP devices also support up to 25 Gbps connectivity allowing for the delivery of uncompressed 4K video over ST 2110. Key Benefits: • Single hardware can be configured as an encoder or decoder, or turned into an IP gateway • Optional JPEG XS license • Flexible input and output reconfiguration capacity • Simplified networking to provide IP over copper or IP over fiber • Complimentary web interface for centralized management of ConvertIP devices • Optional Matrox ConductIP software license for discovery and routing • Compact form factor mounts easily to the back of a monitor
deploy for a variety of applications, ConvertIP hardware devices support both copper or fiber networks, as well as multiple codecs for compressed and uncompressed video transmission. ConvertIP’s fanless design also ensures reliability for years to come. 4) You are in control: Discover, configure, control and route ConvertIP with the complimentary web browser-based ConvertIP Command Center UI and ConvertIP Central Manager application. With these tools, there is no need for dedicated engineers or extensive user training. Users have real-time access to ConvertIP devices on the network. 5) Your entire media installation at a glance: Transitioning your equipment installation to IP does not have to be expensive or complicated. With Matrox® ConductIP, you can discover, monitor and route any AMWA NMOS-enabled SMPTE ST 2110 or IPMX-ready device or signal. ConductIP is available as a web server-based application packaged in a small-form factor appliance, or as a software-only option. ConductIP gives you a real-time, comprehensive view of all media content on your IP network while allowing you to organize devices based on your unique setup. Designed to simplify content distribution in AV networks of any size, ConductIP enables you to manage video, audio and ancillary data streams, whether they come from native IP devices or are converted from your existing broadcast and Pro AV equipment.
1) Reduce your operating costs: As new standards emerge, get the most out of your existing SDI and SMPTE ST 2110-based equipment. Based on NMOS API, ConvertIP is interoperable with a wide range of hardware on the market, which means you are free to easily add new devices — including Pro AV and enterprise equipment — to your existing IP networks and infrastructure. 2) You really can have it all: ConvertIP combines the same hardware for input and output using standard SFPs, so there is no need to purchase any additional proprietary equipment. Thanks to its compact form factor and fanless design, ConvertIP can be mounted on a rack or the back of a monitor without any additional noise. 3) Get the maximum return on your investment: Ready to
https://www.matrox.com/en/video/products/infrastructure/convertip-series/broadcast-media-applications
51 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Matrox Video Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM Extenders Matrox® Extio Series are the world’s first IP KVM extenders to deliver 4Kp60 4:4:4 UHD performance or quad-Full HD capabilities over standard Gigabit Ethernet at unprecedentedly low bitrates. Extio Series can be configured as a point-to-point or networked KVM extender, delivering multiple video, keyboard, mouse, USB 2.0 and audio signals using a single fiber optic or copper cable. Ready compatibility with standard network switches significantly diminishes the total cost of ownership to deliver a scalable KVM matrix switching solution. Aggregated and seamless control of multiple systems from a remote display station with a single keyboard and mouse set leads to efficient operations and increased user productivity. Extio 3 IP KVMs for Broadcast and Media Environments: Comfortable, functional work environments are essential for broadcast and media professionals to be able to produce content that captivates audiences worldwide. By allowing for the centralization of hardware, Extio 3 IP KVMs give broadcasters the ability to secure equipment, optimize resources, facilitate collaborative workflows, and eliminate distractions from noise, heat emissions and cramped workspaces — so they can stay focused on what matters. With the ability to extend 4Kp60 4:4:4 and up to quad 1080p60 4:4:4 video support over a one Gigabit Ethernet network — at the industry’s lowest bitrates — Extio 3 IP KVM extenders offer broadcast environments with a best-in-class KVM extension and switching solution. Working with standard COTS network switches, Extio 3 enables a scalable and cost-effective KVM matrix solution over IP.
BROADCAST CONTROL ROOMS Extio 3 IP KVMs enable the physical machines to be moved from the control rooms and relocated to a secure server room, enabling operators in adjacent control rooms or off-site facilities to access any number of workstations or servers over LAN, WAN or internet. With Extio 3’s Aggregator Mode, users can also access up to four systems simultaneously, and switch between sources with just a single keyboard and mouse. Extio 3’s Tile View feature, available in Aggregator Mode, equips users with advanced multi-system control by extending and displaying up to four FHD systems on a single FHD or 4K display. This enables the operators to view the content they want on multiple displays and instantly switch between shoots or segments, for example. OB VANS Extio 3 IP KVMs maximize the limited operational space in OB vans, enabling the workstations to be centralized in a server rack on the truck. From a single desk, outfitted with a dual-display or quad-display setup, and operated with a single keyboard and mouse, users can access multiple remote workstations, reducing the peripherals required at a station. Since an Extio 3 IP KVM setup can support one-to-many and many-to-many configurations, operators can rapidly access and switch between various functions — recording devices, production switchers and replay systems — all from one desk.
POST PRODUCTION Extio 3 IP KVMs allow computers to be centralized in a secured server room and out of the editors’ way. From a single bay, editors can access and control multiple remote computers, no matter if they’re located in another room, building or city.
https://www.matrox.com/en/video/products/kvm-extenders/extio-3-series
52 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Matrox Video Matrox Monarch EDGE REMI Encoders & Decoders Matrox Monarch EDGE 4K/multi-HD encoders and decoders are purpose-built remote production (REMI) solutions that enable broadcasters and live production operators to create more multichannel, 4:2:2 10bit quality, exceptionally low-latency video content — with less equipment, less staff and fewer financial resources. Key benefits: • Produce multiangle live events at any remote location via SRT, MPEG2 TS or RTSP • Facilitate seamless interaction between remote and in-studio personnel with high-quality, low latency audio, video and return feed transport • Support a wide range of REMI productions with 12 GSDI and ST 2110 over 25 GbE network connectivity • Keep signals in synch in any broadcast environment with genlock support • Facilitate bidirectional communication between on-site camera operators and in-studio personnel with the tally and talkback feature • Control and manage Monarch EDGE encoders and decoders from any location and device with an easytouse Web UI
importance, streams can be encoded up to 120 Mbps. Four inputs can be streamed at resolutions up to 1080p60, or one input at 2160p60 using the High 4:2:2 H.264 encoding profile. 3) Exceptionally low latency: In live environments, high signal transport latencies are detrimental to remote production (REMI) quality. With “glass-to-glass” latencies as low as 100ms between video input at encoder and video output at the decoder, Monarch EDGE achieves some of the lowest latencies on the market while using standard 1 GbE networks. 4) Keep it in-sync: All channels encoded by Monarch EDGE will be locked to a single clock, and the streams generated will have timestamps to allow the Monarch EDGE decoder to realign the streams at output. For the very best results, the cameras feeding the encoder should be genlocked together to ensure each frame is captured in phase. 5) Flexible protocols: On closed networks, MPEG-2 TS or RTSP streams can be selected for delivery. For cloud-based destinations, or when the network is congested, SRT may be more appropriate. SRT is a new open-source format that provides the reliability of RTMP, while reducing latency, for use on open networks. SRT streams can also be encrypted if security is a concern. 6) Simple, easy-to-use tally and talkback: The Monarch EDGE remote production (REMI) encoder and decoder pair provides the transfer of tally signals and talkback channels to facilitate bidirectional communication between on-site camera operators and in-studio personnel. Eight tally signals can be sent from the production switcher to the decoder, which transfers these signals to the encoder for output to the cameras.
1) Big productions, small footprint: Easily produce multi-angle live events by extending the production studio to any remote location with a network connection. Monarch EDGE can encode up to four camera feeds from HD or 3G-SDI sources. When an in-studio 4K production requires a remote feed, Monarch EDGE can accept either 4K signals over 12G-SDI, or a quad 3G-SDI to deliver a full-4K stream. 2) Built for high-quality 10-bit H.264 encoding: The optimized H.264 engine powering Monarch EDGE keeps data rates exceptionally low without sacrificing quality. If quality is of the highest
https://www.matrox.com/en/video/products/encoders-decoders/monarch-edge-series/monarch-edge-remote-production
53 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER MediaKind MediaKind Engage From the largest media companies to smaller and niche players, broadcasters and content owners alike are finding it increasingly difficult to ensure cost efficiencies in monetizing their content when implementing brand new or operating existing direct-to-consumer (D2C) streaming platforms. All players operating within this highly competitive environment are continuously seeking innovative solutions to help them remain relevant and competitive in the market. MediaKind Engage is an end-toend media technology streaming platform and service designed to meet the needs of all sizes of service providers — from sports entities to broadcasters and content owners so that they can create and monetize compelling, high-quality live and on-demand video and data services. MediaKind Engage is based on MediaKind’s experience and expertise in delivering robust and resilient broadcast solutions. The company’s engineering and product teams have leveraged this knowledge to develop a cloud-native technology service that acts as a foundation for modern video workflows and applies directly to today’s market challenges in enabling streaming delivery and monetization. MediaKind Engage has five key foundational blocks: 1. Stability at Scale: MediaKind Engage handles all the fundamentals to provide broadcast-grade quality and availability, achieving reliability of scale by supporting peak loads — a prerequisite for streaming larger live events. 2. Access on Any Device: MediaKind Engage is designed to support fan engagement and interaction across any device, anywhere, anytime.
3. Service Reliability: MediaKind’s ethos is to embrace modern, agile, and DevOps models and act as an extension of its customers’ engineering and products teams. Engage is supported 24/7 by an operations team, enabling customers to choose the level of technical care they require to integrate with or enhance their own operations team. 4. Multi-Stream Management: The features included within MediaKind Engage supports ingesting multiple feeds to deliver content and event production in the cloud, coupled with low-latency streaming capabilities and the ability to synchronize multiple camera angles for the same event and insert time-synched data. Engage is an end-to-end solution for content providers looking to deliver multiple streams through a singular, user-friendly platform. 5. International Subscription Models: MediaKind Engage is offered through a monthly or yearly SaaS model — providing service providers with flexibility in choosing a service to deliver the highest quality of content and digital experiences at scale to millions of fans across the globe. Streaming service providers also have additional flexibility to find cost efficiencies through cloud operation modelling and deployment as a benefit of MediaKind Engage’s Managed Cloud Application (MCA) offering. In order to ensure consumers are receiving the best quality content and viewing experience possible, MediaKind Engage includes integrated elements of the workflow from market leaders in the market for consumer engagement and playout. This design enables service providers to meet the demands for high-volume, high-quality video and media services.
https://www.mediakind.com/consumer-experience/direct-to-consumer/
54 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Net Insight IP Media Trust Boundary Content creation and delivery is moving to IP. The move to IP introduces a universally standard way of communicating between any type of device or application. When we need the internet, we use IP; when it is time to access cloud-based services, we use IP; when there is a 5G access point available, you guessed it, we use IP. For our technology driven society, we now have a common communications language. What does this mean for the media industry now that we have a standard and completely open way of communication? The initial experience says that IP brings with it a lot of new technologies to understand and that introducing IP is truly disruptive, both in positive and negative ways. We now have an agreed way to connect everything to everything else and this means balancing new capabilities with new responsibilities. The introduction of return channel communication and the proliferation of IP as a standard way of achieving this has unlocked transformative innovations such as REMI/Remote Production. We shouldn’t underestimate how much remote working is now the normal way of working. As the media technology community we are simultaneously leading and following other industries during a time of great change. Part of this change process, in particular around the introduction of IP, are new challenges that we have never faced before. First among the challenges that we have all learned about or will soon undertake is the introduction of IP into mission-critical media operations. Safely and responsibly managing the
capabilities of IP to allow everything to communicate with everything else is the difference between a cost-effective, resilient and flexible organization and an organization that is trapped within a prison of technically limited solutions with the inability to respond to change. Even for well-policed networks, it means that an organization risks catastrophic outages on their IP network at any moment. All that is needed for this to happen is a malfunctioning device or application or even for a human error to introduce an accidental misconfiguration. This happens all the time. The answer to this challenge is to simply divide the media organizations IP media network into strictly controlled, monitored and isolated IP domains without breaking the flexibility and scale that IP offers. By allowing for one IP network to communicate with another IP network while eliminating the risk of catastrophic or service impacting events occurring, we can help to accelerate the full scale adoption of IP. Net Insight has long been a leader in managing IP network separation, with hundreds of networks the world over using our IP Media network overlay technologies. We now introduce something completely new for the media industry, something tailored to processing IP Media workflows without any of the complexity or risks associated with an open IP network policy. Net Insight’s all new IP Media Proxy application is called IP Media Trust Boundary and is deployed by IP Media service providers and IP-based content creation facilities around the world.
https://netinsight.net/resource-center/blogs/trust-is-the-currency-of-the-ip-world/
55 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
NPAW and 3SS Insights-Driven Personalized User Retention Solution 3SS and NPAW have created a new data-fuelled customer intelligence platform to prevent churn and enhance revenues. Insights-Driven Personalized User Retention Solution is a highly automated, analytics-powered user experience (UX) optimization platform featuring actionable user insights. For the first time, operators can strengthen subscriber loyalty by generating customized and timely retention tactics within a dynamically personalized UX, using real-time satisfaction metrics. The platform combines the ability to capture and interpret UX data with nimble UX personalization capability, thanks to 3Ready, 3SS’ UX Framework. Independent of player and backend, the operator can deploy informed, customer- and device-specific marketing and subscriber relationship campaigns optimized to nurture satisfaction and loyalty, thereby safeguarding revenues. Simultaneously, the platform reduces customer support and retention costs, limiting potentially sizeable, yet often fruitless, expenditure on win-back tactics. The solution provides a holistic understanding of what each customer has been experiencing and automatically bridges the knowledge gap between provider and subscriber. The operator gets a far clearer and earlier awareness of how the customer feels about the service. If a subscriber has had an unsatisfying experience, when the operator typically becomes aware of it, it may already be too late to say “Sorry.” When a subscriber considers churning, whether or not the service’s shortcoming was within the operator’s control, perception is damaged; Any customer care measures might simply be too little, too late, and ultimately a waste of time and money. This solution flags churn risk early and automatically triggers mitigating measures to positively influence users’ decision-making. When these measures are informed, tailored and made attractive based on real-time analytics, there’s a far greater chance of retaining the customer. For example, the user base can be categorized by level of churn risk. This attribute can be assessed using a metric
derived from the number of service and/or experience quality problems — typically playback issues like buffering, sluggish zapping, etc., which a subscriber experiences over time. This “experience quality” metric is then paired with usage data. The result is a churn probability assessment. With this information, the operator can take action to try to prevent the viewer from unsubscribing. The operator can present the customer with retention measures in a highly personalized experience, which can be tailored in real time for viewing on any device. Therefore retention measures are more likely to succeed. Operators can manage and adjust all user apps in a seamless way. App functions, including look and feel, and the retention offers, are all managed in one unified hub (3Ready Control Center). Therefore, optimizing the UX for any device is highly efficient and seamless. Super-aggregators overcome the challenge of comprehensively understanding customer experiences across each item in their ever-expanding content portfolios. Automation and A/B testing capabilities empower the operator to experiment with new features, offers, optimizing the whole service continuously. With holistic customer understanding, service quality analytics, granular usage data, real-time awareness of each user’s satisfaction, and experience management capability, the operator rapidly knows what’s needed to galvanize the subscriber relationship and has the tools to make it happen.
https://www.npaw.com
56 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Quantum Corp. Quantum H4000 Essential Last year, Quantum introduced the Quantum H4000 — a high-performance, converged storage platform designed to make it faster to deploy complete StorNext shared storage environments for video data storage, management and collaboration for the world’s leading brands and content producers. Yet Quantum’s vision is to help enable creative teams of all sizes with the same proven, highly reliable content production tools. Fast-moving, independent content teams in agencies, corporate media production and content curators and aggregators worldwide demand the same professional tools — in a system that is fast to deploy, and helps these teams harness their creative vision and keep their projects on track. To meet this need, Quantum is building on the award-winning H4000 platform further with the launch of the Quantum H4000 Essential — a thoughtfully integrated solution of Quantum CatDV asset management and team-based collaboration and shared storage — and making it available at an entry-level price point and using simple, form-based setup. The new solution can be set up in minutes, and with pre-built content cataloguing, proxy generation workflows get teams up and running quickly as well. The Quantum H4000 Essential combines these to provide a technology solution tailor-made to the needs of small, independent creative teams. Content is fiercely in demand, and while that offers great opportunity to small and independent creators, they need technology to support a growing workload and changing nature of creative teams that are more often working remotely but need to collaborate in real time. With the Quantum H4000 Essential, teams can collaborate on productions in their facility or remotely on the same video files and meet their production timeline no matter their location. These capabilities were previously only available at the size and cost large production houses could accommodate. But the Quantum H4000 Essential empowers small creators with those same tools and a streamlined end-user experience designed to operate without the support of an IT department — all at an
accessible cost. Features that help this product support small-to-medium creative teams include: • StorNext collaborative shared storage systems of starting at either 48 TB or 96 TB of raw storage, expandable up to 384 TB • Quantum CatDV pre-installed and pre-configured for use by up to 10 named users, including use of Adobe Premiere Pro CatDV Panel • 25 GbE networking connection to customer networks • Unified StorNext and CatDV account creation with StorNext-powered SMB storage volume sharing • Automatic content ingest, metadata extraction, proxy, thumbnail and filmstrip creation • Automatic content cataloging and indexing based on folder structure, made immediately available to all users • Highly efficient StorNext and CatDV integration to avoid file system polling that can impact performance • Available archiving plug-ins for Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, or choice of S3-compatible storage
https://www.quantum.com/
57 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
SmallHD 27-Inch 4K OLED Reference Monitor The SmallHD 27-inch 4K OLED Reference Monitor is a bigger, brighter OLED solution that generates the true life color accuracy that OLED is known for. It features a wide viewing angle with up to 550nits of brightness, a > 1,000,000:1 ultra-high contrast ratio with an absolute black point, 110% DCI-P3/135% Rec. 709 color gamut coverage, and 12.3 stops of dynamic range, making it just as capable for on-set HDR preview as it is for in-suite color grading. Thanks to PageOS, users gain easier access to a diverse and customizable array of curated exposure tools and workflows for enhanced production functionality. With intuitive and simple functionality and speed, PageOS supports a streamlined color-calibration experience with Monitor Calibration Wizard and Color Pipe, a rendering tool that accurately converts log formats into SDR and HDR. PageOS includes upgraded user page presets, HDR (PQ) waveforms, improved false color and Dual and Quad-View. With a screen size of 26.9 inches/68.3cm and 3840 x 2160 resolution the calibrated OLED screen is housed in a rugged, elegantly milled-aluminum unibody Smart chassis with ample mounting points along the top and sides. Yet it weighs just 14 pounds/6.35 kg complete with handle and feet. SmallHD OLED's hardware design is built around Small4K™ Video Processing Architecture, which provides a bounty of input and output options including: four 12G-SGI inputs/outputs and and HDMI 2.0 input/output. The built-in Dovetail mounting rail provides simple battery and accessory attachment with interchangeable mounting points. Two two-pin accessory power outputs add power flexibility. In addition SmallHD includes two hot-swap-
pable power inputs — one three-pin XLR and a Dual-GM/VM Battery Plate (sold separately). While the portability and flexibility of this monitor sets it apart, the primary advancement offered by the OLED 27 is its incredibly bright 550nit screen, because most OLED displays are around 100–300 nits of brightness. This extra brightness offers an accurate HDR preview on set. This preview allows clients and directors on set to see what the images they are capturing will look like in post, eliminating surprises that could require reshoots. Not only that, but with the incredible color accuracy of the OLED 27, the same monitor can also be used in post to finish the project. It offers an on-set and in-post confidence that has been missing for creators shooting HDR content.
https://www.smallhd.com
58 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER SSIMWAVE SSIMPLUS® Video Quality Dial Current content delivery workflows do not offer any control over viewer experience. As a result, subscribers are often disappointed with viewer experience or workflows overshoot viewer experience resulting in a waste of resources. Video experience automation is required to achieve complete control over experience in a scalable fashion. SSIMPLUS® VQ Dial is built to achieve exactly that. Using the Emmy® Award-winning SSIMPLUS® family of algorithms, SSIMPLUS® VQ Dial drives content encoding infrastructure to achieve target video quality consistently without wasted bits, resulting in greater consumer satisfaction and a reduction in delivery costs of up to 50% (approximately $20 million in savings for mid-sized D2C platforms) when compared to content-aware encoding approaches. To see the possible cost savings, our savings calculator (https:// www.ssimwave.com/savings-calculator/) helps transfer bitrate reduction to delivery savings. Applications for VQ Dial include: • Adaptation of encoding bitrate for targeted visual quality and content attributes, such as resolution. • Encoding optimization reduces delivery costs by up to 50% when compared to content-aware encoding approaches, equating to savings of millions of dollars for providers with five million subscribers. • Delivery of consistent quality by adapting encoding behavior to the content, encoding performance and display devices. • Reduction of rebuffering events by 50% and a decrease in video start times of 10%.
complex content, while achieving improved viewer experience as set by a user. The product is uniquely positioned to adapt encoding behavior based on source quality and targeted display devices. The ability to create Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) ladders that are optimized for content attributes, such as resolution and framerate, for each rung provide readily noticeable viewer experience improvements when content delivery is heavily constrained. An accurate perceptual quality metric, that can measure viewer experience at any point in a workflow, supports all content attributes including high dynamic range and works uniformly across all content types, such as animation and sports content. SSIMPLUS® is the only metric that fits the bill. SSIMPLUS® family of algorithms replicates the human video experience and closely correlates with Mean Opinion Scores. In 2020, SSIMWAVE received a Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for work in the Development of Perceptual Metrics for Video Encoding Optimization for its work on SSIMPLUS®. The role of SSIMPLUS® in enabling the development of massive processing optimized compression Technologies at Disney Streaming Services is recognized in this post: https://www.linkedin.com/ posts/scottlabrozzi_disneys-2020-technology-and-engineering-activity-6767223821717004288-cvvg.
VQ Dial can be deployed across all public cloud platforms to drive cloud-based encoders to achieve the target viewer experience, set by users, in an automated manner. The product supports all commonly used encoders, including AWS MediaConvert, Bitmovin, Google Transcoder, x264 and x265. All of the underlying capabilities of an encoder are leveraged to achieve the target experience while meeting content decoding, delivery and playback constraints. Real-world deployments typically achieve 60% savings for simple content and 20% savings for
https://www.ssimwave.com/products/ssimplus-videoqualitydial/
59 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Sumolight SUMOMAX The high-output, SUMOMAX LED light offers a distinctive hexagonal design, high lumen output and modular form factor. Designed for verstility, it can perform as a keylight, hardlight, punchlight, spacelight or softlight. Powerful, Full Spectrum RGBWW: A more powerful extension to the SUMOSPACE+ line, the Sumolight engineering team built upon their previous success to create the 1,800–15,000K, 700W full-spectrum (RGBWW) SUMOMAX. Its streamlined, hexagonal profile measures 561 x 500 x 175mm/22.1 x 19.7 x 6.9 inches. When it comes to transport, a flat silhouette makes packing and shipping convenient. Modular Design: SUMOMAX's modular design offers considerable advantages when it comes to building light boxes, light walls or other arrays. Fixtures can be arranged honeycomb-style to create unique patterns or shapes to suit the job. For enhanced lighting creativity cells within the structure can be controlled as a group or individually. Connect for Unlimited Size Arrays: The unique SUMOSNAP™ one-click quick-release connecting system allows multiple fixtures to be safely and easily scaled into powerful unlimited size arrays. It provides a secure screw-free interface to truss systems, standard junior pins and grip hardware. A built-in 16mm spigot eases mounting. Versatile Output: Thanks to its “swoptic” module interchangeable optics, beams may be enhanced and directed from narrow 20° native to super wide 120° via clip-on optics. Intensity is fully-dimmable 100% to zero. Built-in effects include 0–30 Hz Shutter/Strobe and automated programs. SUMOMAX works with an array of light shaping tools that transform it from a spacelight to
softlight to a high intensity fixture. Flexible Control DMX/RDM, Ethernet, Wi-Fi: Each fixture comes with internal power supply, on-fixture touch display panel and DMX/RDM, Ethernet, Wi-Fi control ability. Its reliable design and build offers silent passive cooling. Safe for indoor or outdoor use, SUMOMAX is IP65-rated for maximum safety compliance regardless of conditions. SUMOMAX is designed and engineered to seamlessly integrate with the existing SUMOLIGHT family. Sumomax offers unmatched lumen output, with a truly homogenized light field, as compared to other LED fixtures in its size and weight class. Its extraordinarily high lumen output is achieved by a careful combination of precise optical arrangements and cutting-edge power technologies within the fixture, based on years of advanced research and development — all completely tested, fully compliant and under Sumolight's exclusive patents. It was designed from the ground up with only Sumolight's trademark simple-to-cluster shape, shared by the rest of the family. With 19 pixel map-ready zones to control (via console or media server), it is designed to be operated in tandem with VFX screens so using a high-quality LED light source to directly illuminate objects in view has never been easier. Sumomax enjoys high CRI/TM-30 levels and features a builtin touchscreen for local control (including each zone). Thanks to its native 20° optical system, which produces well over 20,000 lumens at 10 feet in any single colour, the output can be tailored by adjusting the native colorated color temperature from 1,800 kelvin up to 15,000 Kelvin — either enmasse or per one of the 19 zones.
https://www.sumolight.com
60 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Synamedia Synamedia’s Edge Content Delivery Network (CDN) OTT video delivery methods for large-scale audiences may vary in approach, but all network operators from pay-TV to streaming providers are equally focused on delivering to viewers the best video quality, new immersive experiences and delivery latencies similar to wired broadcast. In order to achieve this, operators need a high-performance streaming platform that optimizes localization of their content and isolates network issues in real time to deliver high throughput with low latency. Synamedia’s Edge CDN is a premium video delivery solution to any screen aimed to simplify the adoption of new BW-intense services, enable sophisticated user experiences by offloading origin servers load and moving traffic to the edge to gain efficiencies, automate operation, gain agility to drive new sources of income and ROI. Synamedia offers Internet Service Providers (ISP) the technologies needed to help control the traffic of engineering and network operations for video delivery to their customers. The Edge CDN solution enables the deployment of complete, scalable private CDN at the edges of the networks, whether it is fiber high-performance fixed networks or highly virtualized 5G mobile networks. The servers of the Edge CDN solution are close to the end-users, with better quality of service and ideal quality of experience. The long history of network excellence at Synamedia results in optimal components, notably for mapping the end-users to the best edge server in any configuration and any context. Edge CDN offers control to the administrators and features an artificial intelligence (AI) module to predict the main nest-hour CDN metrics in real time. From the prediction of traffic load, Edge CDN can scale “on-demand” to address viewers’ video quality expectations. The elasticity of Synamedia’s offering makes the delivery process more cost- and delivery-efficient. The infrastructure reacts to the prediction by directing servers to rev-up
or slow down in order to adjust to the expected traffic volume. The prediction also applies to the main CDN internal metrics to enhance the customizable real-time analytics and monitoring system. Any gap between the actual and expected performance can be analyzed in the range of preconfigured dashboard and report metrics for troubleshooting network anomalies. Furthermore, the Edge CDN solution is extensible. At Synamedia, we believe that a CDN goes beyond content delivery. Synamedia has a rich portfolio of products that can leverage the large-scale distributed infrastructure, which ingests millions of logs per second. As a data-intensive platform, Edge CDN makes it optimal to create services such as anti-piracy, credential sharing fraud detection, advertising monetization platform and business and market insights. Not all edge CDNs are created equal — Synamedia’s edge performance is the most efficient, configurable and scalable in the market. Its holistic ability to allow operators to scale, offer new services and experiences with fast ROI and low barriers to entry, helps simplify complexities associated with video delivery.
https://www.synamedia.com/video-solutions/video-network/video-delivery/
61 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Tedial smartWork — Cloud Native Media Integration Platform Tedial is transforming and redefining media business efficiency and technology approaches with the introduction of smartWork, a unique media integration platform that distills complex workflows into simplified processes. smartWork’s no-code architecture will revolutionize productivity for non-technical users, and because it follows Infrastructure as a Code (IaaC) it can be deployed on-premises, on any cloud or in a hybrid architecture for incredible flexibility. The game-changing technology will revolutionize the way media companies and content owners manage their media by speeding up the digital transformation with benefits that include unprecedented flexibility, seamless and effortless integrations, reduced costs, enhanced team collaboration, improved profitability, accelerated growth and dramatically shorter delivery times. smartWork democratizes business processes, empowering users to define integrations autonomously — without vendor participation — and create workflows in a flexible and agile manner. Aligned with Movielabs’ 2030 Vision for Media Creation, the platform removes time-consuming and complex configurations via a common User Interface that guarantees an optimal experience and easy access to all applications, external systems (including any legacy MAMs, PAMs and DAMs ensuring business continuity), and features self-validation. An easy-to-use toolset allows users to concentrate on creativity and make the data-driven decisions necessary to quickly adapt to market or supply changes. smartWork’s unique approach is built upon a common interface and a common data model so applications and systems are integrated within the platform as opposed to the platform integrated into the applications. This major change simplifies workflow design, as the workflows needn’t be aware of the specific APIs and the data models of each component making it simple to swap integrations within an existing workflow. In addi-
tion, a common workspace allows the applications to go to the media and not the media delivered to the applications, which is key. A media abstraction layer is added so that workflows are not dependent on physical locations (on premises/cloud) providing an extra security layer. Tedial has designed smartWork natively with microservices and kubernetes to provide future-proofing and scalability of both media operations and resources. Its easy-to-use, no-code editor enhances flexibility and minimizes operational risk with built-in complexity abstraction and visual tools. A quick dragand-drop tool enables anyone, even those without coding expertise or technical knowledge, to easily assemble and modify workflows, including integrations of external third-party systems, without vendor or specialist intervention. This leads to greater self-sufficiency and cost-savings and quick to market benefits for the organization.
https://www.tedial.com/blog/news/tedial-nab-2022-smartwork/
62 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Telemetrics Inc. reFrame Server Telemetrics, a pioneer in robotic camera control, is extending the flexibility and highly precise talent tracking of its artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted reFrame™ Automatic Shot Correction software to more cameras in a production studio or event space with the introduction of the new reFrame Server. At the 2022 NAB Show, Telemetrics demonstrated the new reFrame server, which allows multiple cameras to have talent tracking capability simultaneously. It also includes an improved UI to make reFrame software easier to set up and operate. New to reFrame this year is Ultra-Wide Band sensors that add a third layer of tracking to go with its proven facial and object tracking. This offers greatly improved accuracy when tracking people on camera. This serves as a real-time location or spatial awareness technology that has made reFrame the most accurate and reliable talent tracking software on the market. “With the new reFrame Sever, we’re now able to expand the functionality of the robotic camera control systems,” said Michael Cuomo, vice president of Telemetrics. “Having Talent tracking active on multiple cameras at the same time makes it even easier for operators to use control system.” Pre-loaded reFrame software comes standard on both Telemetrics STS (Studio) and LGS (Legislative) software for the RCCP-2A Robotic Camera Control Panel. The server takes the video sources directly from all of the cameras and automatically routes it to the appropriate camera so it can process the tracking data. This video can also be automatically routed to the server from the control panel. It also allows multiple RCCP systems to share the server, so users don’t need a server for every controller, saving them install time and money by not needing extra devices. The new reFrame Server is also ideally suited to remote production, whereby the server is situated at the remote site and multiple RCCP systems can connect to that server from production facilities located anywhere in the world. In this way the server does all of the processing locally without the inherent latency or network delays of similar workflows. While back at the main product facility, the operator uses the RCCP to instruct the server to switch to different profiles.
reFrame™ Server
reFrame® Server
Simultaneously Serves Multiple reFrame™ Capable Cameras The new reFrame server is now shipping (it’s already in the hands of a few customers) and can be ordered as a new product or as an add-on to existing compatible robotics systems.
https://www.telemetricsinc.com/controllers/
63 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Telestream Stanza Stanza is ground-breaking, new, high-quality captioning and subtitling software from Telestream. With Stanza, companies of all sizes, as well as independent transcriptionists, can now create and edit broadcast-grade, high-quality captions and subtitles more efficiently and more costeffectively than ever before. Stanza provides a low-cost entry point for organizations requiring high-end captioning capabilities by offering a subscription-based OPEX business model. With Stanza, large media files no longer need to be downloaded or moved across a local area network, nor do proxies need to be created to work on captioning projects. Recently put to the test at the Beijing Winter Games, the client-server deployment model of Stanza allows captioning editors to work from any location from a simple browser-based editing console, regardless of where media files are stored. Remote workflows are made possible by utilizing the powerful, built-in, Telestream GLIM playback engine, built to play back original high-res files instantly without any need to create proxies or transfer huge media files prior to getting to work. As such, Stanza represents the future of all closed-captioning and subtitling workflows. With its built-in access to Telestream Cloud Timed Text Speech auto-transcription and integration with Vantage and Timed Text Flip transcoding and processing, Stanza also represents a powerful new way to automate more of the caption creation process. Stanza is built upon the Telestream Media Framework, the
same technology that underpins several Telestream products and services such as the Vantage Media Processing Platform and Telestream Cloud Transform. The Media Framework includes format and container support developed from more than 20 years of experience, having been tested in some of the most challenging broadcast use cases around the world. For organizations seeking broadcast-grade captioning and subtitling software that don’t want to spend capital acquiring permanent licenses, Stanza is the solution. Why does Stanza deserve to be recognized? Closed captioning is required by law and can represent a significant expense. Telestream's Stanza makes it possible for captioning editors to work remotely, without having to download large media files or create proxies. We believe all captioning will be done like this going forward!
https://www.telestream.net/captioning/stanza.htm
64 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Telestream Wirecast Gear 3 Supporting up to 4K60 streaming workflows, Wirecast Gear 3 is the latest generation of the company’s award-winning live video streaming and production hardware. Powerful and portable, Wirecast Gear 3 was designed for video streaming specialists who want a pre-configured turnkey solution for producing and streaming live video content, without compromise, in a single package. We believe that Wirecast Gear 3 is the most powerful 4K streaming device in its price range. It includes everything needed to broadcast professional HD or 4K content. Specifically, the Gear 3 4K SDI configuration is the only fully integrated 4K60 SDI streaming box available on the market under $10,000. Built for the demanding needs of corporate environments and marketing as well as sports, news, education and training and houses of worship, Wirecast Gear 3 enables live event producers to focus on production and streaming instead of worrying about hardware system compatibility, configuration and integration. Supporting up to 1080p HD or 4K resolutions, Wirecast Gear comes pre-installed with Telestream’s multiple award-winning Wirecast Pro 15 software. It also includes NDI input/output, PTZ camera control, pro audio effects, ISO recording and Telestream Switch Player software for quality control and inspection. Using customizable graphics, templates, stock video and audio media, and moderated social media comment overlays, users can create uniquely branded shows quickly and stream to popular destinations such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and many more. The system comes ready to stream out of the box ensuring that anyone can become a live-streaming professional.
All models run cooler, quieter and 66% more efficiently than previous generation Gear hardware. Key components include: • AMD Ryzen 5 6-core/12 thread CPU • NVIDIA Quadro GPU for acceleration and encoding • 16 GB of RAM • 250 GB NVMe M.2 system SSD system drive • 1 TB SATA3 SSD storage drive • 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 • NDI I/O • 2-ch line In/Out, Mic In/Out audio • 9 USB 3.1 connectors for additional audio/video source flexibility • Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC OS • Compact, portable 2RU form factor Why does Wirecast Gear 3 deserve Best in Show recognition? Simply put, Wirecast Gear 3 takes the guesswork out of configuring a bullet-proof streaming system from scratch for non-technical-minded streaming pros who want to concentrate on production quality and streaming, not what’s under the hood. There’s a lot of knowledge required to successfully building such a system in how the CPU, GPU, RAM and storage are load-balanced to provide live graphics, audio and video from multiple sources all while encoding an output stream(s) at the same time! Making it portable and affordable is further icing on the cake!
Hardware Highlights Wirecast Gear 3 hardware was designed to handle the rigors of live streaming production and is available in four models that vary by max resolution and input configuration: • Wirecast Gear 3 HD-HDMI • Wirecast Gear 3 HD-SDI • Wirecast Gear 3 4K-HDMI • Wirecast Gear 3 4K-SDI
https://www.telestream.net/wirecastgear/overview.htm
65 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Teradek Prism Flex Prism Flex is an encoder/decoder for low latency, 4K HDR, point-to-point streaming video. Designed for mission-critical IP video transport workflows, it is used by top brands like NASA, Netflix, NBCUniversal, BBC and USA Today for secure IP video delivery. Like its predecessor, the Cube, Prism Flex packs a ton of functionality into a tiny package — delivering secure, reliable, low-latency streaming with a wide variety of transport protocols. With a compact form and low power-draw, Prism Flex streams stunning 4K, 10-bit, 4:2:2 color-accurate video with 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 I/O, so its easy to integrate into any live production workspace and workflow. With on-board recording and store and forward functionality, it is the perfect complement to remote collaboration workflows. And, Prism Flex gives users secure monitoring options for viewing their streaming content with latency over WAN as low as 300ms on AppleTV, Mac OS and iOS devices. It provides color-accurate 4K HDR video streaming in AVC or HEVC. With 10-bit, 4:2:2 support, Prism Flex delivers the highest quality streaming video for broadcast and production workflows. Pairing with Teradek’s Core cloud platform transforms Prism Flex into an IP video powerhouse — allowing users to remotely collaborate, manage, archive, monitor and distribute their streams to any and all destinations simultaneously. Prism Flex features and benefits when used with Teradek's Core Cloud Platform include: • Multi-streaming: Sends streams to multiple destinations simultaneously • Point-to-point streaming: As well as to Facebook and Youtube • Network Bonding: Avoids mid-stream drops and bonds several internet connections together. • Archiving: Saves on storage and keeps content in the cloud • Transcoding: Transcodes video to AVC before sending it out to CDNs • Remote Management: Manages codec from anywhere • Store and Forward: Records and uploads files in chunks for efficient delivery
grow at a high demand. Prism Flex represents the modern evolution of the hardware and cloud connectivity needed to meet live production needs. Prism flex is an accessible 4K HDR streaming platform that can be easily scaled from independent content producers to enterprise business organizations. But image quality alone won’t cut it. The fail points of streaming still exist, that’s why Prism Flex is loaded with modernized functionality that is typically found in expensive encoders. Network bonding for streaming in highly congested environments and events, 5.1 Surround Sound to support advanced audio reproduction, HEVC encoding for bandwidth optimization, cloud connectivity for security and evolving streaming demands and ease of use. To illustrate the operation of the technology: Producing a live stream of the latest rocket launch, a Prism Flex encoder would be sitting at the remote production studio in Texas. All 4K HDR camera feeds are piped into the main switcher. The program output is then connected via 12G-SDI into the Prism Flex. Prism Flex transmits a low-latency video signal over the public internet to Teradek’s cloud ecosystem that distributes the show out Facebook Live, Youtube Live and the companies website to receive more than 1,000,000 views.
The trend towards 4K HDR content streaming continues to
http://tdek.co/prismflex-launch-pr
66 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
TitanTV Inc. MediaStar 4 — Direct Data Reporting MediaStar 4 is the ultimate program schedule management tool, providing the flexibility and control needed to maintain TV station's program schedules (OTA, OTT, live streaming and NextGen TV) from anywhere. This tool helps to streamline their operation and ensures they are upto-date with the latest technology. Advancement of MediaStar: With its integrated suite of powerful tools, MediaStar 4 streamlines a station’s efficiency and eliminates redundant, time-consuming data entry. Manage program schedules, program listing data and generate reports from a single web-based platform. One such powerful feature in MediaStar 4 is Direct Data Reporting (DDR). With this new reporting function, a station’s schedule data can be collected and exported to the major data services in a single, seamless operation. It is no longer necessary for a station to gather its data, convert it into a file format recognized by the data service provider, then manually send that file to that provider. The collection, formatting and transmitting of the data is handled automatically by the new function. The data created by DDR is exported in a format that can be ingested and processed by the data services Red Bee/FYI, Gracenote and TV Media (with the goal of Tivo coming later this year). In addition to saving time and effort eliminating duplicated steps for each data provider, DDR eliminates the keying errors that could occur in the collection of the data and the conversion of it into the appropriate format for your chosen service. MediaStar 4 answers market need for accurate guide data: In
a broadcast station group central command hub, a small staff is responsible for maintaining the schedules for many stations. This could mean dozens of stations to create, edit and report on each of the stations’ schedules. The tedious work of creating weekly/monthly program schedule reports either as PDFs or spreadsheets, then sending them via email to the four major data providers takes time and effort. Then once the reports arrive at each of the individual data providers, an editor is either copying and pasting, or manually typing the schedule/programs into their system. Many times the editor misses changes on the PDF/spreadsheet and the change is not updated in their system. We have seen this issue grow as stations are able to add on additional channels, from digitnets to linear OTT to NextGen channels. On top of that the station employees are expected to do more as the labor shortage becomes a bigger issue. Direct Data Reporting in MediaStar 4 solves this issue. The collection, formatting, and transmitting of the data is handled automatically by the new function. The data created by DDR is exported in a format that can be ingested and processed by the data services. In addition to saving time and effort eliminating duplicated steps for each data provider, DDR eliminates the keying errors that could occur in the collection of the data and the conversion of it into the appropriate format for your chosen service. Video: How stations currently sends reports vs DDR in MediaStar 4: https://youtu.be/kez1zEiTXkc
https://www.titantvinc.com/broadcast-software/mediastar-suite/mediastar-scheduler/
67 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Triveni Digital StreamScope® XM Monitor ATSC 3.0 deployments are accelerating in the U.S. Today, ATSC 3.0 is broadcasting in more than 40 markets covering 45% of the U.S. population, opening a variety of new revenue streams for broadcasters. However, the complexity of the new broadcast environment requires advanced video, audio and metadata monitoring tools. Broadcasters need to be able to quickly detect, isolate and resolve issues with the complex new broadcast technology. Triveni Digital’s ATSC 3.0 StreamScope® XM Monitor is a critical new tool for broadcasters operating in the NextGen TV environment. The ATSC 3.0 professional monitoring, auditing and logging system plays a pivotal role in delivering a high quality of service for NextGen TV while increasing operational efficiencies for broadcasters. With Triveni Digital’s ATSC 3.0 StreamScope XM Monitor, broadcasters can monitor ATSC 3.0 streams in real time via a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to identify quality of service issues. The monitor assures a high quality of service by leveraging the following innovative features: • Advanced analysis: Similar to Triveni Digital’s industry-leading StreamScope XM Analyzer and other StreamScope XM products, the new StreamScope XM Monitor is built on the company’s field-proven, advanced ATSC 3.0 analysis engine to minimize mean time to repair. • Real-time monitoring: The monitor performs advanced, real-time monitoring of ATSC 3.0 streams, and allows broadcasters to create rules-based notifications to pinpoint and rapidly troubleshoot NextGen TV service quality issues for optimal viewing experiences. • Cutting-edge data integrity: Using data integrity capabilities on the StreamScope XM Monitor, broadcasters can ensure accurate delivery of broadcast applications and datacasting content, which is a key revenue generator for broadcasters in the ATSC 3.0 environment. • Long-term monitoring and reporting: Using the StreamScope XM Monitor, broadcasters can streamline postmortem analy-
sis, ensuring an exceptional service quality in the NextGen TV environment. • Critical auditing capabilities: Through the solution’s auditing capabilities, broadcasters can ensure compliance with key industry regulations including, closed captioning, audio loudness and the Emergency Alert System. The monitor offers seamless integration with Triveni Digital’s StreamScope XM Analyzer, StreamScope XM Dashboard and StreamScope Enterprise. By connecting to Triveni Digital’s StreamScope Enterprise centralized software solution, the system allows for customizable dashboards and enterprise-wide visibility into ATSC 3.0 service assurance issues for broadcasters to detect, isolate and resolve problems quickly. Triveni Digital’s new StreamScope XM Monitor deserves to win this award for streamlining NextGen TV operations while enabling broadcasters to provide an outstanding quality of service through state-of-the-art monitoring, reporting, analysis, rules and auditing capabilities. As a complete solution for professional monitoring, auditing and logging, the new StreamScope XM Monitor is empowering broadcasters to deliver a more exciting television experience to viewers.
http://trivenidigital.com/products/streamscope-video-quality-monitoring-solutions.php
68 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
TV Pro Gear Digital Cinema Flypack Designed for directors and directors of photography who want the digital cinema effect of large sensor cameras with the functionality of traditional studio cameras, the TV Pro Gear Digital Cinema Flypack is built upon the company’s Generation-5 flypack. The system is ideal for 4K/8K recording and streaming of live events, such as concerts, worship services, government initiatives, conferences, sports and esports, among many other applications. The Digital Cinema Flypack is available for both rental and purchase and can be equipped with up to eight cameras. The DCFP uses MultiDyne Silverback 4K/UHD fiber camera backs with standard SMPTE/LEMO hybrid fiber cable that feeds camera control units (CCUs) mounted in the flypack. TV Pro Gear’s Digital Cinema Flypack works with any of the digital cinema cameras from ARRI, Sony, Panasonic, RED and Canon. The MultiDyne CCUs in the flypack connect to remote operation panels, which enable operators to adjust camera exposure, white/black/color balance, and more. Remote camera painting is enabled by the Skaarhoj ROP (Universal Remote Operating Panel). Additionally, the SMPTE/LEMO cables carry power to the cameras, as well as timecode, intercom, return video and uncompressed 4K/8K video to the flypack, where the signal is routed to an 8K ATEM Constellation switcher with 40 inputs, 24 outputs and four mix/effects banks. Other functions and components featured in the DCFP include up to six 4K or 8K recorders with quality/confidence monitoring, up/down/cross conversion and audio embedding/ de-embedding on all switcher inputs, and accurate Waveform and vector monitoring for shaders. A Midas 40-input audio mixer uses Dante to connect to a 32-input Midas digital audio stagebox. Sound is monitored via Genelec nearfield audio monitors/speakers. The system includes a NewBlue Fusion 4K 12G-SDI title/graphics generator with an unlimited number of channels. Instant
replay and slow motion are optional. Internet streaming is handled by a proprietary HEVC encoding and RTMP transmission device. The flypack also features Sennheiser EW500 G4 Wireless Microphone transmitters and receivers. Lectrosonics wireless IFB transmitters and receivers are used for cueing talent. For intercom, customers can specify RTS, Clear-Com or Riedel. Drawing less than 10 amps, TVPG flypacks can run on any standard power outlet, are auto switchable between 120/V 60 Hz and 240V 50 Hz, and automatically switch to backup battery in the event of power loss. All TV Pro Gear flypacks are fabricated from aircraft-quality steel, aluminum and carbon fiber.
http://www.tvprogear.com/
69 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER TVU Networks TVU Channel TVU Channel is the revolutionary pay-asyou-go cloud native service that upends traditional playout. It doesn’t operate on customary infrastructure, which can be both expensive and complicated. Instead, TVU Channel is completely cloud native and can be deployed in minutes to schedule and manage one or hundreds of live content channels including OTT, websites, apps and social media. There is also no complicated licensing or configuration needed in order to start using it. It’s intuitive user interface design borrows from familiar web-based calendars making it quick to get started and easy to use. Channel operates continuously 24/7 with no downtime or scheduled interruptions required making it the perfect answer as a redundancy playout platform. TVU Channel supports LIVE and pre-recorded/pre-programmed content with full SCTE support. TVU Channel also supports Free Ad Supported TV (FAST), providing the ability to create robust revenue streams by fully monetizing all program channels. With TVU's ad sales service, a broadcaster can sell none, some or all of its ads on Channel. Channel offers single-click playout features including the following: • Ability to break-in live video or switch programs instantly at any time. • Breaking news auto-recording. • Ability to schedule or manually insert graphic overlays. • Output Electronic Program Guides. • Instant on or scheduled Ticker/Crawl. • Program interrupt for instant changes.
commercial programs. Channel provides full Integration with PAM and MAM for easy content and metadata transition from major PAM, MAM and editing tools into playlists. With secure user access, TVU Channel provides full control over the management of permission levels by individual users to schedule and operate channels. TVU Channel works with the entire portfolio of TVU solutions and other edge devices for the ingest of live content via SDI/ SMPTE 2110/NDI as well as output for traditional linear channel use cases. A detailed video explanation of TVU Channel setup, features and functions is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E34Py1EAVMs.
TVU Channel is compatible with the most popular third-party scheduling platforms including BFX, Wide Orbit and other major
https://www.tvunetworks.com/products/tvu-channel/
70 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Vislink Technologies IQ StellarCam — High-Quality AI Sports Production The Stellar Camera is the latest addition to Vislink/Mobile Viewpoint’s artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automated sports production system — IQ Sports Producer. Sports fans have become accustomed to immersive and compelling content that comes from multicamera video productions that take them to the heart of the sporting action. While major Tier-1 events gain huge viewing audiences, the production cost is also high. For sports rightsholders with a portfolio of lower tier events, it has been challenging to fully monetize these portfolios due to financial constraints on this less widely consumed content, in part driven by a less compelling production. With the introduction of the high image quality Stellar Cam solution, the crystal-clear images deliver the clarity that viewers have come to expect from sporting events. The 4K image quality delivers sharp images, even when the AI system zooms within the video frame to closely track the action. Stellar Cam also allows the system to convey smooth game play with its 50/60 frames per second image capture support, enabling content to be delivered to high-quality consumer platforms. Through the integration of Stellar Cam into Mobile Viewpoint’s IQ Sports producer platform, AI-driven productions can be taken to a new level by delivering multicamera points of view, allowing the system to change the viewing perspective to track action across the field of play and focus on key elements within the arena, such as the goal area. The ability to switch camera angle and focus on specific areas enables the automated production to convey the pace and drama of the sporting action. Stellar Cam’s high image quality ensures accurate AI object recognition. The AI engine within IQ Sports Producer can now accurately differentiate between key on-pitch elements, such as separating players from referees, balls from heads, leading to accurate action tracking and delivering a production that tracks every twist and turn of the sporting gameplay. Content producers now have a new tool — an AI sports production system that delivers 4K resolution clarity, a high-quality lens and full 50 or 60 frames per second motion capture with accurate action tracking. With a deployment cost that is signif-
icantly lower than utilizing a full OB production team, Stellar Cam with IQ Sports Producer delivers a near Tier-1 viewing experience, now economically accessible to sub Tier-1 events and more compelling to view. Through a more engaging production, content owners can drive revenue streams on existing lower-tier events and increase viewing figures. Camera operators who may already be deployed to the event can be repurposed to capture additional content, such as sideline interviews with players and coaches, adding yet another dimension to the production. Content rightsholders who have an event portfolio that currently cannot be exploited due to manned OB events being non-financially viable, may now find that Stellar Cam feeding IQ Sports Producer opens up new revenue streams and new consumer deliver opportunities to drive viewer engagement.
https://www.iqvideosolutions.com/products/iqsportsproducer/
71 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER VoiceInteraction Audimus.Media Audimus.Media is a VoiceInteraction product for live, automatic closed captioning — accurate, reliable and without human interaction. Supported by proprietary technology, this software generates high-accuracy captions (≥95%) and delivers them with low-latency delays (2–4 secs). Providing closed captions 24/7 for complete news coverage, Audimus. Media ensures full compliance with legal obligations required by regulatory institutions, thus supporting television stations, VOD, OTT and OTA channels, streaming platforms and online meeting software to make content more accessible. This AI-driven real-time software combines state-of-the-art signal processing and automatic speech recognition. The software is supported by vast vocabularies and adaptation techniques and is managed by deep neural networks and machine-learning algorithms that result in a cost-effective solution to replace manual captioning workflows. It can identify speakers and detect transitions to increase captions’ readability and flow; as well as distinguish multiple spoken languages. This allows for live multilingual broadcasting, with automatic translation on top of produced captions, working on premises with no internet connection. As a global company, VoiceInteraction provides automatic closed captions in more than 30 languages. Constantly adapting to local pronunciations, idioms and other local speaking characteristics, VoiceInteraction’s language models maintain high-quality standards even in unanticipated situations, such as “Breaking News” scenarios, that also demand continuous captioning. The AI-driven models are refined daily, sourced from the network’s ongoing programming and statistical models from the web, instantly adding unusual names and terms relevant for the upcoming news cycle, supported
by standard “Newsroom Computer Systems” like NPS and MOS for integration. Responding to the specific needs of TV producers, Audimus.Media was designed and constantly updated with specialized technical features such as mute/unmute commands, GPIO integration, native captioning embedding into HD-SDI; restream HLS with WebVTT; MPEG-TS contribution with ST-2038/RD-11; clips with synchronized captions, and much more. With an intuitive web dashboard, Audimus.Media allows for a customized setup, control over every configured channel, access to specific features, event scheduling and the creation of new live, closed-captioning tasks. Audimus.Media is adaptable to multiple scenarios and supports a large array of inputs, including standard capture cards, analog sound cards or virtual devices, as well as streaming feeds. The output is equally streamlined by simplifying the overall process with native delivery integrations, supporting the majority of encoders and streaming APIs. These on-top integrations provide a broader degree of custom vocabulary control, expediting improvement and adaptability to every captioning scenario. The on-premises deployment is a defining feature of Audimus.Media — for reasons of security and data privacy, Audimus.Media is installed locally in the customer's data center without the need to access external networks, ensuring the lowest latency possible and giving complete control to the client. Ownership over our proprietary technology means that the underlying systems are constantly evolving, creating a self-sustainable cycle that guarantees a quality response in any environment. VoiceInteraction offers a lifetime license for unlimited captioning, allowing any TV station to comply with the highest accessibility standards with absolute confidence.
https://www.voiceinteraction.ai/platforms/audimus_media
72 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
VoiceInteraction Media Monitoring System Media Monitoring System (MMS) is a VoiceInteraction product that combines compliance and logging solutions with AI-driven analytics and metadata. Engineered for live content visualization and control, the platform assures Broadcast QoS, accessibility and regulatory protocol compliance, with immediate notifications from the real-time fault detection system. It also oversees and generates critical information regarding the client’s network and their competitors. View News information, Ratings, Commercial and other analytics — making it a powerful tool for boosting productivity in multiple departments. With customizable and responsive web-dashboards with multiplatform transcoding, it can be used as a standalone platform or integrated into existing workflows through a RESTful API. MMS records and stores broadcasts and streaming programs in a server for archive purposes or later use in repeat/deferred broadcasts, supporting SDI, ISDB-T, HDMI, ASI, RF, IP, TS, SMTPE 2022/2110; and other meaningful sources for OTA and OTT channels. Much more than a normal recording tool, it’s a platform able to do on-premises or distributed capture and storage of continuous media feeds. Our proprietary technology allows for a fully customizable alert center, providing a complete view of any QoS element, such as: Real-time capture feed status and TS monitoring (ETSI TR101.290); Loudness/LFKS logging (ATSC A/85 CALM Ac); Video and Audio QoS (No Broadcast Screen, Recording/Media Gaps or Missing Audio/Language Mismatch); Closed captions monitoring profiles and logging (608 and 708). Configurable with real-time notifications in-app, via email or instant messaging for specific users or teams, so they can act promptly and with full confidence. VoiceInteraction accumulated experience working closely
with broadcasters, as a provider of live automatic closed captioning. By understanding their needs, our platforms combine proprietary Speech Processing Technologies with AI algorithms for advanced features — our complete control over the technology allows us to design a platform that goes beyond ordinary compliance solutions. Thus, in addition to the automatic full-text transcription of each program, relevant and searchable metadata is generated. This broadcast content fingerprinting allows locating and select clips about a certain topic, monitor ad performance, keep track of music royalties and more. Observe new trends with a content-viewership correlation, Nielsen Ratings and Commercial Analytics for your own network and other market players. The platform generates and exports frame-accurate reports of meaningful metadata — Compliance reports, Ads, Viewership rates breakdown and other informative assessments. This information is available for every channel in the network or for multiple market locations. An integrated Multiviewer provides simultaneous access to live/VOD broadcasts for real-time 24/7 monitoring, all in the same dashboard. The generated content is set for integrations and on-top development, by exporting media in a wide array of transcoding formats for any audio or video stream. Stored media /assets can also be converted to HLS or MPEG-DASH formats for web or mobile visualization. Scalable and cost-effective, MMS serves many departments simultaneously. Engineers, producers, journalists, administrators, content creators and marketers can customize the content they want to visualize and use. MMS is available on-premises or remotely in desktop, iOS or Android.
https://www.voiceinteraction.ai/platforms/mms
73 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
x.news information technology gmbh x.news™ 3 x.news 3 is: A unique real-time information monitoring and tracking solution for newsmakers, corporations and public organizations. Our AI-embedded solution allows users to search across sources including: 1. Their “contracted“ Wires 2. Their “internal”/Archives, Image Libraries, MAMs 3. Their choice of social and communication sources (Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Facebook, Web/ WhatsApp, Line, Signal, email, etc.) 4. And our subscription-only-based repository of daily 2.5M articles aggregated 24/7 from over 170K global news sources.
The benefits are: 1. Up to 90% speed increase allowing the user to refocus on compelling storytelling a. AI-provided “Emerging trends/topics“ from users sources b. Send media files with one click from social, to the choice of production systems c. Spot story peaks with our Timeline analyzer 2. Follow more than one topic simultaneously and receive alerts on new story-relevant incoming news assets. 3. Collaborate within teams across the globe! (“The story can follow the sun.“) 4. Publish to: NRCS including Avid-iNews, Newsbridge, Octopus, Dalet-Galaxy, Ross, ENPS as well as Office365, Graphics System and MAMs with one click.
They can find any type of asset (text/audio/video/image), create their story and share or publish it straight to the target system from within one browser, anywhere on any internet connected device.
Please find the following links to two videos (1 and 2 minutes) for your further evaluation: https://youtu.be/Enon3RhoFu8 and https://youtu.be/-MHhAA84G_E
https://www.x-news.eu
74 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Zeiss ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance Lenses Controlled Flair ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance lenses is a set of seven high-end cinematography lenses with focal lengths of between 18 and 135 millimeters, all with a maximum aperture of T1.5. The lenses are based on the high-speed ZEISS Supreme Prime lens family with the added benefit of the new T*blue coating, which offers a distinctive look and consistent flares without any compromises. They are specially made to deliver stunning, consistent flares across all focal lengths that cinematographers can create at will. The new coating allows users to create flares in the right light without any losses in contrast or transmission. The eleven focal lengths include: 18mm, 21mm T1.5, 25mm T1.5, 29mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 40mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 65mm T.1.5, 85mm T1.5, 100mm T1.5 and 100mm T1.5. Compact, Lightweight, Full-Frame Coverage In addition to their flare characteristic, the new lenses offer all the benefits of the ZEISS Supreme Primes. Thanks to their image circle diameter of 46.3 millimeters, they cover the current large-format cinematography sensors and are compatible with the latest camera models, such as the Sony Venice 2, ARRI Alexa LF and Mini LF and RED Monstro. Moreover, they feature a front diameter of 95 millimeters with consistently positioned focus and aperture rings. On average they weigh about 3.3 pounds each. Although they are slighter warmer than Supreme primes, they pair well together.
Their Distinctive look Due to the recent popularity of the look of vintage glass, it was established that a main component was the look of lens flares, which has been eliminated in most modern glass. ZEISS engineering and marketing teams talked to cinematographers and experts, watched countless films, received feedback from around the world and finally defined the look they wanted to achieve. Instead of just uncoating elements they reworked their proprietary T* formula, which gave birth to the T* blue. For the final products they made sure that the resulting flares can be planned and reproduced as well as having the ability to maintain contrast and avoid transmission loss that one normally experiences with uncoated lens elements. This lens family answers the need for a matched set of lightweight, fast, prime focal length lenses offering the benefits of modern glass design, which covers today’s popular formats, yet brings back some of the more artistic “look” that became lost in optics of the digital era. That “look” is largely the controlled lens flare, which is uniquely found in Supreme Prime Radiance lenses.
Metadata The lenses are equipped with the ZEISS eXtended Data metadata technology, providing frame-by-frame data on lens vignetting and distortion in addition to the standard metadata provided using the Cooke /i technology1 protocol. This simplifies and speeds up workflows, particularly for VFX and virtual production. ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance also offer smooth depth of field and elegant bokeh, which makes them ideal for a multitude of uses.
https://www.zeiss.com/consumer-products/us/cinematography/supreme-prime-radiance-lenses.html
75 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Accedo Accedo One Accedo One is a powerful SaaS solution that enables global companies to deliver impactful video experiences across multiple devices. Thanks to an extensive marketplace of expert vendors that can be easily enabled, any video company can build, launch, and scale high-quality video streaming services. Accedo One also comes with a visual, easy-to-use editor for frictionless content curation and UI management. Accedo One enables broadcasters and media companies to launch and grow video services across multiple devices and regions. It features: • User-Friendly Editor — a visual, easy-to-use editor for frictionless content curation and UI management. • Service Analytics — an aggregated display of business intelligence and user insight. • Partner Marketplace — an extensive marketplace ecosystem of specialist streaming vendors. Services can be customized and managed using Accedo One, and receiving automatic updates and maintenance to ensure that they remain high-performing and up-to-date. At the same time, customers are provided with the tools to easily evolve their video business, as subscriber numbers or preferences change. Accedo One Marketplace provides easy access to all necessary technology components in the video service ecosystem. This means that video providers can easily connect their services to other technologies in order to build and grow customer-centric video solutions. Accedo One Marketplace takes an agnostic approach and brings together technology vendors into one cloud platform where customers can simply select the tools and functionalities they need. It enables users to connect external vendors, platforms and features to their apps and cloud. Accedo One Marketplace also helps customers make sense of which tools will work best for their unique service and what will help drive their revenues. Ultimately, this will help them ensure that their video service is 100% right for their audiences while enabling them to get to market much faster than would previously have been possible.
Accedo One is in constant evolution in order to ensure that the platform continues to meet the current and future demands of our customers. We will also continue to grow the Accedo One Marketplace, giving our customers easy access to more tools and technology. Accedo One enables video service providers to design and manage a uniquely branded video business across all leading consumer platforms. It enables those providers to get their video service to market fast with a product that reduces the complexities of execution. It also enables them to expand their service by integrating new features based on what their customers want and need. Instead of launching yet another proprietary solution to the media ecosystem, Accedo is using its position as a market leader and global expert to define a SaaS platform with open APIs, enabling our customers to grow their video experiences as customer preferences and market dynamics change. Thanks to this approach, there is no lock-in to specific tools and technology, giving video service providers much more flexibility to adapt and grow.
https://www.accedo.tv/one/
76 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Actus Digital Intelligent Monitoring Platform V8 The Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform V8 is the most powerful and versatile ever released by Actus. Many QA and compliance logging enhancements were added as well as new features that expand its use case throughout a TV station. It satisfies many engineering use-cases previously requiring dedicated systems, including: • Compliance Logging: CALM Act Compliance, Closed Captions, Child Ratings Verification • Quality Assurance: Real-time QoS Alerts, TS Analysis, Verification of SCTE, NAVE, PSIP • Multiviewer Monitoring: Lowest-Latency In-Class, Customizable Layouts, New Synchro Views • 24x7 Air-Check Recording: Any Input, Search by Date, CC, Metadata and Share in Collaborative Library
pinpoint where faults enter a video workflow to quickly remedy quality or compliance impairments. The platform has an easy-to-use UI for unlimited simultaneous users to frame-accurately select one or several clips and use Clip Factory to concatenate content, add effects such as graphic overlays, pre-roll/post-roll, cropping, blurring and more. This can be done on original quality content, suitable for rebroadcast or with transcoding to other formats, resolutions and bitrates and publishing to one or many destinations, such as social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.). Driving even greater productivity, a workflows entire instruction set can be saved into profiles so that users can select clips, select a profile and let the system produce high-quality, fully-produced content, every time, lightning fast. Faster still, automation can be set up so that these workflows are kicked off based on rules pertaining to a schedule, As-Run Log/EPG, when a keyword is mentioned on air, or any other metadata instructed to trigger an automated process. The system is even intelligent enough to automatically remove all commercials and publish the automatically concatenated program content using the settings from a saved profile. Broadcasters are always being asked to do more with less. The Actus V8 Intelligent Monitoring Platform allows them to leverage a required investment for quality and compliance engineering and provide benefits of improved collaboration to News, lead-generation for Sales, and fast and professional content repurposing for Digital.
And many new V8 features address workflows beyond engineering, including: • News: Ratings Graphs Next to Video, Competitor Keyword Alerts, Collaborative Bookmarking • Digital Teams: Be First-to-Digital With Clip Factory Pro Manual/Automated Editing, Integrated Graphics, Pre/Post-Rolls, Overlays and Dynamic Profiles • Ad-Sales Maximize PPM and Revenue With Lead-Lists for Sales Teams, Improving Demographic Sales Pitches • Archive: MAM-like Automated Program Extraction Create Rich Metadata Asset Libraries An affordable tool for engineering to control quality and maintain regulatory compliance is now a facility-shared platform that extends benefits to many other departments and is an incredible value unifying silos of previously disconnected technologies. When to repurpose content for subscription VoD/Ad-Revenue OTT, or produce sales lead lists to improve Ad-Sales, or improve ratings through better news, it will also produce an ROI — something never imagined for last-generation loggers that were simply an “engineering expense.” One nice V8 enhancement is the transition of widgets in the SW-based multiviewer to the browser-base that now also boasts the lowest latency of any browser-based multiviewer in this class. New Actus Synchro easily recalls multiviewer views to
https://actusdigital.com
77 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Avid Avid Media Composer With its flexible tools, powerful media engines and workflows that accelerate content creation and delivery, Media Composer provides an intuitive and collaborative way to work from anywhere, so you can complete more projects faster. In the highest quality. On time and on budget. Most recently, Avid delivered a new version of Media Composer that features an "over-the-shoulder" (OTS) remote collaboration experience for film and broadcast production workflows. Available with Media Composer | Ultimate and Media Composer | Enterprise editions, and groundbreaking integration of the SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) protocol, this new capability empowers editors to stream their high-resolution video and audio sequences from anywhere at any time directly from Media Composer to individual or multiple end-points simultaneously — just like viewing editors’ work in person over their shoulder — whether on premises or in the cloud. This new OTS capability dramatically enhances the speed and productivity of creative teams and individuals. SRT is an open source video transport protocol and technology stack developed by Avid’s partner Haivision and adopted by 500 technology providers and other companies. Supporting SRT ensures choice and flexibility in establishing over-the-shoulder workflows that can be based on software or a mix of hardware and software. Avid is one of three advisory members of the SRT Alliance. With secure streaming to any device (desktop, decoders, mobile devices, video players and set-top boxes including Apple
TV), workflows with Media Composer can now incorporate a “third monitor” experience that accelerates collaborative tasks such as content review and approval by producers and clients, facilitating real-time feedback and helping to bring projects to conclusion faster. While SRT ensures secure streaming of content with end-toend 128/256-bit AES encryption, Media Composer l Enterprise and Ultimate users can add encrypted passwords and generate single-use QR codes to restrict client access to Media Composer output. Teams with multiple Media Composer systems can connect to a Haivision Gateway on premises or in the cloud to enable stream replication for delivery to multiple devices simultaneously and firewall traversal so that behind the firewall devices can reach streams without breaching network security.
https://www.avid.com/media-composer
78 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Avid MediaCentral Sync Downtime is simply not an option in today’s fast-paced, always-on media production environments where having access to media in a timely manner is essential for success. To address this issue, Avid extended its media production portfolio with MediaCentral | Sync, a secure backup solution available by subscription that protects television news organizations and other production environments against unexpected storage and database loss. MediaCentral | Sync enables disaster recovery and business continuity workflows by automatically replicating media and any associated metadata to a second production management system, minimizing the risk of production delays by ensuring simple, efficient and reliable data backups. MediaCentral | Sync is a seamless addition for MediaCentral production infrastructures, making it an easy and secure solution that ensures broadcasters can be confident that their content is always safe and accessible. It provides flexible media and metadata backup options, allowing users to choose when and where to backup specific assets through a web-based user interface, giving assurance that technical operations can be maintained in any situation. In addition to being fully integrated with Avid NEXIS® storage, users can connect MediaCentral | Sync to multiple MediaCentral | Production Management systems while maintaining their existing workflows, gaining unprecedented protection as part of an end-to-end production solution. Let’s drill down on some unique capabilities in MediaCentral Sync:
vides a simple, flexible and efficient way to back up media and metadata stored in MediaCentral | Production Management folders from one system to another. Broadcast teams can backup multiple systems to support large productions and infrastructure — up to eight — or provide a backup to a single system. Protect Against Media and Monetary Loss When storage drives or media databases go down, taking a show and/or production down with it, that downtime leads to lost revenue. MediaCentral | Sync not only provides a reliable media backup solution, broadcast teams can also sync and maintain multiple system backups, enabling them to switch over systems quickly, so their teams can maintain access to all assets to keep shows on air and production moving in the event that disaster strikes. Have Flexible Control Over All Settings With MediaCentral | Sync, broadcast teams are not locked into a basic set of fixed variables. Instead, they have the freedom to choose what media and metadata gets backed up — as well as when, where and how often — using the administration console. They can schedule backups to be continuous, on a fixed schedule or at an interval that works best for their production. Stress Less With Metadata-Aware Operation While broadcast teams can automate backups with simple “set it and forget it” ease, MediaCentral | Sync is also metadata aware, so if teams change something on their main system, the metadata automatically updates on the backup system. If they add or move clips to different folders, those changes will be replicated on the backup.
Get Automatic Media and Metadata Backup For news organizations, live broadcasters and post-production teams on the MediaCentral platform, MediaCentral | Sync pro-
https://cdn-www.avid.com/-/media/avid/files/products-pdf/mediacentral/mediacentral-sync-ds-a4.pdf
79 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER disguise disguise xR disguise xR represents the next generation of virtual production technology, with immersive production sets that can replace the standard practice of filming against green screens for film, television and broadcast, and save significant time and money in post production. disguise’s Extended Reality (xR) workflow combines leading LED technology, advanced camera tracking and real-time graphics rendering to create a virtual environment that is visible both live on set and directly in-camera, using elements of both augmented and mixed reality. With disguise xR, the talent is filmed against large LED screens that feature real-time generated photorealistic virtual scenes. The talent doesn’t have to be trained to interact with green screens, as they can see the graphics on the LED displays around them and can thus deliver a more natural performance. While there is a slowly increasing number of high-end mixed reality stages being built around the world, these tend to be expensive to hire, difficult to book, and geographically limited to established production areas. disguise xR has opened the field up immensely, powering well over 400 productions worldwide, all while lowering barriers to entry and granting companies with more modest turnovers the ability to deliver big ideas without having the massive budgets needed in traditional production. Production teams no longer need to spend money building large sets. They can now have pixel-perfect virtual scenes whenever and wherever they want thanks to xR's set extension feature, which can render the virtual scene from the camera’s point of view, reaching far beyond the physical LED panels or size of the studio. The impact of this is far-reaching. As more broadcasters aim to lower their carbon footprint by bringing remote teams together, disguise xR is perfectly placed to help them deliver high-standard productions, even for fast-turnaround live broadcasts. disguise xR is also technology-agnostic, giving users the freedom to incorporate this technology into their existing workflows. Since disguise xR enables graphics to be delivered live in-camera, the extensive chroma key compositing process is removed.
Crew can also make real-time changes while shooting, saving significant time in post-production. Green spill is eliminated and lighting reflections on objects appear natural, as they pick up the ambient light and reflections from the graphics rendered on the LEDs. To stay on the bleeding edge of broadcast technology, disguise recently acquired broadcast data and content visualisation platform Polygon Labs. disguise is now building integrations for studios using xR to have access to a wider range of broadcast workflows, delivering improved remote production and cloud-based collaboration. In the future, users of both disguise and Polygon Labs will experience easy-to-manage, data-driven graphics workflows running fully native Unreal Engine, as well as extended design and graphics production capability. disguise xR has truly revolutionized the virtual production landscape, powering some of the world’s biggest broadcasts like ITV Sport’s coverage of the Euro 2020 and TV Azteca’s coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games. Meanwhile more than 300 studios powered by disguise xR have been built around the world in the last two years to meet the growing demand.
https://www.disguise.one/xr
80 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Edgecast Channel Scheduler and Syndication Discovery, and its streaming service, discovery+, is home to some of the most exciting original programming and a massive content library with household brands such as HGTV, TLC, Animal Planet, BBC and more. As with every new OTT service, user acquisition and conversion is critical for success. While discovery+ got off to an impressive start with more than 18M paying subscribers across all the most popular OTT devices, they also knew they needed to find new ways to stand out and engage viewers. Discovery’s challenge reflected that of the wider industry. With so many streaming platforms available and fierce competition for subscribers, streaming services need to find new ways to engage their audiences and monetize their content. Discovery+ objectives included: • Make it easy for viewers to discover programming they love • Reach new audiences • Find new ways to differentiate its service by promoting its extensive content library
was defined with four redundant versions of the stream, enabling high availability and increased platform resilience. Experiencing the discovery+ Channels service is easy. Viewers simply sign in and select a channel that’s already in progress, they don’t have to spend time looking for something to watch. They can just lean back and enjoy. These workflow efficiencies helped Discovery focus its time on what it’s best at: helping its viewers discover and enjoy their favorite content in a manner that best suits them and will keep discovery+ subscriber growth on an upward trajectory. For the wider industry, the project sets an important benchmark for how to engage new audiences in new ways and create new revenues. “We worked closely with the Edgecast team to quickly orchestrate a highly available workflow defining our desired content channels and publishing them to our target platforms and video content distributors via Edgecast's Zixi syndication output. A 24/7 non-stop stream of our most popular content like “House Hunters,” “Chopped,” “90 Day Fiancé” and more is another way we are delighting viewers with their favorite content,” said Alan Ramaley, vice president of Product, Global Video Platform, Discovery.
Discovery used Edgecast’s Channel Scheduler and Syndication solutions to create discovery+ Channels, a new suite of free ad-supported television (FAST) channels. They allowed Discovery to repackage its extensive VOD library and present it to viewers in a lean-back linear format, complete with ad breaks. Edgecast Channel Scheduler enables programmers to create virtual linear channels that align with their program schedule and create new targeted advertising opportunities. It allows programmers to schedule and control live events with broadcast-level tools that satisfy the requirements of the world's largest broadcasters. Meanwhile, Syndication makes it easy to extend content reach to multiple devices and video content distributors. Discovery used the Edgecast Channel Scheduler and Syndication Publishing APIs to schedule and publish curated content easily via its own Discovery CMS, allowing it to introduce automation and a new level of consistency to its workflow. Each channel
https://www.edgecast.com/streaming/control/
81 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Edgecast Smartplay SSAI Programmatic spend for Connected TV (CTV) is seeing huge growth. According to eMarketer it is expected to hit $8.67bn in 2022, up from $6.73bn in 2021 and $4.36bn in 2020. Linked to this are Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) channels, with FAST providers enjoying the most rapid expansion in their history. Pluto TV, which launched in early 2014, took six years to reach 16 million monthly active users in the Unied States, but has almost doubled that total in the last two years. Advertising is front and center of the CTV boom and there is a significant opportunity for streaming providers who can tap into advertising revenues successfully. Edgecast’s innovations in personalized advertising helped one of the world’s largest streaming providers to optimize its advertising. Edgecast’s Smartplay SSAI + Prebid helped the provider: • Consolidate its ad stack and run all its programmatic ad buys through the same pipes • Unify ad sales across digital and linear TV screens • Simplify the process of buying ads • Offer premium inventory with advanced targeting Edgecast’s Smartplay solution provides the most powerful technology for delivering ultra-personalized OTT experiences anywhere globally. Smartplay’s server-side ad insertion (SSAI) capability is seamlessly integrated with all primary ad servers and powers innovative programmatic technology, such as Prebid, so that customers can maximize monetization. And because Edgecast provides a unique lens across comprehensive streaming and advertising workflows, it also allows customers to understand the ad insertion process more in-depth. With Smartplay offering 1-to-1 session management, it exposes massive amounts of granular session data that empower streaming customers to investigate end-to-end ad experiences and make better strategic business decisions. Prebid is an industry innovation that is made more powerful when used with Smartplay SSAI. It carries the principles of “header bidding” for websites to long-form video with TV-style ad breaks. Prebid enables ad buyers to simultaneously bid on ad space and have those bids evaluated alongside others,
as opposed to the old way of assessing one bid at a time and potentially missing out on the best one. Prebid creates a fair market competition that increases yield by driving higher eCPMs and fill rates. Smartplay SSAI + Prebid were chosen to integrate with the customer’s award-winning prebid container. The result was a daily average of 1–2 million ad requests with a massive peak of 6 million in a single day. Edgecast’s Smartplay SSAI + Prebid has paved the way for advertising to be a significant source of revenue as it seeks to become the biggest streaming provider in the world. The project was not a simple case of switching on advertising, but an innovative approach to optimizing the value of that advertising. The project also sets an excellent example for the wider industry. It demonstrates how advertising-based models can be successfully implemented, and how they provide better business resilience to help with long-term planning and investment in R&D.
https://www.edgecast.com/streaming/smartplay/
82 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Evoca Pilot Set-Top Box Designed with the future in mind, the Evoca TV Pilot brings ATSC3.0 to the masses at an affordable price as the first consumer-available ATSC3.0 set-top box powered by Android TV. With integrated dual multimode ATSC3.0 and ATSC1.0 tuners, Pilot is based on existing, widely deployed designs and is the first set-top box to combine the best of streaming and broadcast for consumers regardless of what television is being used or the screen’s operating system. Built for initial deployment with Evoca TV’s unique programming bundles (including regional sports), Pilot allows customers to view Evoca TV programming, new ATSC3.0 programming, traditional OTA broadcasts and all of the best streaming apps all in one simple user interface. In addition, it is inexpensive enough for mass deployment to consumers and is capable of delivering 4K ultra high-definition, high dynamic range and Dolby AC-4. Pilot meets the needs of today’s content delivery systems and the most discerning consumers. Detailed Specifications: • Android TV 11 • Full 4K/UHD/HDR • Dolby AC-4 (MS-12) • Broadcom BCM-72180 SOC • 2 x Sony CXD-6801 Tuners • ATSC1.0/ATSC3.0 • Alticast Tuner Stack • Wi-Fi 6 2x2 2.4G/5G • 10/100 Ethernet • 16 GB eMMC
• 4 GB LPDDR4 • Bluetooth 5/BLE • Voice Remote • 1 x Multi-color LED • 1 Multi-function button • A3SA Ready • External USB Power Supply Evoca represents a brave new model for local content and sports on TV. Harnessing the power of NextGen technology the service provides a new way to watch regional sports networks (RSN) as well as local news, lifestyle and entertainment programming including some of the most popular video-on-demand programming and apps.
https://evoca.tv
83 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
LiveU Air Control Air Control serves as a single collaboration solution to get remote guests on air and live feeds into the system, giving crews the ability to manage all the human elements of a multi-guest production effortlessly and with true broadcast quality. Air Control streamlines and simplifies the production workflow by connect-
ing the control room, in-the-field talent and crew, and existing technology infrastructure like video, audio, comms, teleprompter, connectivity, LiveU solutions ALL under one umbrella platform. View our explainer video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sod28w7epj1b51i/LiveU%20Video%201%20V2.mp4?dl=0
https://www.liveu.tv/products/manage/air-control
84 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
LiveU LiveU Ingest LiveU Ingest is an automated ingest workflow solution, built on LiveU’s next-gen live video platform and deep expertise in the broadcast media industry. Signifying an end to manual recording and story metadata association, this innovative solution simplifies and speeds up production workflows, boosting efficiency and reducing costs. How it works: LiveU Ingest automatically records any live transmissions from the field, while adding the story metadata generated in the NRCS (newsroom computer system) or similar system. All the content is instantly accessible to the production team for viewing, trimming, downloading and publishing. This applies
to previously recorded and live content being recorded on-thefly. Relevant video files are then ingested together with their metadata into the MAM (media asset management) system, eliminating the need for a manual process. The solution integrates with various NRCS and MAM systems and is compatible with different metadata formats. Users can log in to the LiveU Ingest cloud-based portal from anywhere, and immediately view, trim and download recorded content with full visibility. Enabling hybrid cloud/on-prem deployment options, LiveU Ingest fits into any existing production setups.
https://www.liveu.tv/
85 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
LiveU LU300 HEVC At an attractive price-point, the LU300 HEVC solution is tailored to customers requiring a smaller field unit for high-quality video-on-the-go. With LiveU’s proven hardware-based HEVC encoding technology at its core, the new LU300 HEVC combines high-quality video performance with extreme bandwidth efficiency in a compact form-factor. Unlike software solutions, LiveU’s hardware solutions are encoding in HEVC all the time, providing longer battery time (the LU300 includes a three-hour internal battery). Weighing just over 2 pounds (900 grams) and available in a pouch or camera-mount configuration, the LU300 bonds up to six connections: two LTE-Advanced internal modems, two external modems, Wi-Fi and LAN.
http://get.liveu.tv/lu300/
86 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
OWC OWC Flex 1U4 The OWC Flex 1U4 is a highly flexible professional-grade fourbay Thunderbolt storage and docking solution for gaining powerful new rackmount workflow possibilities. Use a mix of 2.5- or 3.5-inch SATA/SAS and U.2/M.2 NVMe drives in the hot swappable drive bays. A variety of ports enable use of mixers, keyboards, cameras and other gear as well as mobile device
charging. A PCIe card slot easily handles specialized capture, recording, networking, or storage needs. The OWC Flex 1U4 offers the best combination of storage capacity, Thunderbolt transfer performance, drive type diversity and device expandability offered in a rackmount design complete with mounting hardware so it’s immediately ready to securely install in industry standard 19-inch deep racks.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-flex-1u4
87 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Ross Video Ross Production Cloud Production Cloud is an end-to-end highly flexible production solution that is specifically designed for broadcast quality content live production fully powered by the cloud and optimized for AWS. Supporting perpetual and subscription licensing models and operating natively within a customer supplied cloud ecosystem, the Ross Production Cloud allows production teams to collaborate and produce live shows and events, using the same interfaces that they are already experienced with. It combines production
switching, real-time graphics, ingest, playout, newsroom, asset management and remote contribution capabilities, with innovative ground-to-cloud technologies designed by Ross to bring on-premises SDI and NDI live feeds into the cloud ecosystem, and vice versa. Ross Production Cloud makes it easy for teams to expand their existing production capabilities, or experiment and explore new programs and formats with the reliability and support that they’ve come to expect from Ross solutions.
https://www.rossvideo.com
88 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Videon LiveEdge® Compute What is the product? LiveEdge® Compute, Videon’s developer toolkit, is Docker-based, making it easy to quickly deploy apps that bring the power and flexibility of the cloud to the live video origin. An expanding group of industry-leading tech providers from across the video technology ecosystem have deployed apps on LiveEdge® Compute, including Net Insight, EZDRM, Synamedia, Zixi, V-Nova, Red5 Pro, Techex, THEO Technologies and Livepeer. What are its capabilities? LiveEdge® Compute simplifies on-premise-to-cloud workflows for media companies, cloud providers and integrators. Companies can drive numerous use cases thanks to built-in ultra-low latency video processing, including better video workflow monitoring and management, improved picture quality with reduced bandwidth, content encryption, instant channel switching and more. Videon puts edge computing power at the point where video is created, enabling a huge array of video processing tasks to be completed before content goes into the cloud. Edge computing for live video powers more automated, intelligent, flexible and better-controlled workflows. By adding multiple camera angles and remote feeds, companies can successfully handle secondary and tertiary content in the broadcast feed. The platform gives customers the ability to rapidly apply new business models that are enabled by easily managed, augmented and extended live video workflows. Each edge application supports one of four core tenets of Videon's edge computing platform: • Extend: Enables unique workflows by moving traditional cloud functions to video origin • Manage: Allows control and automation of devices and fleets through the cloud
• Augment: Creates intelligent video by adding critical metadata • Connect: Enhances connection quality and reliability Why does the market need this product? The need for media companies to deliver enhanced reliability, ultra-low latency and optimized costs through one edge computing platform is critical in today’s market. LiveEdge® Compute can provide those deliverables through powerful processing to the point of video origination at scale, helping companies stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving industry. LiveEdge® Compute is signaling the end of complex and inflexible live streaming workflows. Market-first edge apps are perfect for unlocking the potential of edge computing innovation in today’s growing video ecosystem. LiveEdge® Compute customers pioneer the streamlining and efficiency of their live video workflows and drive new use cases, monetization opportunities and business models. Edge computing for live video infrastructure provides the industry with exciting new live video capabilities that every market segment can use to maximize positive and scalable business outcomes that benefit the entire video supply chain.
https://www.videonlabs.com/edge-apps
89 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
ZIXI Zixi Intelligent Data Platform (IDP) In 2021 Zixi launched the Intelligent Data Platform (IDP) as part of the Zixi Software Defined Video Platform (SDVP). IDP includes five new video specific advanced machine learning classifier and anomaly detection models to deliver actionable operational insights. The Zixi IDP leverages more than three billion telemetry points daily, identifying behavioral outliers and anomalous performance across the media supply chain. Delivering live video over managed networks, unmanaged internet, 5G/MEC and cloud infrastructure is rapidly changing the fundamental processes of broadcasting. It's not uncommon for a single video operations team to manage dozens of sources delivered to hundreds of targets across a mix of first and third-party managed infrastructure. For any given video channel there are thousands of continuously generated KPIs describing network, infrastructure, latency, structural, compliance and stream quality metrics, each of which may be vital to understanding a future impact or past incident. Leveraging sophisticated AI/ML algorithms, Zixi IDP can interrogate large data sets generating predictive analytics that accurately alert to changing conditions likely to result in delivery interruptions. When incidents do happen, IDP automates root cause analysis, generating detailed reports pointing to the most likely contributing factors. This dramatically speeds up incident recovery and reduces operational overhead and costs associated with RCA reporting. Big data visualizations have been added as part of IDP, enabling operations teams the visibility needed to quickly identify performance anomalies and focus efforts on ensuring that behavioral outliers within channels and the underlying delivery infrastructure are easily identified and remediated. The Zixi Intelligent Data Platform (IDP) is built around continuously trained AI/ML models to enhance video operations and deliver higher quality video. The IDP consists of several orchestrated components to analyze and visualize clear and actionable information.
IDP Health Score synthesizes trending data across a number of key performance indicators to generate live predictive and constructs a predictive model for future stream health. As the IDP Health score deteriorates for a given video channel, the contributing factors are identified and presented, giving video ops the insights necessary to proactively route around potential impairments that may disrupt partner and audience distribution. IDP Insights evaluate infrastructure and channel performance to rapidly pinpoint intermittent and anomalous behavior that is often incredibly difficult to trace, and with new visualization dashboards, simplifies the continuous iterative service enhancements that modern video operations teams desire. IDP Incidents automatically detects conditions that likely resulted in delivery impairments. Zixi Blast Radius identifies impacted channel and infrastructure resources and IDP Incidents reports display a time aligned graph of the leading and trailing KPIs that are critical to identifying root cause in to an easily digestible and shareable report format, greatly reducing RCA times and improving operational efficiency. Finally, Zixi has launched new compute efficient AI/ML driven models that enable live measurement of perceptual video quality without need for reference frames. Estimated PSNR and VMAF standards-based video quality scores are accurately calculated and enable real-time alerts of a wide range of video impairments that disrupt the viewer experience.
https://zixi.com/video-streaming-solutions/intelligent-data-platform/
90 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Zixi Zixi Software-Defined Video Platform Zixi is the architect of the Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP), the industry’s most complete live IP video workflow solution. The SDVP is currently integrated into 300+ encoder, decoder, cloud multiscreen and cloud playout partners. The SDVP enables media organizations to economically and easily source, manage, localize and distribute live events and 24/7 live linear channels in broadcast QoS, securely and at scale, using any form of IP network or hybrid environment. Superior video distribution over IP is achieved via four components. 1. Protocols — Zixi’s congestion and network-aware protocol adjusts to varying network conditions and employs forward error-correction techniques for error-free video transport over IP. As a universal gateway, standards-based protocols such as RIST and the open source SRT are supported, alongside common industry protocols such as RTP, RTMP, HLS and DASH. Zixi supports 17 different protocols and containers — the only software platform designed for live video to do so. 2. Video Solutions Stack — Provides essential tools and core media processing functions that enable broadcasters to transport live video over any IP network, correcting for packet loss and jitter. This software manages all supported protocols, transcoding and format conversion, collects transport analytics, monitors content quality and layers intelligence on top of the protocols such as bonding and patented hitless failover across any configuration and any IP infrastructure, allowing users to achieve 5-nines reliability. 3. ZEN Master — The SDVP’s control plane enabling users to intelligently provision, deploy, manage and monitor
thousands of content channels across the Zixi Enabled Network, including 300+ Zixi enabled partner solutions such as encoders, cloud media services, editing systems and ad insertion and video management systems. With such an extensive network of partner-enabled systems, Zixi ZEN Master presents an end-to-end view across the complete live video supply chain. 4. Intelligent Data Platform — A data-driven advanced analytics system that collects billions of telemetry points per day to clearly present actionable insights and real-time alerts. The SDVP leverages cloud AI and purpose-built ML models to identify anomalous behavior, rate overall delivery health and predict impending issues. This fourth key component, accessible via the ZEN Master control plane, consists of a data bus that aggregates over three billion data points daily from hundreds of thousands of inputs within the Zixi Enabled Network, including over 300 partner solutions and proprietary data sources such as Zixi Broadcaster. This telemetry data is then fed into five continuously updated machine-learning models where events are correlated and patterns discovered. With clean, modern dashboards and market-defining realtime analytics, the Zixi SDVP enables users to focus on what’s important. Intelligent alerts and health scores generated by Zixi’s AI/ML models help sift through and aggregate data trends so that operations teams always have the insights they need without data overload. At a time that sees the normalization of remote working and a proliferation in the ways programs reach viewers, Zixi’s SDVP provides the agility, reliability and broadcast-quality video securely from any source to any destination over flexible IP video routes.
https://zixi.com/video-streaming-solutions/zixi-sdvp
91 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental MediaTailor Channel Assembly AWS Elemental MediaTailor is a cloud-based channel assembly and personalized ad insertion service that allows video providers to create over-the-top (OTT) linear channels in a cost-efficient way, even for channels with low viewership. With MediaTailor Channel Assembly, virtual channels are created from existing multi-bitrate encoded and packaged content. Ad breaks can be inserted without having to condition the content using SCTE-35 markers, making it easier to monetize video. This is increasingly beneficial as free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels come online. Creating virtual channels with Channel Assembly is as simple as pulling together programming from existing sources and blending them into a linear playlist. Static or dynamic playlists can be created and streamed to viewers using previously transcoded video segments. Channel Assembly eliminates the need to retranscode source content for multiple regional or viewer permutations. Using MediaTailor Channel Assembly to create a customized channel for a smaller audience group, such as a category of viewers based on interest or regional preference, is no longer cost-prohibitive. With Channel Assembly, users can select between multiple scheduling options such as loop content, or they can dynamically add programs into the schedule, either manually or by inserting a program lineup provided by a recommendation engine. They can also schedule ad breaks with intelligent program-aware rules. There are no upfront costs, and the service is pay-per-use, so that content owners can repurpose and monetize existing catalogs easily and affordably and deliver more personalized experiences to their audience. Seven West Media used Channel Assembly to create a sit-back channel of “Big Brother” season one content just ahead of the release of season two. The channel served as a segue to launch the upcoming season and drive new viewership. Available for 11 days leading up to the second season debut, the “Big Brother”
channel accounted for 41 percent of streaming minutes on Seven West Media’s digital-only channels, and the company also saw a 95 percent increase in VOD viewing of the content. Seven West Media tapped the technology again to create a similar channel ahead of the return of reality hit “Farmer Wants a Wife.” That content saw an uptick of 191 percent from a VOD consumption perspective, accounting for a 25 percent share of Seven West Media’s digital-only streaming minutes. Seven West Media has since started to build more channels that showcase exclusive sports, reality series and other programming using Channel Assembly, including channels for its ad-supported streaming service 7Plus. Channel Assembly was also key for streaming the tenth annual PBS Short Film Festival. Audiences watched a curated series of 25 short films from independent filmmakers playing back-to-back via an immersive WebXR beta experience accessible through compatible headsets or a web browser. Channel Assembly provided a simple, efficient and reliable way to quickly set up a live linear streaming channel to play each short film for the experience ahead of time.
https://aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/
92 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER BB&S Lighting Compact Fresnel Lights The new BB&S Compact Fresnel lights come in both BiColor, tungsten and Daylight versions. The smallest footprint (5.5-in /14cm) LED Fresnels on the market, they draw just 40W. The BiColor outputs 2,400 lumens at 96 TLCI (tunable from 2,700 to 5,600°K). The Daylight version outputs 3,000 lumens. They offer a genuine curved glass 90mm Fresnel lens that ensures even field distribution in addition to excellent shadow rendering. All while being extremely cost effective and readily available, at under $700 each. The CFL family is completely designed in Denmark right down to proprietary designed LEDs and sophisticated lens technology to provide high TLCI and stable color temperature to render outstanding skin tones. CFLs output a hard-shadow beam that fades from 100 percent at center to 50 percent at the edges, making it exceptional for mixing and overlapping with other lights while eliminating blinding glare. The fit-anywhere fixtures weigh 3.5 pounds/1.6 kg and measure 175mm/6.5 inches long by 145mm/5.7 inches diameter, allowing quick repositioning within the same grid brackets or clamps as other CFLs. The CFL’s zooming capability is operated via BBS’ smart ring-controlled focus system with a range of 11–52 degrees. In addition to a generous focus range, they offer silent operation thanks to a highly efficient heat dissipation rear section rather than a noisy cooling fan system. The light may be operated via the BB&S 4-Way Controller that can provide DMX 512/RDM to two fixtures simultaneously. The range of power options includes: 40W Driver/Dimmer with D-Tap cable (battery operation), 65W PSU (any voltage worldwide 110-270V) and locking AC cable. CFLs are fully compatible with BB&S’ other studio fixtures and 4-Way Controllers well as the BB&S Tracklight system, which offers adapters for DMX or BTE Mesh control. Light control accessories include optional Rotating Magnetic Barndoors, Magnetic Top Hat and a Magnetic filter ring to easily add items like Magnetic Prismatic Ecliptic filters in 10x20°, 10x40° and 10x60°, as well as Lee 251, Quarter White, 253 Hampshire Frost and 450 3/8 diffusion. Ready to blend in, CFLs are available in black, white or custom colors.
BB&S CFLs answer the need for a low draw, high output light with an even field of light along with adjustable intensity and field size — all in a compact and lighter unit with a smaller footprint that is easy to mount on a grid or stand. Plus its rugged build and lower price point make them especially useful in large studio installations. New CFL is part of a complete range of either single color lights or a complete range of Bicolor lights that is delivered either for mounting on grids controlled by DMX via the 4-Way Controller, on power track with onboard drivers controlled by either DMX/RDM, or a Bluetooth mesh network. The power track system is a very fast tool for installing in a permanent studio so the ceiling looks clean allowing in frame presence. When anchor positions are changed in the studio it is a 10 second operation, moving a light from 1 track to another without dealing with cables.
https://www.bbslighting.com/collections/cbl-bi-color/products/compact-fresnel-bi-color-led-light
93 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Bitmovin Stream Lab Device fragmentation is a huge challenge across the video streaming industry. Many viewers are still watching content across different types of Smart TVs, which makes testing and maintaining the playback experience across older and newer models incredibly difficult for companies to manage. The leading streaming services support at least 24 devices across 12 different platforms, and the cost of supporting multiple generations of devices continues to rise. If streaming device fragmentation wasn't concerning, viewer expectations for a better quality of experience across devices continue to rise. A recent study done by Parks Associates revealed that the average household uses more than four different devices at any given moment. A bad viewing experience on any one of these platforms can result in churn as audiences switch to rival services to pursue more seamless viewing experiences. Bitmovin created Stream Lab to address the global challenge of device fragmentation and help companies support a larger number of devices and platforms while meeting rising consumer demand for superior quality video experiences on any screen. Stream Lab is the first of its kind in the video streaming market. With the Bitmovin Player, it overcomes the challenge of device fragmentation. It guarantees ROI by saving companies time, money and development resources while ensuring audiences have access to high-quality playback that provides the best viewer experience. Stream Lab gives companies the ability to get to market faster and simplify video workflows through testing and guaranteeing that when they launch, their audience’s quality of experience across more devices and platforms is perfect. It lets develop-
ment teams easily test their active streams in real environments on physical devices and receive transparent reporting with clear performance feedback. With pre-set test cases created by Bitmovin's video experts, it has given developers access to testing on older and newer generations of devices and platforms, including Samsung, LG, major web browsers and more. The added benefit of Stream Lab for companies is that Bitmovin maintains the devices needed for testing, and it doesn't require a large team with extensive video streaming expertise because it’s easy to use and 100% automated, so developers can prioritize tasks that deliver business value. Developers just need to follow the simple setup guidelines, submit their stream for the device they want to test on, standby for the stream parameters to be validated for testing, and then come back to review the test results. Stream Lab is now available to Bitmovin customers in beta and will be made generally available at the end of 2022.
https://bitmovin.com/video-player
94 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Cloud Store Blackmagic Cloud Store (from $ 9,595) is a high-performance network storage solution with four 10G Ethernet connections and a parallel memory core that can sustain maximum possible transfer speeds on each 10G Ethernet port at the same time. Unlike IT industry storage products that are rackmounted and have loud cooling fans, Blackmagic Cloud Store has a vertical, portable design. It’s also whisper quiet. Internally it has an array of flash memory cards working in parallel for speed and data protection. The four 10G Ethernet ports operate as a switch, so customers can connect four separate computers, or they work together using “link aggregation” for a massive 40G Ethernet speed. There is also an HDMI monitoring output for watching a live graphic view of the storage operating on a TV or monitor. Blackmagic Cloud Store is available in 20 TB, 80 TB and 320 TB models. M.2 flash memory cards are used for extreme reliability, high access speeds and zero seek times. Plus, the M.2 cards are arranged in parallel RAID 5 groups so they can operate much faster than a single card. With four separate, very high speed 10G Ethernet connections, Blackmagic Cloud Store is extremely fast. The internal memory core has been designed to saturate all four 10G Ethernet ports to their theoretical maximum speed, all at the same time. Customers can set up a local cache of their Dropbox files. This makes working much faster because files are instantly available without needing to be loaded from the internet. Blackmagic
Cloud Store will constantly work to stay in sync. Customers can also save space on their computer by moving cached Dropbox files to the Blackmagic Cloud Store, so they are accessible to everyone on their local network. Customers can sync multiple Blackmagic Cloud Stores via Dropbox so people in different geographic locations can collaborate without latency because everyone has a local copy of the files. Blackmagic Cloud Store has four high-speed 10G Ethernet ports. The Blackmagic Cloud Store is so fast, it will run each 10G Ethernet port to its maximum capacity. With a built-in Ethernet switch, each port can be plugged into a separate computer, or they can be used together for 40G Ethernet. Two extra 1G Ethernet ports let customers keep the 10G Ethernet ports free for faster computers. Blackmagic Cloud Store has a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, and the two USB-C ports on the Blackmagic Cloud Store can be used for loading and backup of files. If customers connect a media card reader or a USB-C disk to the ingest port, then all files on that disk will be loaded into the cloud store. Customers can do local backups without any ongoing costs and with total privacy. Blackmagic Cloud Store is private storage that customers fully control. There are no subscriptions to sign up for. There are no monthly license fees. There is no tracking of their usage or data. That means customers can run a private network, totally disconnected from the internet.
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagiccloudstore
95 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 18 DaVinci Resolve 18 features a whole new way of remote collaboration using cloud-based workflows. Host project libraries using Blackmagic Cloud and collaborate on the same timeline, in real time with multiple users all over the world. The new Blackmagic Proxy Generator App automatically creates and manages proxies from camera originals. Create a watch folder and new media is automatically converted into H.264, H.265 or Apple ProRes proxies to accelerate editing workflows. Customers can extract proxies into a separate folder for offline work. DaVinci Resolve 18 adds intelligent media location management, so when collaborating, customers can quickly link media to their unique file paths. They don’t need to manually relink or search for assets when working remotely. The collaboration update also provides major performance enhancements if customers are using a secure private network. Get immediate updates of editorial and color changes when collaborating on a remotely hosted project library. Now creative decisions can be made in real time based on the latest changes. Located in the magic mask palette, the new object mask recognizes and tracks the movement of thousands of unique objects. The DaVinci Neural Engine intuitively isolates animals, vehicles, people and food, plus countless other elements for advanced secondary grading and effects application. The new depth map effect lets customers instantly generate a 3D depth matte of a scene to quickly grade the foreground separately from the background and vice versa. Customers can bring attention to action in the foreground, help interview subjects stand out or add atmosphere in the background of a scene. Apply graphics to surfaces that warp or change perspective in dramatic ways, like t-shirts, flags or even the side of a face with the surface tracker. Its customizable mesh follows the motion of a textured surface. Apply graphics, composite tattoos or even cover up logos with this powerful tracking tool. Ultra beauty gives customers advanced control over a subject
when performing corrective beauty work. Developed with professional colorists, the ultra beauty tool helps to address general imperfections by smoothing skin and then recovering detail to produce natural and complimentary results to the subject. A new 5x5 option in the multicam viewer now allows customers to view up to 25 different angles in a single multicam clip at the same time. Ideal for large multicam projects, this makes viewing, cutting and switching between more angles much easier, rather than moving between pages to see different angles. Text, text+ and shape templates have improved speed and playback performance in DaVinci Resolve 18. New memory management and data handling means that Fusion templates are up to 200% faster. Customers can see accelerated results in the viewer and put together motion graphic compositions faster than ever. FlexBus is Fairlight’s flexible audio busing and routing system designed for managing high track counts, extensive plug-in processing, perfect synchronization and multiple project deliverables. Now customers can effortlessly convert legacy fixed bus Fairlight projects to FlexBus with a single click. DaVinci Resolve 18 provides customers with these new features and many more.
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
96 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Brompton Technology Brompton Tessera Software v 3.3 Brompton Tessera Software v3.3 works with the company’s industry-leading LED video processors to help users unleash new levels of visual performance and creative flexibility from LED panels in virtual production scenarios. This release introduces revolutionary new features such as PureTone and Operating Modes, which address pervasive problems in the virtual production industry for the first time; and also notably adds support for the ACES AP1 color space, and for the Mo-Sys StarTracker camera tracking system. PureTone: Professionals working in virtual production have long struggled with the unavoidable fact that different batches of LED panels will have slight variations as a result of the manufacturing process. This means that if you’ve bought one batch of panels, then six months later decide to expand your volume and order more of the exact same model of LED panels, the color display across the two batches will not perfectly align. These slight variations are very difficult to fix with calibration alone. Brompton’s new PureTone feature addresses this problem for the first time, through a very precise color measurement process that generates a PureTone calibration, thereby ensuring neutral greyscales and universally accurate color reproduction. This is a hugely innovative feature, allowing rental companies and studios with a lot of panel inventory to have much more flexibility in how they can utilize their stock. Operating Modes: Another common challenge in virtual production are the limitations baked into LED panels during the manufacturing process. Manufacturers typically compromise on visual performance parameters such as frame rate, refresh rate, bit depth, brightness and low light performance to create a “one size fits all” configuration to reach the broadest user base. Brompton’s new Operating Modes feature addresses these limitations by allowing users to set different modes that prioritize different parameters, ultimately getting the best performance for the needs of each unique production. For the first time, users can easily re-use panels across varying applications while
getting the maximum performance for each. This makes the LED panels much more versatile and delivers greater ROI for users. Aside from these brand new features, Brompton Tessera Software v3.3 also builds on its industry-leading creative control for color space. Tessera v3.3 now supports the ACES AP1 color space, as used by ACEScg, which avoids the need for a color space conversion in the source device. Tessera v3.3 also includes updates to the API to allow for greater control of the color pipeline to meet the unique needs of any production. Lastly, Tessera v3.3 also introduces support for the Mo-Sys StarTracker camera tracking system, which lets users easily place virtual tracking markers on their LED panels with just a few clicks. This significantly streamlines virtual production setup to facilitate real-time generated environments on the LED panels.
https://www.bromptontech.com/release/tessera-3-3-0/
97 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station Clear-Com is proud to introduce the ground-breaking Arcadia® Central Station, a next-generation scalable IP platform that integrates all wired and wireless partyline systems, including the FreeSpeak™ family of digital wireless solutions and HelixNet® Digital Partyline, as well as analog systems and third-party Dante devices. The system has a capacity of up to 96 licensed ports in a single rack space, with further port expansion planned for the future, making Arcadia the intercom centerpiece for a vast range of applications best served by easy and effective partyline workflows. Designed with input from Clear-Com’s extensive global live sound user base, Arcadia represents the next evolution in partyline workflows, combining digital, analog and AoIP intercom technologies into a single integrated system. From the Broadway stage to a local performing arts center to the largest and most complex live events, Arcadia is ideally suited for a wide variety of applications, in part due to its flexible licensing-based model that allows for future expansion.
Arcadia provides general connectivity to a wide range of Clear-Com endpoints through a mixture of two-wire and fourwire audio ports, together with third-party Dante devices. Additionally, it supports the full range of FreeSpeak digital wireless products, encompassing the 1.9 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and the upcoming integration with HelixNet, the industry-leading wired digital partyline system, delivering incredible architectural flexibility with elegant simplicity for the end-user in a unique advancement for the industries we serve. The need for simple and quick adjustments to the system is reflected in Arcadia’s two large front panel touchscreens, with four rotary encoders to quickly scroll through menus for initial setup, or for use as a four-channel intercom user station. The system is configured and monitored through a new, reimagined version of Clear-Com’s browser-based CCM™ software featuring an intuitive interface that guides users through all steps of the configuration and monitoring of the system.
https://www.clearcom.com/product-family/arcadia-central-station/
98 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Cobalt Digital 9904-UDX-4K +HDR-TCHCLR-4K Cobalt Digital’s partnership with Technicolor® continues to disrupt and enhance HDR content productions. This year Cobalt Digital is demonstrating the latest additions to the Technicolor Intelligent Tone Mapping® (ITM) and SL-HDR processing engines offered on our software-definable 9904-UDX-4K processor. The 9904-UDX-4K leverages some of the latest FPGA technologies to offer flexibility one could only dream of in years past. With 12G SDI interfaces standard and options for ST 2110 ingress and egress it is the premiere openGear platform of choice for those who want the utmost processing flexibility. The new HDR technology is Reversible Inverse Tone Mapping® (RITM) which adds an additional layer of metadata to the previously award-winning Technicolor ITM technology. The dynamic processing technology was created using machine
learning and AI for SDR to HDR conversion. When pairing RITM with SL-HDRv1 the SDR video + HDR metadata is an exact copy of the original SDR signal pre-conversion and enhancements. The in-between signal is enhanced HDR allowing productions to unleash the full capabilities of HDR without having to sacrifice for their final SDR. Details in all brightness ranges (shadows, midtones, and highlight) as well as colors can be pushed further than static LUTs. At final emission SL-HDRv1 can be broadcast to the home where SDR displays receive the original SDR experience and displays capable of processing SL-HDR will apply the HDR metadata to render the superior HDR experience. This perfect pair (RITM + SL-HDR) allows productions to focus on making the best HDR possible and letting the machines take care of the rest.
https://www.cobaltdigital.com/products/4692/9904-udx-4k
99 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Cyanview S.A. Rio Live RIO Live is the missing glue to integrate and shade D-Cinema cameras, camcorders and mirrorless cameras in Multicam Live productions. RIO Live translates shading and other controls from a Cyanview RCP to many brands like Sony, Canon, Pansonic, Red and JVC. It bridges an IP wired connection from the control room to the camera with serial ports, multiple Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi and USB. As an example, it can control a Sony Venice over serial, a Sony FX9 over Ethernet, a Red Komodo over Wi-Fi, a Sony A7S3, a Panasonic GH5s or Canon R5 mirrorless over USB. This makes USB or Wi-Fi-only cameras usable over wired Ethernet. Live productions need zoom lenses and most of these cameras can’t interface them. RIO can control ENG or B4 box lenses, PL zoom lenses from Fujinon (Cabrio) and Canon (Cineservo) or drive lens motors through C-Motion or Chrosziel. It can also directly control Tilta lens motors, which is ideal on mirrorless cameras or any fixed focal cine lens. RIO can also control gimbals over S-BUS, which combined with camera and lens control makes a large-sensor-based PTZ style solution. Finally, the RIO Live solution also integrates 3D-Lut-based processors like the Flanders Box-IO or the Cyanview VP4. These are used on mirrorless to add any missing video controls like black balance, to make a look or handle the main shading when the camera is in a log-based mode where most internal camera settings are locked. All these integrations appear seamlessly combined on a single camera interface on the RCP, where changing gain would be the camera ISO setting, iris would be directed to the external lens, black balance would control the 3D-LUT and pan/tilt would move the gimbal or PT head. The RIO Live solution also allows control of any camera from multiple RCPs, and all cameras can be controlled from a single RCP. While the video shader could use one RCP per camera, another operator can use a single RCP as a master panel to
access the OSD menus of each camera to set them up for the show or erase cards. A group feature allows starting record of all cameras at once from a single button. And a video shader could select a subset of cameras and adjusting the iris of the cameras in group all at once, enabling unique features, which video shaders already adopted on fashion show or concerts. Tally is also fully integrated, directly driving camera built-in tally lights or an external tally box or LED connected to RIO. Camera selection and tally ingest is done through protocols like TSL, GPIO or direct integrations with Atem, Tricaster or Vmix. Cyanview is the only solution to handle multi-brand integrations all working simultaneously from the same RCP panel. Some of our customers connect up to 100 cameras on a single panel for reality TV shows or 64 channels of FS-HDR on CBS main truck. With RIO Live we're now bringing the power of this architecture to help smaller live productions.
https://www.cyanview.com/products/rio-live/
100 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Imagine Communications Imagine Aviator™ Aviator is the first cloud-native platform that enables media companies to plan, make and monetize premium-quality linear and OTT content on any screen from a single, unified platform. It’s designed to help media companies optimize ad delivery, significantly improve the revenue of under-monetized OTT content, and generate greater profitability from their media assets. There are three key pillars to the Aviator offering: Plan supports all the stages of scheduling, including rights management and content acquisition. Make oversees the media supply chain and secure content storage and provides premium content origination and playout in the cloud. For each channel, there is the possibility to have multiple variants, for different broadcast and streamed platforms, each with unique commercials and trailers either inserted as part of Aviator or signaled using SCTE 35 for downstream dynamic ad insertion. Monetize supports the commercial aspects of advertising, from sales through ad decisioning and traffic to billing and reconciliation. By taking a common view of advertising across all platforms, Aviator ensures optimum use of the inventory, while providing advertisers with proven audience reach; CPM-style metrics across all platforms including broadcast; and monetizing scenarios that are difficult to plan in advance, such as extra time in football games and breaking-news programming. Developed from scratch as a fully cloud-native suite of applications, Aviator is built in containers, using Kubernetes orchestration for highest resilience and deployed efficiently through Terraform scripts. It is tailored for the AWS environment and leverages video and computing services to ensure maximum operation and cost efficiency.
Traditional broadcasters now routinely serve online platforms with both live streaming and VOD for catch-up. New digital-first businesses and direct-to-consumer services are moving towards curated channels. FAST — free ad-supported television — is becoming an important market presence. For both broadcast and digital TV, content must be acquired and rights negotiated; channels must be scheduled; media ingested, secured and tracked; advertising sold and planned so as to reach the target number of views; and the whole tied together into a seamless output stream, linked with trailers, promos and other interstitials. Each channel will have multiple variants: different broadcast and online services, perhaps regional or international versions. Each will need different advertising spots, tuned to the specific audience. Aviator delivers a unified environment in which every part of the chain is linked, information is shared, and visibility of process and progress is enhanced. This facilitates an improved operational efficiency to generate TV services with the highest quality, resulting in more audience satisfaction and maximized monetization. Architected for an ever-evolving future, Aviator offers flexible subscription and SaaS purchase options that suit new business models and an agile, cloud-based design that allows media companies to continue delivering and monetizing content no matter how consumer viewing habits change.
Addressing Industry Challenges: The traditional paths for scheduling, transmitting and monetizing media are becoming less and less relevant. Consumers now choose the content they want to watch, not the platform. Media companies must deliver the content they demand, supported by appropriate advertising, across every outlet.
https://imagineaviator.com/
101 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER MediaKind MediaKind Engage From the largest media companies to smaller and niche players, broadcasters and content owners alike are finding it increasingly difficult to ensure cost efficiencies in monetizing their content when implementing brand new or operating existing direct-to-consumer (D2C) streaming platforms. All players operating within this highly competitive environment are continuously seeking innovative solutions to help them remain relevant and competitive in the market. MediaKind Engage is an end-toend media technology streaming platform and service designed to meet the needs of all sizes of service providers — from sports entities to broadcasters and content owners so that they can create and monetize compelling, high-quality live and on-demand video and data services. MediaKind Engage is based on MediaKind’s experience and expertise in delivering robust and resilient broadcast solutions. The company’s engineering and product teams have leveraged this knowledge to develop a cloud-native technology service that acts as a foundation for modern video workflows and applies directly to today’s market challenges in enabling streaming delivery and monetization. MediaKind Engage has five key foundational blocks: 1. Stability at Scale: MediaKind Engage handles all the fundamentals to provide broadcast-grade quality and availability, achieving reliability of scale by supporting peak loads — a prerequisite for streaming larger live events. 2. Access on any Device: MediaKind Engage is designed to support fan engagement and interaction across any device, anywhere, anytime.
3. Service Reliability: MediaKind’s ethos is to embrace modern, agile, and DevOps models and act as an extension of its customers’ engineering and products teams. Engage is supported 24/7 by an operations team, enabling customers to choose the level of technical care they require to integrate with or enhance their own operations team. 4. Multi-stream Management: The features included within MediaKind Engage supports ingesting multiple feeds to deliver content and event production in the cloud, coupled with low-latency streaming capabilities and the ability to synchronize multiple camera angles for the same event and insert time-synched data. Engage is an end-to-end solution for content providers looking to deliver multiple streams through a singular, user-friendly platform. 5. International Subscription Models: MediaKind Engage is offered through a monthly or yearly SaaS model — providing service providers with flexibility in choosing a service to deliver the highest quality of content and digital experiences at scale to millions of fans across the globe. Streaming service providers also have additional flexibility to find cost efficiencies through cloud operation modelling and deployment as a benefit of MediaKind Engage’s Managed Cloud Application (MCA) offering. In order to ensure consumers are receiving the best quality content and viewing experience possible, MediaKind Engage includes integrated elements of the workflow from market leaders in the market for consumer engagement and playout. This design enables service providers to meet the demands for high-volume, high-quality video and media services.
https://www.mediakind.com/consumer-experience/direct-to-consumer/
102 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Planetcast International Planetcast International Playout Disaster Recovery Planetcast International is resetting the economics of media disaster recovery with its new free-to-provision, free-to-maintain, cloud-based playout disaster recovery service for broadcasters, video content owners and operators. The service ensures that commercial revenue and brand reputation are protected for media organizations that run their own playout operations or that outsource to a third-party provider and cannot afford expensive, dual redundant facilities. Planetcast International Playout Disaster Recovery is a solution badly needed by broadcasters and other video service providers. Most of the world’s biggest broadcasters have disaster recovery in place, but it more than doubles their total playout cost. However, the vast majority of tier-2 and tier-3 players cannot afford disaster recovery and are, therefore, at risk. The solution addresses the fact that playout systems, at times, fail. Disasters such as fire, flood or the accidental cutting of power or critical cabling can and do cause outages. For instance, in October 2021, multiple U.K. channels suffered a major playout disruption due to a fire at a central data centre. In December 2021, one of the U.K.’s largest pay-TV operators, experienced the loss of all its TV channels, impacting viewers from one to six hours. The reality is that even near-perfect 99.99% (“four nines”) playout reliability means a statistical average of about an hour of downtime a year. At its core, Planetcast’s DR solution is a zero-cost insurance policy for channels without disaster recovery in place that takes away the existential threat of being off-air for hours or even days. It offers zero setup costs and, crucially, no running costs when not in use. Customers only pay when it is invoked. All the integration work and ongoing operational management are provided for free by Planetcast as part of an “out-of-line” deployment that requires no changes to existing playout systems or workflows. This approach means the system is independent of the existing playout chain, making Planetcast more resilient
to related failures. The solution utilizes three core elements: • The first is Planetcast’s MAM.C, an always-on media asset manager that resides within the cloud and manages program schedules and receives content. • This element is linked to the second, Planetcast’s CLOUD.X, a full-featured, cloud-based playout platform. • When invoked, CLOUD.X sends content to the third element, RECASTER, Planetcast’s dynamic IP transit solution, which in turn delivers a secure internet stream to a broadcaster’s distribution provider. The DR service is built around open industry standards and has proven compatible with leading platforms with support for DTV, CAB, SAT and OTT playout. Planetcast International Playout Disaster Recovery includes up to 200 TB of scheduled content storage and has a tested failover speed of around eight minutes. Finally, the solution can be spun up, for free, monthly, to do an active playout resiliency test to ensure it can deliver services as expected.
https://www.planetc.net/
103 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER SDVI Net Zero Supply Chains With SDVI Rally SDVI this year introduced Net Zero Supply Chains, formally making carbon-neutral usage a standard and permanent element of its cloud-based Rally supply chain optimization platform. The company launched a sustainability program by which all usage of the Rally platform, going back to the beginning of 2021, is rendered completely carbon neutral — and through which all SDVI customers benefit from permanent, ongoing carbon offsets for all Rally platform usage, including all third-party media applications used as part of a Rally-managed supply chain. With this first-of-a-kind “enhancement” to the Rally platform, SDVI is making a bold move to establish sustainability as an essential requirement of any media supply chain. SDVI is able to make this move because the Rally platform collects an extensive array of data about how SDVI operations and customers’ use of SDVI technology to make an impact on the environment. Thanks to Rally’s capacity to measure, collect and report operational data, SDVI can calculate and offset the carbon footprint of all media processing managed by Rally. Measurement and reporting are essential to sustainability. Media organizations are increasingly focused on creating their own green footprints, but they need better insight into their own operations before they can determine what needs to be done and what kind of policies to implement. Rally not only delivers that insight through extensive reporting but also provides a net-zero guarantee of its own. In effect, SDVI’s commitment to sustainability ensures that the company’s customers can build and operate their media supply chains knowing that the associated carbon impact is being mitigated for them. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, SDVI began reporting and offsetting the carbon footprint associated with providing the Rally platform service to its customers going forward, including the operation of all third-party application services under Rally management. With this new program, SDVI will begin providing regular
reporting of carbon emissions associated with operating the Rally platform to each customer, along with evidence of the SDVI-sponsored carbon offsets. In addition, by Dec. 31, 2022, SDVI will calculate, report and offset the carbon footprint associated with the company’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions as defined by the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, thereby making SDVI net zero by the end of 2022. Offsets are secured through and certified by the Gold Standard Foundation. Based on the amount of carbon generated annually by Rally supply chains, SDVI purchases offset those whose equivalence is calculated and verified by the foundation. (Detailed offset information can be found at www.goldstandard. org.) Real change across the industry will only happen when media organizations consider sustainability to be a core tenet of their businesses. The new Net Zero Supply Chains for Rally offers organizations a compelling solution for improving media supply chain efficiency while realizing greener operations and a smaller overall carbon footprint.
https://sdvi.com/sustainability/
104 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER SmallHD 27-Inch 4K OLED Reference Monitor The SmallHD 27-inch 4K OLED Reference Monitor is a bigger, brighter OLED solution that generates the true life color accuracy that OLED is known for. It features a wide viewing angle with up to 550nits of brightness, a > 1,000,000:1 ultra-high contrast ratio with an absolute black point, 110% DCI-P3/135% Rec. 709 color gamut coverage, and 12.3 stops of dynamic range, making it just as capable for on-set HDR preview as it is for in-suite color grading. Thanks to PageOS, users gain easier access to a diverse and customizable array of curated exposure tools and workflows for enhanced production functionality. With intuitive and simple functionality and speed, PageOS supports a streamlined color-calibration experience with Monitor Calibration Wizard and Color Pipe, a rendering tool that accurately converts log formats into SDR and HDR. PageOS includes upgraded user page presets, HDR (PQ) waveforms, improved false color and Dual and Quad-View. With a screen size of 26.9 inches/68.3cm and 3840 x 2160 resolution the calibrated OLED screen is housed in a rugged, elegantly milled-aluminum unibody Smart chassis with ample mounting points along the top and sides. Yet it weighs just 14 pounds/6.35 kg complete with handle and feet. SmallHD OLED’s hardware design is built around Small4K™ Video Processing Architecture, which provides a bounty of input and output options including: four 12G-SGI inputs/outputs and and HDMI 2.0 input/output. The built-in Dovetail mounting rail provides simple battery and accessory attachment with interchangeable mounting points. Two two-pin accessory power outputs add power flexibility. In addition SmallHD includes two hot-swap-
pable power inputs — one three-pin XLR and a Dual-GM/VM Battery Plate (sold separately). While the portability and flexibility of this monitor sets it apart, the primary advancement offered by the OLED 27 is its incredibly bright 550nit screen, because most OLED displays are around 100–300 nits of brightness. This extra brightness offers an accurate HDR preview on set. This preview allows clients and directors on set to see what the images they are capturing will look like in post, eliminating surprises that could require reshoots. Not only that, but with the incredible color accuracy of the OLED 27, the same monitor can also be used in post to finish the project. It offers an on-set and in-post confidence that has been missing for creators shooting HDR content.
https://www.smallhd.com
105 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Tedial smartWork — Cloud Native Media Integration Platform Tedial is transforming and redefining media business efficiency and technology approaches with the introduction of smartWork, a unique media integration platform that distills complex workflows into simplified processes. smartWork’s no-code architecture will revolutionize productivity for non-technical users, and because it follows Infrastructure as a Code (IaaC) it can be deployed on-premises, on any cloud or in a hybrid architecture for incredible flexibility. The game-changing technology will revolutionize the way media companies and content owners manage their media by speeding up the digital transformation with benefits that include unprecedented flexibility, seamless and effortless integrations, reduced costs, enhanced team collaboration, improved profitability, accelerated growth and dramatically shorter delivery times. smartWork democratizes business processes, empowering users to define integrations autonomously — without vendor participation — and create workflows in a flexible and agile manner. Aligned with Movielabs’ 2030 Vision for Media Creation, the platform removes time-consuming and complex configurations via a common User Interface that guarantees an optimal experience and easy access to all applications, external systems (including any legacy MAMs, PAMs and DAMs ensuring business continuity), and features self-validation. An easy-to-use toolset allows users to concentrate on creativity and make the data-driven decisions necessary to quickly adapt to market or supply changes. smartWork’s unique approach is built upon a common interface and a common data model so applications and systems are integrated within the platform as opposed to the platform integrated into the applications. This major change simplifies workflow design, as the workflows needn’t be aware of the specific APIs and the data models of each component making it simple to swap integrations within an existing workflow. In addition, a common workspace allows the applications to go to the
media and not the media delivered to the applications, which is key. A media abstraction layer is added so that workflows are not dependent on physical locations (on premises/cloud) providing an extra security layer. Tedial has designed smartWork natively with microservices and kubernetes to provide future-proofing and scalability of both media operations and resources. Its easy-to-use, no-code editor enhances flexibility and minimizes operational risk with built-in complexity abstraction and visual tools. A quick dragand-drop tool enables anyone, even those without coding expertise or technical knowledge, to easily assemble and modify workflows, including integrations of external third-party systems, without vendor or specialist intervention. This leads to greater self-sufficiency and cost-savings and quick to market benefits for the organization.
https://www.tedial.com/blog/news/tedial-nab-2022-smartwork/
106 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Teradek Prism Flex Prism Flex is an encoder/decoder for low latency, 4K HDR, point-to-point streaming video. Designed for mission-critical IP video transport workflows, it is used by top brands like NASA, Netflix, NBCUniversal, BBC and USA Today for secure IP video delivery. Like its predecessor, the Cube, Prism Flex packs a ton of functionality into a tiny package — delivering secure, reliable, low-latency streaming with a wide variety of transport protocols. With a compact form and low power-draw, Prism Flex streams stunning 4K, 10-bit, 4:2:2 color-accurate video with 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 I/O, so its easy to integrate into any live production workspace and workflow. With on-board recording and store and forward functionality, it is the perfect complement to remote collaboration workflows. And, Prism Flex gives users secure monitoring options for viewing their streaming content with latency over WAN as low as 300ms on AppleTV, Mac OS and iOS devices. It provides color-accurate 4K HDR video streaming in AVC or HEVC. With 10-bit, 4:2:2 support, Prism Flex delivers the highest quality streaming video for broadcast and production workflows. Pairing with Teradek’s Core cloud platform transforms Prism Flex into an IP video powerhouse — allowing users to remotely collaborate, manage, archive, monitor and distribute their streams to any and all destinations simultaneously. Prism Flex features and benefits when used with Teradek’s Core Cloud Platform include: • Multi-streaming: Sends streams to multiple destinations simultaneously • Point-to-point streaming: As well as to Facebook and Youtube • Network Bonding: Avoids mid-stream drops and bonds several internet connections together. • Archiving: Saves on storage and keeps content in the cloud • Transcoding: Transcodes video to AVC before sending it out to CDNs • Remote Management: Manages codec from anywhere • Store and Forward: Records and uploads files in chunks for efficient delivery
grow at a high demand. Prism Flex represents the modern evolution of the hardware and cloud connectivity needed to meet live production needs. Prism flex is an accessible 4K HDR streaming platform that can be easily scaled from independent content producers to enterprise business organizations. But image quality alone won’t cut it. The fail points of streaming still exist, that’s why Prism Flex is loaded with modernized functionality that is typically found in expensive encoders. Network bonding for streaming in highly congested environments and events, 5.1 Surround Sound to support advanced audio reproduction, HEVC encoding for bandwidth optimization, cloud connectivity for security and evolving streaming demands and ease of use. To illustrate the operation of the technology: Producing a live stream of the latest rocket launch, a Prism Flex encoder would be sitting at the remote production studio in Texas. All 4K HDR camera feeds are piped into the main switcher. The program output is then connected via 12G-SDI into the Prism Flex. Prism Flex transmits a low-latency video signal over the public internet to Teradek’s cloud ecosystem that distributes the show out Facebook Live, Youtube Live and the companies website to receive more than 1,000,000 views.
The trend towards 4K HDR content streaming continues to
http://tdek.co/prismflex-launch-pr
107 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
TSL Products TM1-Tally TSL has been the global staple for tally systems for over a decade, offering the most comprehensive and flexible tally systems that work with all of the leading industry manufacturers and devices. The new TM1-Tally is a compact, low-cost, high-end tally solution. Based on the industry-standard TSL Tallyman system, TM1-Tally offers the same full featured tally capabilities, but with a limited number of connections to external devices. Customers can easily create simple to complex tally systems to suit any OB truck or facility environment. It can be connected to router control systems to provide a more compressive tally system that is agnostic to manufacturers equipment. The new TM1-Tally’s size enables it to be built into a 1RU
chassis and it is connectable via 2x Ethernet, 4x RS422 and 64 configurable GPIO. It is also a versatile solution, that can be adapted to all protocols provided, for all major manufacturers, including routers, switchers, multi-viewers, cameras and more, as well as generic protocols such as SNMP and ASCII/Hex. The TM1-Tally is also feature-rich and has a full tally system support; camera delegation; router control; event control and glue. It can easily be upgraded as additional licenses offer greater connectivity capabilities; and is expandable as it can connect to multiple devices, virtual control panels and hardware control panels.
https://tslproducts.com/products/advanced-broadcast-control-systems/tallyman-control-system/system-controllers/tm1/
108 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Viaccess-Orca Viaccess-Orca Secure Video Player With Advanced Features As the video streaming market becomes more competitive, operators must differentiate their offerings with advanced features to increase viewer engagement and reduce churn. Viaccess-Orca (VO) is helping operators attract subscribers and increase viewing engagement with the VO Secure Player, which now supports Watch Party, multiview, virtual reality (VR) and smart caching. VO Secure Player is a multiplatform media player for premium live and VOD content, including streamed and downloaded video. The one-stop-shop VO Secure Player works across multiple platforms and operating systems, including mobiles, desktops, the web, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows and MacOS. By supporting all of the latest streaming standards, it ensures that streaming service providers can deliver real-time, live OTT experiences; fast zapping time; and responsive scrubbing while deploying ad insertion. Through unique features such as user behavior monitoring, Targeted TV Advertising and QoE metrics, VO Secure Player provides viewers with a more compelling video experience. The VO Secure Player features: Watch Party: Watch Party enables viewers to watch live or on-demand content, including live sports, on PCs or mobile devices while simultaneously interacting with a viewer group through video chat. With the Watch Party feature, video and audio are perfectly synchronized in real time across all devices in the group, and users can control both content volume and the volume of their conversations, resulting in a more engaging and immersive viewing experience over 5G. VO Secure Player with support for Watch Party allows unified viewing across OTT devices. The multiplatform video player uses the same software across all platforms, solving multiscreen fragmentation across all connected screens and featuring offline support for Mac and PC. It also ensures an immersive audio experience by supporting AAC 5.1 output on Android TV-compatible devices. Subscribers can download and store streaming content locally for later playback, in compliance with the content owner’s security requirements.
VR: VO Secure Player supports the delivery of VR and 8K video over 5G networks. The player offers seamless integration with third-party systems to enable flawless 360-degree video experiences, from the point of capture to distribution, bringing video streaming to a whole new dimension. Multiview: Support for multiview on the VO Secure Player allows end users to observe the same event from different camera angles and select the primary view they want to watch. The switch between the different angles happens in a fraction of seconds, and the audio transition between different camera angles is automatic. Multiview can be implemented for highand medium-class devices via multiple player instances or for low-end devices with one stream feed. Smart caching: To minimize the risk of rebuffering with 5G video streaming, VO Secure Player offers a SafeTV mode that triggers an automatic download of content to ensure smooth playback. VO Secure Player deserves to win this award for bringing innovative features to the video streaming market. Thanks to the new features from Viaccess-Orca, service providers and operators can improve viewer engagement and ensure a seamless viewing experience across all connected devices.
https://www.viaccess-orca.com/secure-player
109 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Vidispine, an Arvato Systems Brand VidiEditor VidiEditor is the browser-based video editor solution for journalists and video content producers who need to quickly and easily create short- and medium-form content. It can be integrated into enterprise environments, including broadcast workflows, or dynamically scale with cloud-based SaaS deployments on the VidiNet media services platform. Browser-Based Editing — Use Cases VidiEditor enables simple editing, for example in news, web, sports or infotainment, resulting in high-quality content that is “air-ready” for broadcast or distribution on the web or social media. VidiEditor compliments the functionality of craft editing NLEs (nonlinear editing software) such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid MediaComposer or Davinci Resolve, by providing an intuitive user interface to start projects and allowing hand-over projects to finalize in the NLE.
Centralized Media VidiEditor builds on the class-leading VidiCore media-management backend as a centralized repository making projects, media and metadata accessible for all your users. This also provides central user management, deletion protection and backend tasks while also enabling powerful integrations to other services and applications via the VidiCore API.
Perfect for Remote Working With the UI accessed through a standard web browser and media streamed into the client, our browser video editor, VidiEditor, is a perfect fit for remote working or a distributed workforce. Users just open a web page and start editing based on a centralized media repository. Since VidiEditor is a web browser video editor based on HTML-5 technology, it requires no specialist applications or client-side installations.
State-of-the-Art Backend Technology Cloud-based production presents a number of challenges to overcome while still maintaining an on-premises feel and presenting the full client experience to journalists and editors. The streaming technology inside the VidiEditor product developed by the Vidispine team of Arvato Systems has evolved from a proxy streaming solution for remote broadcast production workflows to a key component for cloud-enabled post production. The unique streaming technology enables professional users to work location independent even with low bandwidth connections in web-browser-based applications. The ability to render complex EDLs on-the-fly to a standard MPEG-Dash stream is the key functionality to make cloud-enabled remote production possible without the need to migrate to proprietary formats. Vidispine streaming technology uses standard H.264 files on low-cost object storages, like AWS S3 and does not rely on proprietary and often expensive storages, which do not scale for high number of users.
Rapid Onboarding The browser-based video editor within the Vidispine portfolio comes with a modern and highly intuitive user interface simplifying technical parameters while concentrating on the use case. It allows for rapid onboarding of new users on standard office laptops or desktops without the need for intensive training. Completely Scalable VidiEditor allows dynamic scaling for all used backend components supporting Kubernetes-based infrastructure. On the user’s side, VidiEditor scales with the number of concurrent user sessions, rather than named users, meaning that you are never paying for unused application instances.
https://www.vidispine.com/platform/applications/media-production-tools/vidieditor
110 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
VITEC MGW Diamond+ OG (openGear) VITEC MGW Diamond+ OG is a broadcast-grade 4K and multichannel HD openGear encoder. VITEC’s broadcast-quality grade MGW Diamond+ OG is a 4K/multichannel HEVC, H.264 and MPEG-2 encoder in an openGear® (OG) card format. The new Diamond+ OG features a versatile and high-quality encoding engine making it ideal for a wide range of contribution or point-topoint streaming applications over IP within production studios, broadcast facilities or corporate server room. Typical applications include: Site-to-site primary distribution; remote production over unconstrained network; remote/athome production over the internet/REMI, as well as standard IPTV distribution. Featuring Ultra High Definition and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, Diamond+ OG can capture and stream 4K60p from either its 4x3G-SDI or 12G-SDI inputs and soon from its SMPTE 2110 input (over 25 Gbit SFP interface). The card supports 4:2:2 10-bit encoding; multichannel audio encoding as well as Zixi™, SRT, RIST and Pro-MPEG transport protection technology for reliable video, audio transmission over lossy networks. Thanks to the openGear scalable design, up to 10 UHD channels or 40 HD channels can be delivered in a 2RU. Its versatile design allows users to mix and match compatible openGear cards such as the MGW Ace Decoder OG for bidirectional contribution. The MGW Diamond+ OG is the latest release in VITEC’s range of openGear card products, delivering reliability and performance for continuous operation, with adaptive cooling, redundant power supplies and hot swappable capability.
Key Features: • HEVC / H.264 and MPEG-2 broadcast grade codec • Up to 4K60p input and encoding support • Support for 32 channels of audio • Large protocol support including UDP/RTP TS, RSTP, Zixi, RIST and SRT • Future-proof design with SMPTE2110 support in the roadmap • Compatible with openGear ecosystem for seamless integration
https://www.vitec.com
111 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER 3SS - 3 Screen Solutions 3Ready Control Center 3.0 3Ready Control Center 3.0 is the new, next-generation user experience (UX) management and optimization platform from acknowledged UX trailblazer, 3 Screen Solutions (3SS). With 3Ready Control Center 3.0, operators benefit from real-time management over presentation of content, features and branding of all service apps from one unified location. It gives super-aggregators a distinct competitive advantage by enabling content curation across all sources including third-party providers (e.g. Netflix), delivering one all-encompassing harmonious, personalized cross-device UX. Operators get greater-than-ever utility and flexibility when it comes to managing all client apps, including connected TV brands, STB, tablets, smartphones, etc., in a streamlined, highly efficient way. Critically, this advanced highly automated solution fulfills an operator’s requirement to enable a wider range of staff to perform editing and UX optimization, reducing dependence on technical specialists. Dashboards with easy-to-use functions and navigation can be used by someone without extensive technical knowledge. The UX can thus be adjusted rapidly, so subscribers enjoy new features earlier, enhancing loyalty and reducing churn. Editors don’t simply see lists of named UX elements to browse. They see highly visual representations of UI/UX features — headings, stripes, user buttons, icons, functions, etc. — so creating attractive app pages is intuitive. UX elements or “objects” populate a repository from which the editor can efficiently pick and arrange as desired. Intuitive tools empower editors to execute enhancements easily. Uniquely, the editor can assign a mix of content types within a single stripe, another key differentiator. This means the operator can entice the viewer with an array of content from
different sources all around the same genre or subject, displayed side-by-side. This powerful innovation truly demonstrates the value of super-aggregation; the provider can monetize more owned and third-party content flexibly, while the subscriber enjoys the widest possible choice, personalized to preferences. The editor can make necessary adaptations and all client apps automatically retrieve and apply them, saving time and effort. Harmonious, stable and scalable cross-device user experiences result. The editor gets a comprehensive view of available content and the UX elements. Accurate visual representations of what the viewer will see enables editors to make informed changes efficiently and get the UX just right. Editing can be done on the spot, i.e. setting titles and headings, selecting content and other actions. Spacing, color, text, buttons, images and entire stripes all can be moved around the screen to get the desired result, which can be previewed and activated rapidly. Previews from third-party apps can be easily accessed and assembled in a way that maximizes UX quality. New content can be seamlessly added. The operator can choose any system technology. 3Ready CC 3.0 operates with any backend, recommendation engine or player, eliminating vendor lock-in. Operators can automatically A/B test, adapt and improve services based on real-time feedback, and evaluate audience reaction individually or by customer segment, speedily test new features and modify services with assurance of user acceptance. Available as a SaaS, new 3Ready Control Center 3.0 gives operators more control and choice, and reduced operational costs, without compromising on quality.
https://3ready.tv/#controlcenter
112 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Avid Avid NEXIS | Edge As content creation teams continue to adapt to the realities of the global pandemic, they are looking for ways to connect and collaborate, without having to be co-located within facilities. That’s exactly what Avid delivered in its recent introduction of Avid NEXIS | EDGE. Extending the power of the proven, collaborative production tools the media and entertainment industry relies on daily, Avid NEXIS | EDGE enables editors to work from anywhere with the same media access, workflow, and user experience as if they were editing at the facility. And with the Avid NEXIS | EDGE web client, team members can find, organize, storyboard, edit and review content at the facility, at home, or on location, extending the limits of what’s possible. Avid NEXIS | EDGE empowers video editors to work concurrently on the same video content, sharing metadata and media on Avid NEXIS from anywhere. Project and bin metadata can be shared by editors. Media content can be automatically converted to lightweight streaming formats, enabling real time remote editing over standard internet connections. Media can also be downloaded remotely by editors for disconnected operation. Creative stakeholders, such as producers, can readily browse and review content using the Avid NEXIS | EDGE Web Client, while assistants can accelerate editing workflows – finding media, organizing projects, editing clips and storyboarding sequences. Editors using Adobe Premiere Pro can also access Avid NEXIS | EDGE with the Premiere Pro Editing Connector. Here are some of the unique capabilities that Avid NEXIS | EDGE offers: • Work from anywhere — Production teams can edit remotely by leveraging the known and trusted resources of a team’s facility and get the same experience as editing in-house. Change location without changing their workflow — even when they’re disconnected from the internet. And browse, search, organize, log, share, play, edit and review content using just a web browser, expanding collaboration to an extended team. • Leverage a global talent pool — Media producers can now expand their distributed workforce and tap into the global
talent pool by securely extending their collaborative remote video-editing workflows to skilled workers around the globe. As projects ramp up and down, teams can be scaled quickly and easily as needed, without constraint or physical boundaries. • Create with industry-proven tools — With Avid NEXIS | EDGE, there’s nothing new to learn. Professionals can continue to work with the tools they are used to, while connecting from anywhere. Avid NEXIS | EDGE provides seamless integration with Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid NEXIS shared storage, which now includes a new Avid NEXIS Client Manager that supports connection via secure VPN over Wi-Fi and WAN networks. • Uncomplicate workflows — With a cutting-edge, zero-relink workflow and high-quality proxy media, Avid NEXIS | EDGE enables users to switch from working with proxy to high-res media (and vice versa) with one button click, enabling editors to easily move from working in-facility to remotely.
https://www.avid.com/products/avid-nexis-edge
113 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Ross Video Ross Production Cloud Production Cloud is an end-to-end highly flexible production solution that is specifically designed for broadcast-quality content live production fully powered by the cloud and optimized for AWS. Supporting perpetual and subscription licensing models and operating natively within a customer supplied cloud ecosystem, the Ross Production Cloud allows production teams to collaborate and produce live shows and events, using the same interfaces that they are already experienced with. It combines production switching, real-time graphics, ingest, playout, newsroom, asset
management and remote contribution capabilities, with innovative ground-to-cloud technologies designed by Ross to bring on-premises SDI and NDI live feeds into the cloud ecosystem, and vice versa. Ross Production Cloud makes it easy for teams to expand their existing production capabilities, or experiment and explore new programs and formats with the reliability and support that they’ve come to expect from Ross solutions.
https://www.rossvideo.com
114 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental MediaTailor Channel Assembly AWS Elemental MediaTailor is a cloud-based channel assembly and personalized ad insertion service that allows video providers to create over-the-top (OTT) linear channels in a cost-efficient way, even for channels with low viewership. With MediaTailor Channel Assembly, virtual channels are created from existing multi-bitrate encoded and packaged content. Ad breaks can be inserted without having to condition the content using SCTE-35 markers, making it easier to monetize video. This is increasingly beneficial as free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels come online. Creating virtual channels with Channel Assembly is as simple as pulling together programming from existing sources and blending them into a linear playlist. Static or dynamic playlists can be created and streamed to viewers using previously transcoded video segments. Channel Assembly eliminates the need to re-transcode source content for multiple regional or viewer permutations. Using MediaTailor Channel Assembly to create a customized channel for a smaller audience group, such as a category of viewers based on interest or regional preference, is no longer cost-prohibitive. With Channel Assembly, users can select between multiple scheduling options such as loop content, or they can dynamically add programs into the schedule, either manually or by inserting a program lineup provided by a recommendation engine. They can also schedule ad breaks with intelligent program-aware rules. There are no upfront costs, and the service is pay-per-use, so that content owners can repurpose and monetize existing catalogs easily and affordably and deliver more personalized experiences to their audience. Seven West Media used Channel Assembly to create a sit-back channel of “Big Brother” season one content just ahead of the release of season two. The channel served as a segue to launch the upcoming season and drive new viewership. Available for 11 days leading up to the second season debut, the “Big Brother”
channel accounted for 41 percent of streaming minutes on Seven West Media’s digital-only channels, and the company also saw a 95 percent increase in VOD viewing of the content. Seven West Media tapped the technology again to create a similar channel ahead of the return of reality hit “Farmer Wants a Wife.” That content saw an uptick of 191 percent from a VOD consumption perspective, accounting for a 25 percent share of Seven West Media’s digital-only streaming minutes. Seven West Media has since started to build more channels that showcase exclusive sports, reality series and other programming using Channel Assembly, including channels for its ad-supported streaming service 7Plus. Channel Assembly was also key for streaming the tenth annual PBS Short Film Festival. Audiences watched a curated series of 25 short films from independent filmmakers playing back-to-back via an immersive WebXR beta experience accessible through compatible headsets or a web browser. Channel Assembly provided a simple, efficient and reliable way to quickly set up a live linear streaming channel to play each short film for the experience ahead of time.
https://aws.amazon.com/mediatailor/
115 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER BLUESHAPE GO7 Green Power Generator The GO7 power generator provides AC power silently via the powerful 1200Wh internal batteries and a pure sine wave inverter. Batteries are recharged by the integrated quick charger, which takes the unit from shut-off to full in seven hours. The unit has a charge-status indicator with dedicated status and error indicators, both visual and audible. The trolley case, designed for easy portability, is shock-proof with an IP67 rating against dust and moisture incursion and has a retractable handle. This model provides 240V power at a maximum of 700 watts. With a large majority of production equipment accepting either 240 or 110-volt power, the unit is ideal for remote productions, spot power at the point of need or mobile power on carts or other production equipment. Additionally, the unit can function as a power conditioner in areas where power spikes can damage sensitive production equipment. When continued operation is critical for computers, control panels and other key equipment, the GO7 provides the stability and the reserve power in the event of a grid-power blackout. The unit will provide years of use; when the batteries are depleted, the unit can be sent to a service center for battery replacement and safe recycling of the removed batteries with the unit being restored to full function. At less than 40 pounds, the GO7 can go wherever it is needed.
https://www.blueshapeusa.com/go7-generator
116 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Broadpeak peakVU.TV Video streaming consumption is skyrocketing, and today’s pay-TV operators must offer a world-class streaming service if they want to stay competitive. peakVU.TV provides U.S. broadband, cable, telco, utilities and wireless operators with a highly reliable and efficient solution for launching video streaming services, with all the features subscribers demand, including ultra-low-latency live playout, start-over TV, catchup TV, VOD and NDVR. Launching a video streaming service fast is important and with peakVU.TV operators can offer their customers a bestin-class video streaming service in 90 days. Fully hosted by Broadpeak, peakVU.TV dramatically speeds up the time to market for new streaming services while lowering operating expenses. peakVU.TV enables operators to replace costly broadcast services with a modern turnkey streaming solution in days, without requiring an HLS or a DASH expert and while being fully compliant with existing regulations (i.e., blackout, Emergency Alert System, regionalization). Broadpeak’s peakVU.TV video streaming service leverages advanced software solutions, including video origin, video packaging, and CDN, along with the company’s more than 10 years of IP adaptive bitrate experience. Through a strategic partnership with Vubiquity, peakVU.TV enables operators to stream more than 350 live national and local channels to subscribers. peakVU.TV offers the following unique features and benefits: • Unparalleled flexibility: The peakVU.TV service supports multiple deployment options. It can be fully hosted by Broadpeak, deployed on-premises, or a hybrid of both, giving service providers the flexibility to choose the option that best matches their business requirements. In addition, the peakVU.TV service allows operators to choose the user interface they feel most comfortable deploying. • Affordability: peakVU.TV is a managed service fully hosted by Broadpeak, allowing operators to launch video streaming offerings with low upfront costs and a pay-as-you-grow business model. • Exceptional quality of experience: With peakVU.TV, operators can provide subscribers with an outstanding streaming experience, including pristine video quality, fast zapping and bestin-class bitrate optimization. peakVU.TV allows operators to
finally compete with vMVPDs and offer a service that meets all the expectations of the new generation of TV viewers, including the desire for multiscreen access, asynchronous viewing and low latency to beat Twitter and WhatsApp feeds during sports events. • Outstanding reliability: peakVU.TV offers market-leading service availability and robust security based on industry practices, assuring high reliability for video streaming service. The peakVU.TV service is fully managed, with 24/7 aroundthe-clock dark NOC AI-assisted monitoring and support. • Increased profitability: peakVU.TV reduces opex for video streaming, while also improving revenue generation with upsell features like additional storage for network DVR and increase of concurrent streams. In addition, peakVU.TV opens up the possibility for operators to resell their CDN capacity via open caching and dynamic ad insertion with targeted ads. Offering a quick time to market, outstanding quality and competitive features, peakVU.TV is the most advanced new video solution on the market. peakVU.TV deserves to win the Best of Show Award for being the first streaming data plane as a service, accelerating the move to IP video and enabling operators to deliver a top-notch video streaming experience that drives new revenue.
https://peakvu.tv
117 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Covatic A-Type A-Type is a private-by-design solution for cross platform connected advertising and marketing. It offers broadcasters 100% addressability and detailed, reliable audience segmentation without tracking users. A-Type is designed to be GDPR, CCPA and Apple ATT safe and doesn’t require users to login. The innovative “on-device” approach means no cookies or personal IDs — no personal data is exposed. A-Type uses Covatic’s on-device processing to allocate groups of users to relevant third-party socio-demographic data, such as CACI ACORN or Experian MOSAIC segments, without exposing any form of ID. The on-device approach that A-Type uses ensures a future-proofed solution that delivers highly relevant ads and insights while protecting user privacy. This a significant advantage for publishers because they can be confident that the solution is GDPR-, CCPA- and Apple ATT-safe. It is great for advertisers because they can be reassured that audience insights aren’t misattributed. And it is great for consumers because information linked to them isn’t bought, sold and shared over the internet. All the data-processing “smart stuff” lives on the customer’s own kit — such as their phone, set-top box or browser — and so does all their personal data. It never needs to leave. They can exercise greater control over their data because it sits with them on their device. It is also really low latency
because all the information required to drive the ad chain is already on the device and ready to go.The only linking is of aggregated groups of users to their relevant audience segments. This creates highly relevant and sellable audiences. The solution is future-proofed and sustainable. It is designed to be GDPR-, CCPA- and ATT-safe and doesn’t need users to login, which means clients can make their entire user base addressable. Through Covatic’s association with Techstars and Comcast, the company has created a long-term, future-proof solution that meets the needs of publishers and advertisers alike: • GDPR-, CCPA- and Apple ATT-safe • Simple, transparent, and resilient tfraud • Doesn’t rely on third-party cookies • Doesn’t need users tlogin • Defends against strategic capture by Apple and Google Not only does A-Type have a superior privacy profile but it also groups audiences highly reliably into both standard and bespoke segments. A-Type is easy to implement and can be used programmatically, in PMP or to inform direct sales.
https://covatic.com/solutions/
118 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Genius Sports ScoreLink+ As demand for live sports content reaches an all-time high, Genius Sports introduces the ScoreLink+, a universal solution enabling professional turnkey broadcast graphic productions complete with real-time score data. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the ScoreLink+ provides automated end-toend sports broadcast graphic tools, which previously required entire production trucks to accomplish. Designed as a universal solution for any live sporting event, the ScoreLink+ benefits productions of all sizes equally. The ScoreLink+ connects to virtually any existing venue scoreboard system, either directly by provided interface cables or wireless signal when available. The device standardizes over 200 unique scoreboard protocols in real time and delivers game data into custom HTML-based graphic templates, which can be displayed within live video broadcasts. The game data updates automatically in sync and in real time with the venue scoreboard system throughout the broadcast. ScoreLink+ service subscribers can utilize Genius Sports’ accompanying web-based “SportzDesigner” to design completely custom graphics to display their scoreboard data. Graphics created within SportzDesigner can be assigned to the ScoreLink+ and made available over local or cloud networks as HTML graphics, or direct out of the dual HDMI ports on the device itself. Additionally, the ScoreLink+ can deliver data directly to third-party partner software in a variety of formats including .XML and JSON. Integrated third-party software partners include Grass Valley, VizRT, vMIX, OBS, NewBlue and many more. Within the ScoreLink+, Genius Sports combined a decade’s worth of innovation from Sportzcast’s real-time data technology with versatile features to support any modern production environment. Highlighted features of the device include: • Scoreboard data interface via direct scoreboard cable port or optionally via internal wireless scoreboard receiver. • Network connection options include an internal Wi-Fi modem and Gigabit LAN port allowing for total versatility on the go.
• Dual HDMI output ports allow for direct output of complete graphic overlays featuring scoreboard data. This can be utilized in traditional key-and-fill format or full screen to displays. • Located on the device is an OLED status screen to display a variety of device information, including configuration status, data preview, setting control and more. • Additionally, all features of the device can be controlled remotely via a standard web browser on a smart phone or computer.
https://geniussports.com/
119 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Marketron Marketron Integration Suite Disparate applications and software tools create data silos that impact decision-making and cause organizational inefficiencies. The Marketron Integration Suite, which leverages open APIs, connectors and custom integrations, gives Marketron customers the ability to consolidate disparate data sources — including linear, O&O and third-party digital advertising systems — into a single ecosystem. Through this consolidation, broadcasters centralize data, reduce bottlenecks, provide visibility and propel innovation. Our prebuilt integrations with leading third-party platforms for business functions like CRM and accounting, allow order, AR and sales data to pass between Marketron and these key systems. This allows broadcasters to:
• Sync order data from Marketron’s traffic platforms to CRM providers for insights on best customers • Extract inventory and spot data from Marketron to an existing measurement tool to analyze airtime revenue with other business data • Load digital and linear orders from other platforms into Marketron’s ecosystem for comprehensive data views and invoicing Our integrations increase efficiency through automation by eliminating manual processes and the need for multiple services or platforms to complete tasks. With the Marketron Integration Suite, broadcasters choose the solutions that will scale their business and we make them work together.
https://www.marketron.com/integrationsuite/
120 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER INVIDI Technologies Conexus INVIDI Conexus™ is a unifier of addressable distribution systems, allowing for a national addressable ecosystem to become a scaled reality. Until now that ecosystem has only been local but national capabilities have been growing and the upside is huge. By removing barriers among distributors, Conexus gives programmers access to a unified, scalable, addressable footprint along with powerful measurement capabilities. Its core principle is to act as a connect-once spigot to get access to different addressable advertising platforms and allow inventory owners to manage everything in a single location, knowing it will all play out exactly as planned. Think of it as the Rosetta Stone of addressable delivery — it reaches multiple distributors with one campaign, fully accessible, no matter whose tools are being used.
ences at scale, or national broadcasters looking to increase the value of their inventory, have had no easy or efficient way to tap into the diverse linear addressable ecosystem — until now. KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS The beauty of Conexus is its simplicity. With a one-time integration, Conexus provides streamlined execution and processing to programmers: • A centralized platform that brings together critical advertising campaign information like inventory, audience, scheduling, asset and impression details in a standard format operating within existing programmer systems. • Robust measurement to drive learnings, intelligence, optimization and strategy. • Interoperability with existing programmer systems, leveraging and preserving existing tools and processes. • A consolidated campaign management layer allowing programmers, media buyers or distributors to enter a campaign once and have it play across several distributor footprints. • Intelligent cross-platform ad decisions supported by rich data delivering the right ad, at the right time, no matter what content the target audience is watching or what technology they’re using to watch it. • A standards-based approach to promote and preserve interoperability with other distributors and third parties.
THE PROBLEM CONEXUS SOLVES Changing viewer behavior and antiquated measurement has resulted in diminishing ad revenues for programmers and distributors; and shifting consumer trends and diverse media options add to an already fractured market. Adding to these challenges, the industry that has evolved to service the marketplace is confusingly inconsistent — variations abound including how impressions, targeting data and reporting are handled and interpreted. And little attention is given to the larger ecosystem that includes nonaddressable advertising, or for leveraging what is already in place and working well. Because of the siloed nature of distributors, conducting a national addressable campaign across distributors requires countless entries across systems without Conexus. Advertisers looking for unduplicated reach and targeted audi-
https://www.invidi.com/our-solutions/invidi-conexus/
121 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Zixi Zixi ContentXchange Zixi understands that the delivery landscape has changed. Traditional rights models are rapidly evolving, leading to ever-increasing complexity in the technology needed to deliver on them. CXE is purpose-built to support the growing market need to rapidly create compelling collections of licensed live and linear channels. Connected TVs, smart devices, OTT platforms and more are looking to augment their VOD libraries with more “lean back” live and linear channel experiences. Once the content license is brokered, it can be difficult to orchestrate and onboard the licensed content, slowing down new service launches and creating audience churn. The reason this has been so painful is because traditionally, channel acquisition has required operating satellite downlink facilities, digital ingress points, fiber teleports and a myriad of additional technologies, or pay the premium for a managed service provider to aggregate the desired channels on their behalf. In either case, changes require significant lead-time and technical investment, often failing to meet the business agility required and with limited operational visibility into channel health and performance. Zixi ContentXchange (CXE) speeds up FAST and Subscription channel launches with access to thousands of premium entertainment and international live channels, bundled in to curated premium channel lineups and delivered with >99.999% availability. Live and linear channels are automatically normalized and distributed when, where and how needed. No new technology investment, no additional operational overhead. CXE dramatically reduces the technical challenges of onboarding hundreds or even thousands of linear channels. CXE has onboarded the necessary transport rights to deliver more than 5,000 live channels to IPTV and OTT destinations, including over 1,800 USA local affiliate stations in over 225 DMAs, almost 1,500 premium entertainment channel feeds and almost 2,000 international and regional programming feeds. All channels are onboarded into the Zixi CXE managed infrastructure by way of geographically diverse ingest paths. With
patented Zixi-bonded hitless failover, CXE delivers unparalleled uptime to all destinations. For content publishers, CXE offers a single delivery path to reach all of their affiliate destinations. Publishers simply deliver IP video feeds of their channels once and CXE provides advanced processing, transcoding and packaging to conform contribution feeds for each target destination. For content aggregators, CXE curates a customizable channel lineup and delivers these to redundant meet-me rooms or direct to the target ingress point, enabling aggregators to implement greatly simplified operations and to rapidly onboard new content partners. Key features of Zixi ContentXchange include: • Always-on, hitless, live video distribution through diverse signal paths • Incorporated linear, IPTV and OTT transport rights • Industry-best end-to-end encryption options • Simplified onboarding of customized and curated channel lineups • Significant cost savings and operational efficiency improvements CXE connects thousands of the world’s most valuable channels directly to the most watched destinations. With CXE, it has never been easier to spin up FAST and subscription channel services.
https://zixi.com/video-streaming-solutions/contentxchange/
122 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Cobalt Digital 9992-ENC & 9992-DEC SET Many broadcast contribution applications require synchronized content decoding. In such applications, there are several video sources (typically cameras), whose content needs to be transported using encoders to an equivalent number of remote decoders. At the decoders, the playback needs to be synchronized — frames that arrive together in the encoders are required to come out together in the decoders. Typical applications are sports and worship, where multiple camera angles are generated and need to be played in lockstep — either for immediate consumption (worship) or live program switching (sports). There are a few products available today in the market that provide such functionality over IP, using proprietary protocols. The Reliable Internet Stream Transport (RIST) Activity Group is completing the work on TR-06-4 Part 1, which provides an open industry specification for providing synchronized multistream transport. Cobalt Digital is one of the early adopters of RIST and a
contributor to the Specification. The Cobalt 9992-ENC and 9992DEC encoder/decoder pair feature the first industry implementation of synchronized decoding using the upcoming TR-06-4 Part 1 Specification. Since the synchronization is based on NTP (Network Time Protocol) as the time base, it does not require that the incoming signals to the encoders be genlocked. The synchronization method does not require any special communication between the encoders — they do not need to be multiple channels in the same card, and there is no limit to the number of channels that can be synchronized. The same applies to decoders. In fact, not only do the incoming signals not need to be genlocked, but they do also not even need to be in the same format or frame rate. In addition, all the standard features of RIST are available with synchronized decoding. These include reliable low-latency delivery over the internet, multilink support (both in Bonding and in Seamless Switching modes), as well as encryption and authentication.
https://www.cobaltdigital.com/search/9992
123 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Evertz Ease Live Interactive Graphics Ease Live drives engagement and monetization opportunities by the gamification of the viewer experience. Ease Live overlays graphical content onto live streams, allowing the viewer to interact with in-game live statistics, watch parties, polls/trivia, and sponsored betting and wagers without having to leave the event. With interactive graphics, content and rights owners can customize the user experience to increase both the level of user engagement and the length of time of engagement. As the cost of content rights becomes more expensive and the competition for audiences grows, content providers are looking for new ways to drive engagement and monetize content. Ease Live engages fans using three modes — stats, watch and play. Ease Live makes it easy for content providers to quickly launch additional layers of “value-added content” that can help offset costs. Everything is published through the cloud, which reduces the need for app level changes and shortens time to market for new innovative features. Used by many leagues, broadcasters and content creators, the platform creates, builds and distributes overlays to millions of users on connected devices, in real time. A unique feature of the platform is the Ease Live Data Service, which allows customers to synchronize their live broadcast moments with interactive graphics in a frame accurate manner. Ease Live Data Service is critical to the platform. It leverages Evertz’ years of experience in timing and synchronization to bridge the production timing and the OTT delivery platform to ensure frame accurate placement of interactive graphics on top of the customer’s video player. The Ease Live Data Service provides synchronization using the PTP from the production and injects timing information into the streams, which is then read by Bitmovin player and the Ease Live overlays. Getting the timing right is crucial for unlocking the commercial potential that interactive live streaming offers, as interactive content can be placed in relation to the game action and provide valuable clicks and conversions. As edge graphics
are rendered directly on the user’s own devices, the experience for each user can be tailored. To achieve this, it is crucial that everything is accurately timed, from the graphics events themselves to the metadata in the cloud; everything relates to the game time, which resides in ID3 information in the video streams. Ease Live platform also allows new versions to be published in real time, without going to the app stores, thus minimizing app level changes and shortening time to market. Broadcasters can also use the platform to build a first-party data strategy with Ease Live providing additional insights into viewer behavior. Ease Live also connects to any stats provider and can include data from any API. Content and graphical elements are gathered and stored in the cloud, then shipped to users in real time so that live updates are synchronized with the broadcast and sent out at the correct time as the game progresses. This ensures that users only get data that is relevant at the point at which they enter the stream.
https://www.easelive.tv/
124 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Evertz evertz.io The evertz.io platform, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, is helping customers reduce their time to market and avoid the costs and learning curves associated with leveraging cloud native playout, streaming and digital distribution technologies. Launched in October 2021, as part of the evertz.io platform, evertz.io Stream is a revolutionary streaming and playout SaaS service designed to meet the needs of OTT, DTC and Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) services, while operating with flexible hourly, daily and monthly pricing models. evertz.io uses hyper-scalable serverless microservices to deliver a level of agility and flexibility unique to the market, allowing customers to grow, scale and launch channels at any time knowing they will only pay for the services they use. The Holy Grail for broadcasters has always been to distribute their content to any platform, anywhere in the world quickly and easily, and evertz.io enables exactly that. evertz.io Stream allows media companies to launch successful OTT or FAST channels by providing all the features found in enterprise class broadcast playout systems, including live inputs, video/audio mixing, comprehensive multi-language captioning/subtitling processing and full graphics/branding capabilities. evertz.io Stream also delivers prebuilt recipes for delivery of OTT and FAST TV channels to services like Roku, Samsung TV+, YouTube TV, Tubi and more. evertz.io Stream’s prebuilt functionality enables content owners to easily launch channels as part of their distribution strategy. In addition, evertz.io Stream helps broadcasters and content creators maximize revenue and the monetization potential of their assets by making it easy and affordable to package and stream specialty, alternative and hyper-targeted channels that would previously have been too costly or too niche to launch.
evertz.io truly provides customers the freedom to take risks and discover new or underserved audiences to generate additional revenue. Designed and built by the team behind Evertz’ Emmy® Award-winning playout technology, evertz.io Stream is the only streaming service that combines the specific technological and feature requirements of both traditional broadcast channels and conventional OTT channels into a single platform. evertz. io Stream includes support for both file-based playback and advanced live events, a wide range of video streaming inputs and outputs including 4K UHD with HDR, as well as support for common transport protocols (RIST, SRT and Zixi). evertz. io Stream is ideal for pop-up” channels, pay-per-view events, limited duration sporting events and disaster recovery, among others.
https://evertz.io/
125 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Firstlight Media Firstlight Media Video CMS Successful OTT services thrive where audiences meet content — understanding habits, capitalizing on rising trends, navigating ebbs and flows characteristic of subscription services. The Firstlight Media Video CMS delivers best of data insights, editorial and entitlement capabilities and AI tools, driving informed decisions for P&L owners, programmers, CPOs and CTOs. It uniquely combines real-time data insights on consumer engagement, subscriber management and QoS into dashboards and enablement tools to inform product, marketing, content investment, technology investment decisions to drive more consumer engagement, time spent and monetization opportunities. Proof point: Since replacing a standard OVP solution with the Firstlight Media Video CMS solution we’ve seen: 25% increase in subscriber adds; 65% increase in streams; and 40% increase in stream starts per subscriber.
standing content affinity, adding poster variations, or exploring permutations of catalogs prepares content for editorial processes and feeds recommendation engines. Key features: Flexible data model based on industry standards, enabling common content types (e.g., movies, TV series, sports shows, etc.); metadata aggregation/enrichment, multi-language support, bulk updates, custom workflows; entitlements, business rules definitions, audit trail; and supports VOD, linear channels, live events, virtual channels via user interface/APIs. Storefront — Firstlight Media’s Video CMS provides editorial tools/automation to match users with content they want for personalized content experiences. The storefront mirrors end-user applications – i.e., carousels and landing pages; programmers can modify content selection/layout using remote configuration. Our storefront also supports multiple brands with one backend. Key features: Editorial and programmatic (i.e., query-based) content curation; recommendations based on content similarity, viewing habits, popular/trending signals, real-time metadata, plus A/B testing workflow; audience segmentation/targeting for zipcodes/ DMAs, language, subscription tier, custom attributes; automatic policy enforcement, e.g., blackouts, concurrency, geo-fencing. Insights — Engagement directly impacts bottom lines. Influencing requires clear information architecture, proper instrumentation to collect data across devices/third-party services, tools to visualize/evaluate emerging trends, and applied data science to extract information unavailable on first inspection. Key features — Real-time data pipeline: technology infrastructure consolidates audience, content, revenue signals; Engagement metrics/predefined dashboards focused on key OTT drivers: QoE, QoS, acquisition/churn, audience engagement, content performance, monetization; Actionable insights: cohort analysis to identify upsell opportunities, remarketing, churn prevention; Applied data science: AI/ML models trained to specific audience/ content context to drive personalization.
How It’s Built The Firstlight Media Video CMS is distinguished in the solution architecture: Datastore, facilitating discovery through data enhancement; Storefront, driving editorial with AI recommendation capabilities; and Insights, delivering dashboards and decision enablement tools. Firstlight Media’s Video CMS is foundational to our end-toend, cloud native platform that is built with an open architecture to futureproof customer investments. It supports high-concurrency/security requirements for sports/entertainment use cases and is compatible with multiple Audio/Video pipelines, end-user applications, and user management systems. It is ideal for orchestrating end-to-end digital distribution strategies. Combined, the three components below deliver best-in-class Video CMS and business enablement. Datastore — Firstlight Media’s Video CMS uniquely blends large sets of content attributes, often from multiple sources, into the combinatorial complexity of content rights. Under-
https://firstlight.ai/products/#video-cms
126 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Imagine Communications SureFire™ SureFire is a transformative approach to the way advertising is sold, scheduled and delivered for OTT. Consumers are comfortable with the idea of watching live and on-demand content on whatever delivery and viewing platform is appropriate at the time. It makes sense that they should receive the same viewing experience on any platform. This is not the case in one important aspect: the way commercials are delivered. In traditional linear TV, the commercials are subject to rules and standard practice: ads appropriate to the content and the audience and frequency capping are obvious considerations. Ad insertion on streamed services tends to be outsourced to third parties who are not bound by these same rules. The opportunity is there for advertising delivery, tailored down to the finest demographics, but the result is far too often highly repetitive ad selection — the same spot in every break — or blank slates leading to poor viewing experiences. Some broadcasters choose not to monetize digital streams because of the difficulties associated with ad insertion. Forecasts suggest that linear television advertising revenues will remain relatively flat in the coming years, while digital advertising is growing rapidly. Broadcast and media companies must find a way to replicate the premium values of linear television across ad-based streaming services. SureFire is a unique, new concept designed to address this industry need. It is a broadcast-quality video ad server that provides the linear-like control and brand protection needed to directly sell premium inventory on addressable streaming platforms — enabling media companies to sell and fulfill campaigns across their entire audience. When connected to an ad management system, SureFire leverages the same campaign, control and protection information used for linear TV, providing true linear-like ad decisioning for OTT, as well as unified and consistent ad decision quality across linear and digital. By eliminating silos, SureFire enables media companies to lower overall costs, while increasing margins and keeping more ad revenue via direct sales ― eliminating intermediaries that
take a percentage of revenue. The result is more revenue, higher eCPM prices and improved fill rates, as well as a great advertiser and viewer experience. SureFire operates as a managed cloud service on AWS, with the flexibility and scale to meet the needs of any media company from start-ups and pop-up channels to the largest broadcasters. Auto-scaling in the cloud means SureFire can support millions of ad requests per second, with sub 100ms response times whatever the load. SureFire benefits advertisers, viewers and broadcasters. Advertisers can see that their spots are reaching their target audience without the repetitive airings that are harmful to the brand. Viewers see commercials relevant to them and appropriate for the time of day no matter where they’re consuming content. Broadcasters achieve the best possible use of all their advertising inventory — and they do it with a unified technology stack at lower costs. With SureFire, media companies can increase revenue opportunities, reduce total cost of ownership (TCO), and deliver a consistent, quality experience for connected TV audiences.
https://www.imaginecommunications.com/SureFire
127 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
iSIZE BitGen We increasingly rely on virtual communication and interaction — everyone wants to present the “best version” of themselves, even when on the go. Despite the fact that today's wireless infrastructure does not suffice, there is an urgent need for technology enabling such augmented experiences. iSIZE's BitGen solves this problem — the world’s first AI solution for creating live, photorealistic avatars for telepresence, while delivering extreme 20–50x reduction in video bitrate and near-zero latency for interactive media and mixed reality. Users can have an avatar for every occasion, from video conversational services, AR/VR to Metaverse. As new forms of interactive communications emerge (photorealistic renderings, 3D, wearables), this type of capability is becoming increasingly important. BitGen draws on iSIZE’s expertise in deep neural networks, perceptual optimization, video communications, and know-how gained via its award-winning products and patented technology. BitGen moves into the realm of mixed reality, with parts of the scene real and one or more speakers added photorealistically, rendered at the point of viewing. It means that a live presenter is presented using as little as 3 kbps bandwidth. Under stringent ITU-T P.910 DCR quality scoring, it was found that the best-of-the-best in HEVC or VVC video encoding offer the same visual quality as BitGen at 20 to 50 times higher bitrate (60~150 kbps). Moreover, the quality of BitGen photorealistic avatars was found to be comparable to that of studio-based photorealistic avatar capture and rendering for the gaming or film industry. Importantly, (i) studio-based avatar creation uses multiple professional cameras capturing the person at multiple angles, at 100 times the capture time and cost; BitGen only requires a short video taken with a single camera of a typical mobile phone. (ii) studio-based avatars cannot be rendered in real time on commodity devices like mobile phones and laptops, and require substantial bandwidth to transfer the wireframe animation coordinates for the avatar; BitGen does not use wireframe meshes, as they can be inefficient and cause uncanny valley artifacts. Its photorealistic avatar rendering is produced based on a single
neural network generator. The result is a virtual representation, which is lifelike and photorealistic, generated in the receiving device in real time with modest GPU resources. Unlike other photorealistic avatar technologies that create life-like mouth and eye movement from a single frontal photo, BitGen can animate the head at multiple angles and closely follow all of the speaker’s facial expressions and movements. BitGen execution on commodity NVIDIA GTX or RTX GPUs uses as little as 4% of the GPU hardware (<50% of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 GPU for mobile deployment) for 1080p@25fps rendering quality, which scored over 4 on the ITU-T P.910 DCR 5-level scale. Such quality at such low GPU utilization means that the client-side technology is scalable and can render multiple incoming feeds via a single GPU. On the sender side the software is light enough to run on CPUs on standard hardware, even when streaming to multiple recipients. BitGen, the first-of-its-kind technology, is currently in proof-ofconcept testing with a select number of partners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cyrOO799PM
128 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER LTN Global LTN Lift Audiences on traditional linear platforms are shrinking, and media companies need robust digital distribution strategies powered by state-of-the-art technologies to reach viewers across OTT platforms. At the same time, faced with squeezed ad revenues and the rising cost of content, broadcasters need to maximize the yield from their content assets and drive cost savings. Media organizations are looking for ways to seamlessly integrate live and non-live content assets into their programming to reach viewers around the clock on various viewing platforms. LTN Lift is a fully supported, cloud-based playout solution for the automated creation of new channels to reach cross-platform audiences. LTN Lift brings together a range of LTN’s advanced playout, signaling and video transport technologies from across the LTN Ecosystem to automate versioning of a primary linear channel, seamlessly spinning up secondary channels and integrating both live and non-live programming in the cloud. Built around LTN’s revolutionary IP video network and portfolio of proprietary technology solutions, LTN Lift offers a highly redundant, scalable cloud-based service with virtual accessibility, meaning operators can manage the service anywhere. LTN Lift’s built-in signaling and ad enablement capabilities facilitate distribution and monetization across a wide range of downstream digital platforms. Utilizing LTN Schedule as a core playout mechanism, LTN Lift allows customers to build secondary or tertiary channels from the main channel. Customers can use LTN Lift to take a primary channel and create multiple versions with altered programming to fit cross-platform programming requirements or provide richer content for different audiences, integrating live and nonlive assets. LTN Lift includes signaling and triggering capabilities powered by LTN Connect to enable automatic asset creation. News and sports broadcasters can automatically create clipped versions
of shows and push content into LTN’s playout infrastructure for scheduled playout at a later time or for distribution via an on-demand platform. Ad signaling and insertion technology built-in to LTN Lift enables downstream monetization through advanced advertising capabilities on any platform. LTN Lift also harnesses LTN Transport to bring signals from primary stations or other locations into LTN’s playout infrastructure. The service facilitates seamless live source management and delivers derivative versions of channels for handoff to FAST, digital and OTT platforms. Today, organizations need solutions accessible from anywhere to align with operational requirements. LTN Lift fits those needs, empowering distributed workflows that allow channel creators to spin up services rapidly based on evolving requirements. LTN Lift offers a service with 24/7 dedicated support infrastructure and an expert team of engineers and broadcast professionals. This allows customers to reduce risk, free up resources for creative tasks, and focus on their content. As a software-first service in constant evolution, continual upgrades and new future-proofed features keep LTN Lift at the forefront of automated channel playout technology to ensure customers can achieve their business goals and maximize reach in the digital era.
https://ltnglobal.com/solutions/lift/more-revenue-with-ltn-lift
129 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Marketron Marketron Integration Suite Disparate applications and software tools create data silos that impact decision-making and cause organizational inefficiencies. The Marketron Integration Suite, which leverages open APIs, connectors and custom integrations, gives Marketron customers the ability to consolidate disparate data sources — including linear, O&O and third-party digital advertising systems — into a single ecosystem. Through this consolidation, broadcasters centralize data, reduce bottlenecks, provide visibility and propel innovation. Our prebuilt integrations with leading third-party platforms for business functions like CRM and accounting, allow order, AR and sales data to pass between Marketron and these key systems. This allows broadcasters to:
• Sync order data from Marketron’s traffic platforms to CRM providers for insights on best customers • Extract inventory and spot data from Marketron to an existing measurement tool to analyze airtime revenue with other business data • Load digital and linear orders from other platforms into Marketron’s ecosystem for comprehensive data views and invoicing Our integrations increase efficiency through automation by eliminating manual processes and the need for multiple services or platforms to complete tasks. With the Marketron Integration Suite, broadcasters choose the solutions that will scale their business and we make them work together.
https://www.marketron.com/integrationsuite/
130 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
NETINT Technologies Quadra VPU Hyperscale cloud gaming and metaverse video platforms must adopt new system architectures to meet the critical requirements of these new applications. Massively increased consumer consumption of video combined with the increased focus on environmental sustainability and reduced operational costs means current CPU-based encoding technologies will give way to ASIC-powered encoding, led by NETINT’s Quadra Video Processing Units (VPU). Today, only platforms like YouTube have dedicated ASICbased video encoding. With NETINT Quadra VPUs, everyone can enjoy the benefits that hardware brings regardless of application — OTT, IPTV, WebRTC, social-video, cloud gaming, metaverse. Quadra VPUs support all major video codecs including AV1 and HEVC, and they feature specialized AI and ML computational blocks for advanced video processing functions. Problem: Today, streaming video is dominated by OTT and IPTV services, which utilize a 1-to-many architecture that is less scalable for new services including live sports streaming and cloud gaming. Cloud gaming and metaverse applications run on remote servers with video streamed to users, requiring a 1:1 streaming architecture, placing unique challenges on service providers. Current data center video encoding technologies are based on software running on servers. A major limitation of this architecture is its inability to scale cost-effectively. Accommodating large scale growth requires an exponential increase in the data center server footprint, requiring costly facility upgrades with higher operational costs. The increased demand for power and HVAC capacity results in higher greenhouse gas emissions challenging environmental sustainability. With greater than 80% of internet traffic dedicated to video, network bandwidth is a finite resource, so an integral part of any expansion strategy must also optimize network bandwidth using next generation encoding codecs including AV1. Solution: Service providers need a drop-in solution to expand the capacity of their existing data centers and to optimize their network resources while lowering their TCO and carbon foot-
print. To achieve these goals, Service providers will transition from software to hardware encoding. NETINT's latest ASIC video encoder, the Quadra VPU is an ultra-high-density encoder that uniquely addresses the critical requirements of live streaming, social video, hyperscale cloud gaming and metaverse platforms. The Quadra VPU is available in U.2 and PCIe card form factors and is a simple upgrade for any x86 or Arm-based server. A server populated with Quadra VPUs can encode up to 48 4Kp60 game or metaverse streams or as many as 192 1080p60 streams in AV1, HEVC or H.264 video formats. Comparatively, a server utilizing software encoding will have capacity for only one or two 4K streams. This amounts to a 40x increase in capacity within the same server footprint utilizing Quadra VPUs. Quadra VPU is the only hardware video encoder supporting the next-generation AV1 codec backed by Netflix, Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon and more than 40 other leading technology companies. AV1 enables service providers to optimize network efficiency with up to a 50% bandwidth savings compared to HEVC. Service providers utilizing the Quadra VPU will experience a 40x reduction in Total Operating Cost and 80x reduction in carbon emissions compared to software.
https://8897277.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8897277/NETINT_Quadra_VPU_Product_Brief_%2021PB004-3.0.pdf
131 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Whip Media The Whip Media Exchange We've crossed a threshold in the last few years with respect to the huge volume of TV and film content, growing number of platforms and unprecedented demand for original and library content. Streaming platforms and operators are competing to grow, acquire and retain audiences in new markets, yet the volume of content, rights, platforms and pricing combinations make it difficult for content buyers and sellers to identify the right licensing opportunities at scale. Launched in 2022, the Whip Media Exchange is a global licensing and research platform for film and TV content that predicts demand across hundreds of thousands of titles while seamlessly enabling buyers and sellers to distribute and acquire content rights. Leading global buyers and sellers on the Whip Media Exchange include Lionsgate, Pluto TV, Globo, AMC Networks International Latin America, Vodafone Hungary, Tastemade and Keshet International, among many others. The key features of the Whip Media Exchange include: Data-Driven Licensing: The Exchange, via its proprietary Demand Score and other modeled insights, allows buyers and sellers to measure demand for titles across hundreds of platforms and more than 80 countries. The Demand Score, utilizing Whip Media's consumer sentiment and engagement data from 21 million viewers, provides a unique score for each film and TV title — allowing customers to predict content performance in a particular territory and on a particular platform. Robust Insights Around Hundreds of Thousands of Titles: The Whip Media Exchange offers buyers and sellers the ability to compare the predicted performance of a film or TV series against hundreds of thousands of new and library titles worldwide, whether the rights are listed on the exchange or not. This new research and content planning tool provides valuable insights around key audience characteristics, including age and gender, as well as similar titles — helping customers better evaluate what content to buy or sell, and where.
Real-Time Decision Making: Buyers can immediately see rights for the thousands of titles available to them to acquire across windows and territories. Sellers can easily list and offer rights to buyers through an intuitive dashboard. The Whip Media Exchange brings the most comprehensive set of consumer insights and predictive analytics into the licensing decision-making process on a global scale to accelerate deal making and drive revenue. It’s a next-generation data and licensing solution that solves the challenges faced by buyers and sellers, helping them make the right acquisition and distribution decisions for their audiences through a single platform. Combined with Whip Media’s existing scale and relationships, the Exchange can facilitate the entire content licensing process through a network of partners for localization and content delivery. Whip Media plays a central role in the content distribution ecosystem as it manages more than two trillion global VOD and EST transactions annually and 20 million avails for major content providers and distributors globally.
https://www.whipmedia.com/exchange/
132 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Blu Digital Group BluSpot BluSpot is the industry’s first fully automated cloud-based ad-marking and validation software to help content distributors create commercial insertions within media content for monetization to the FAST and AVOD market. BluSpot harnesses the power of AI to take any video and automatically detect ad placement opportunities for film and TV content intended to stream on advertising-based platforms, such as FAST ( (free ad-supported streaming TV) and AVOD platforms. It automatically detects scene changes, silence and black frames, and then validates selected ad breaks based on a database of custom or predefined rules. Within the BluSpot cloud-based user interface, detected ad breaks are validated in real time to ensure specification compliance with the intended video platform destination. With advanced NLE (nonlinear editing) controls, BluSpot also includes full video playback for millisecond accurate QC review and automatic delivery of finalized ad breaks in the target platform specification to any local or cloud destination. Blu Digital Group developed this product in response to the evolving streaming media marketplace, which has evolved from pay-per-view to subscription and now to advertising-funded models. They recognized that making the right choices contextually for ad breaks is crucial to keeping audiences engaged, connected and happy. What makes BluSpot different from other ad-marking products available is the combination of using AI coupled with keeping humans-in-the-loop to ensure that ad breaks enhance the viewer experience, rather than hinder it. The exploding AVOD and FAST markets have opened a significant new opportunity for content owners to monetize their content. eMarketer forecasts that the connected TV ad market in the United States will grow from $11.4 billion in 2021 to $16.4 billion in 2023. In addition, the FAST share of revenue will grow faster than the overall market. nScreenMedia says FAST reve-
nue will increase from $2.1 billion (18% of the CTV ad market) in 2021 to $4.1 billion (25% of the market) in 2023. BluSpot has been developed to help content owners take advantage of this rapidly growing market. BluSpot can be licensed as a standalone application, can integrate with other systems via API or be licensed with BluConductor, Blu’s project management and workflow management system for a full end-to-end digital media services solution. BluSpot is one of a number of digital supply chain products from Blu Digital Group. The company offers cloud-based solutions focused on automated content servicing and preparation and order management to video streaming platforms. These solutions include qualifying film and TV content and optimizing digital delivery of content through its proprietary software to enable content rights holders to reach new audiences and generate additional revenue streams. Blu’s customers include major Hollywood studios and global content owners.
https://bludigitalgroup.com/software/#bluspot
133 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Evoca Pilot Set Top Box Designed with the future in mind, the Evoca TV Pilot brings ATSC3.0 to the masses at an affordable price as the first consumer-available ATSC3.0 set-top box powered by Android TV. With integrated dual multimode ATSC3.0 and ATSC1.0 tuners, Pilot is based on existing, widely deployed designs and is the first set-top box to combine the best of streaming and broadcast for consumers regardless of what television is being used or the screen’s operating system. Built for initial deployment with Evoca TV’s unique programming bundles (including regional sports), Pilot allows customers to view Evoca TV programming, new ATSC3.0 programming, traditional OTA broadcasts and all of the best streaming apps all in one simple user interface. In addition, it is inexpensive enough for mass deployment to consumers and is capable of delivering 4K Ultra High Definition, High Dynamic Range and Dolby AC-4. Pilot meets the needs of today’s content delivery systems and the most discerning consumers. Detailed Specifications: • Android TV 11 • Full 4K/UHD/DR • Dolby AC-4 (MS-12) • Broadcom BCM-72180 SOC • 2x Sony CXD-6801 Tuners • ATSC 1.0 / ATSC 3.0 • Alticast Tuner Stack • Wi-Fi 6 2x2 2.4G/5G • 10/100 Ethernet • 16 GB eMMC
• 4 GB LPDDR4 • Bluetooth 5/BLE • Voice Remote • 1 x Multicolor LED • 1 Multifunction button • A3SA Ready • External USB Power Supply Evoca represents a brave new model for local content and sports on TV. Harnessing the power of NextGen TV technology the service provides a new way to watch regional sports networks (RSN) as well as local news, lifestyle and entertainment programming including some of the most popular video-on-demand programming and apps.
https://evoca.tv
134 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Pixellot DoublePlay Baseball is a complex game to film. Unlike other sports, it needs to be shot with at least two cameras, and with a wide-angle to capture the diamond. As a result, baseball games are costly to produce, meaning most lower league and youth games are never produced or broadcast. That’s why Pixellot launched DoublePlay, the world’s first automated multicamera production solution for baseball that enables customers to broadcast, monetize and analyze games inexpensively at scale. The affordable, end-to-end, multi-angle baseball solution provides automated live coverage of all the action from both the batter's and pitcher's side of the field. Pixellot camera systems contain multiple cameras in a single camera head unit, which itself is powered by a computer tower (video processing unit). The feed from each camera is stitched together to form a panoramic view of the field of play. From this panoramic view, an AI algorithm for baseball is applied to automatically detect the game action, switch camera angles, zoom in on the ball and track players, creating an authentic broadcast feed that follows the action, zooming in and out, and panning left and right. It’s quick to install and simple to set up, enabling baseball teams and leagues to quickly and easily reach their fans wherever they are via a direct-to-consumer OTT offering. Major League Baseball has deployed DoublePlay for the Draft League, a collegiate summer baseball league that serves as a showcase for top draft-eligible prospects, and the Appalachian League, a collegiate baseball league designed for rising freshmen and sophomores. As showcases for upcoming baseball talent, it was important to ensure that the games had quality coverage for the various stakeholders in the baseball ecosystem — scouts, managers,
coaches, etc. By the same token, especially with the economic downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was imperative to find a way to ensure the coverage was professional enough to meet the MLB brand image, while also being cost-efficient. MLB permanently installed 17 Pixellot cameras at all of the leagues’ venues to automatically record and stream live games and practices, and make them available on-demand. Since the systems are fully automated, there is no need for any operator to produce and broadcast — it’s all done automatically. DoublePlay enabled MLB to cost-effectively give players’ families, local communities, baseball fans and scouts across the country access to more than 500 games, showcasing up-andcoming talent and enabling them to build their fan base. With its maintenance-free operation and low production costs, DoublePlay provides a comprehensive 360-degree solution for any league or federation seeking to inexpensively provide full coverage for their games and practices.
https://www.pixellot.tv/products/pixellot-doubleplay-for-baseball/
135 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER ZIXI Zixi Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP) for 5G Networks Zixi is the architect of the Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP), the industry’s most complete live IP video workflow solution. In 2021, Zixi integrated support for managing 4K video streams on 5G networks within multi-access edge compute (MEC) infrastructure. Broadcast-quality content means no errors, and delivery across 5G networks should be no exception. With more than 14 years of pioneering delivery over IP networks, Zixi is uniquely positioned to enable new use cases for 5G delivery while ensuring broadcast quality and reliability. 5G networks and MEC infrastructure unlock exciting new opportunities that Zixi is helping bring to market, including ultra-low latency live remote production, satellite rationalization for distribution and new fan experiences both in and outside the venue. Like all IP networks, 5G requires protection against challenges like jitter, congestion, signal interruption and degradation. The Zixi SDVP now features optimizations necessary to fully operationalize live IP video delivery of pristine 4K video over 5G networks, completely untethering production and distribution. The new solution is being used to distribute time-sensitive video with unprecedented low latency without sacrificing image quality or broadcast reliability. The SDVP automates critical functions necessary to ensure that the full benefits of 5G radio networks and MEC infrastructure are achieved: 1) Edge Presence — In order to take advantage of the high-performance, low latency characteristics of 5G, you have to be able to move video processing and management to the 5G edge. The SDVP leverages ultra-low latency access to AWS compute and storage services enabled by AWS Wavelength at the Verizon 5G Edge to process huge amounts of UHD video and compress it for delivery to mobile devices. 2) Seamless Bonding of IP Networks — Accessing any radio network can introduce challenges of signal integrity, especially for mobile applications or in areas with high interference. The SDVP can seamlessly bond across diverse signal paths, including
redundant 5G access points, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE networks. This ensures uninterrupted video delivery that is essential in live production and distribution workflows. 3) Network Aware Adaptive Bitrate — The Zixi protocol is congestion- and network-aware, seamlessly adjusts to varying network conditions and employs patented, dynamic Forward Error Correction techniques for error-free video transport over 5G. Zixi’s unique ability to adapt the video quality to the available bandwidth makes it easy to maintain stream continuity for the optimal Quality of Experience, even as signal strength or traffic congestion changes. These innovations have been demonstrated to enable pristine quality, ultra low latency live 4K video backhaul for real-time production and distribution. At a time that sees the normalization of remote working and a proliferation in the ways programs reach viewers, Zixi’s SDVP provides the agility, reliability and broadcast-quality video securely from any source to any destination over flexible IP video routes.
https://zixi.com/2020/11/23/zixi-aws-verizon-live-stream-4k-content-on-5g/
136 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Zixi Zixi-as-a-Service (ZaaS) Zixi-as-a-Service (ZaaS) is a complete solution for enabling live video distribution from any location, in any format, delivered over any protocol, to any destination. ZaaS provides everything needed to receive contribution feeds and process, transcode, package and deliver them to any target location. It orchestrates cloud ingress into geographically distributed cloud operating environments. For customers that require live transcoding or other processing support, ZaaS provisions the necessary cloud infrastructure and automates distribution of low-latency broadcast-quality live video to any number of target endpoints. ZaaS customers have full visibility across the operating environment with Zixi ZEN Master providing real-time status views and access to all managed channel and infrastructure resources. In addition to the purpose-built live video operational model that ZaaS enables, ZaaS customers benefit from significant cloud egress fee mitigation and cost efficiencies. Delivering video through cloud infrastructure offers significant advantages in today’s market. Zixi customers are facing rapidly changing business and operating models and require the agility and scale that cloud delivers. The first wave of cloud adoption saw video distributors migrate large swaths of their post processing and delivery infrastructure to public cloud partners. In 2021, video publishers moved more contribution and remote production workflows to the cloud, and have been implementing multi-cloud strategies to mitigate risk and optimize costs. ZaaS is a key part of our customers’ multi-cloud strategies. Most of our customers are partnered with a public cloud provider like AWS, Azure or GCP. Protecting themselves from outages associated with a specific provider is increasingly a high priority. ZaaS provides a complete video-optimized cloud operating environment for live video distribution, securing a diverse signal path for uninterrupted streaming and providing industry-best
egress rates that dramatically reduce costs. At the heart of ZaaS is Zixi ZEN Master, which seamlessly coordinates bonding live channel distribution in both the customer public cloud account and the ZaaS account. This is critical to enabling continuous uninterrupted hitless playback, even if there are significant outages within either operating environment. ZaaS is built on top of the Zixi Software-Defined Video Platform. Key benefits of ZaaS include: • Centralized Management: ZEN Master provides a centralized view of the entire Zixi-enabled contribution and distribution network • Security: Best-in-class enhanced with DTLS and AES standards-based protection • Reliability: Experience ~100% uptime with Zixi’s patent pending hitless failover that provides redundant transmission options for high reliability and disaster recovery • Ultra-Low Latency: With network adaptive forward error correction and recovery, proven millisecond live linear latency • High Availability: Leverage the Zixi SDVP on Zixi as a Service to bond and load balance diverse internet or fiber circuits for increased high availability between facilities • Interoperability: Zixi is compatible with the largest ecosystem of encoders and decoders and live video protocols
https://zixi.com/video-streaming-solutions/zixi-as-a-service/
137 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Apantac SDM-NDI-QR-NDI Quad-Split Based on Smart Display Module (SDM) Intel Platform SDM modules are transforming the market for broadcast and AV display and video wall installations by eliminating the need to deploy different monitors and standalone extension and connection solutions for each application with the use of Apantac’s SDM Receivers for 12G UHD, HDBaseT, AV over IP and NDI. New for the 2022 NAB Show is a quad-split NDI Multiviewer, which decodes and displays up to 4 x 1080P high bandwidth NDI streams. Intel has been standardizing the system architecture for displays to help reduce design and development costs for over a decade with their OPS and SDM — Smart Display Module platforms. Apantac has partnered with Intel® and has built a series of SDM interfaces based on the Intel® Smart Display Module (SDM) platform. These modules plug directly into a designated slot on SDM-compatible displays, eliminating the need for external adapter boxes, power supplies and mounting hardware. Apantac SDM interfaces (cards) accept various input formats: 12G SDI, SDVoE, NDI, HDMI 2.0 over HDBaseT and converts them into an HDMI 2.0 signal usable by a monitor equipped with an Intel SDM slot. Simply slot the Apantac interfaces into an SDM-capable display for maximum flexibility in your video wall or display application. Because they draw power from the display and deliver their signals directly via an internal PCI-E connector, these modules eliminate the need for external power or external mounting enclosures. This presents several advantages over external converters including: 1. Compact and integrated into the display so saves space and power 2. Reduces components and cabling 3. Provides format flexibility today 4. Ensures future-proof format support
5. Improves reliability with low points of failure and easy troubleshooting Plus, the design is forward looking, so you can easily swap out one module that supports one format to another or even swap out the display and keep the same module. Apantac’s current line of Smart Display Module Interfaces include: • NDI Quadsplit Multiviewer (this product award nomination) • NDI Receiver • 12G Quadsplit Multiviewer • 12G SDI Receiver • UHD HDBaseT Receiver • AV over IP SDVoE Receiver on 10G Ethernet • AV over IP SDVoE Receiver over single mode and multimode fiber
https://www.apantac.com/products/crescent/SDM
138 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Epiphan Video AV.io 4K Epiphan AV.io 4K is a durable and easy-to-use HDMI-to-USB capture card. All the user has to do is connect their HDMI video source to the AV.io 4K, and the AV.io 4K to their computer via USB. Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems will auto-detect the AV.io 4K capture card — no driver installation required. This capture card has a rugged, all-metal exterior, ensuring it’ll stand up to repeated, long-term use. The same enclosure has even been used in space as part of Epiphan’s KVM2USB, a portable KVM-over-USB device originally developed for pro AV and IT applications. It’s successfully being used aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Plasma Kristall-4 (PK-4) research mission. With AV.io 4K, users can convert video signals from any HDMI-based camera into USB. Then they can select that source within their video conferencing program (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) as if it were a plug-and-play webcam. This enables users to achieve far better image quality than what’s possible with a webcam by using a mirrorless, DSLR, PTZ, camcorder, etc., connected via their capture card. The setup process is extremely simple since AV.io 4K leverages UVC drivers pre-installed on users’ computers. All it takes is connecting a video source to one end and the user’s computer to the other via USB. Whether the operating system is Windows, Mac or Linux, it will auto-detect the capture card. AV.io 4K captures resolutions up to 4096×2160, with 4K UHD video streaming at 30 fps and 1080p at 60 fps, and PCM audio over HDMI at up to 24-bit 96 kHz. The two-channel stereo audio output has automatic resampling at 48 kHz and encodes in 16-bit. AV.io 4K delivers ultra low latency, capturing HDMI video and audio as it happens. With just one to two frames of latency, viewers likely won’t notice any lag at all. Due to the durability and small size of AV.io 4K, users can transport it for use with multiple computer systems as required.
https://www.epiphan.com/products/avio-4k
139 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Epiphan Video Epiphan Cloud Epiphan Cloud is an online platform that centralizes the access, configuration, management and monitoring of deployed Epiphan devices — whether those are Pearl-2, Pearl Mini or Pearl Nano hardware encoders for streaming and recording, or LiveScrypt for automatic real-time transcription. All users have to do is log in to the centralized Epiphan Cloud dashboard to access and take control of connected Pearl or LiveScrypt devices. This includes every feature users would have access to if they were right there with the device. This makes it possible to create broadcast-quality video from any location — all without the need to set up cumbersome virtual private networks (VPNs) or network tunnels, or use unreliable remote desktop software. Epiphan Cloud makes it easy to work with collaborators around the world. When a user registers a Pearl system to a shared account, any team member with an Epiphan Cloud profile can control or monitor it from the platform’s centralized dashboard. This gives users the means to scale their operations dramatically by adding additional remote producers. An especially powerful Pearl capability when paired with remote control is Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) encoding and decoding, which enables pristine, low-latency streaming over any given network. Leveraging Epiphan Cloud as a production hub, users can bring together remote contributor feeds over SRT for unbeatable video and audio quality. End-to-end control is also very valuable for remote producers, making it possible to remotely configure and test everything before an event. This eases the burden on remote contributors and reduces the likelihood of errors during production. As well as remote access and control capabilities, Epiphan
Cloud makes it easy to monitor and manage a fleet of Epiphan devices. The platform’s customizable, cloud-based interface offers at-a-glance access to key device statistics such as system load and overall health, along with time-saving tools like multi-device firmware upgrades, email alerts and troubleshooting tips. 24/7 monitoring and a refined alerting system ensure users are first to know of any issues. Epiphan Cloud can send out an email or other communication as soon as it detects a production issue for fast resolution. Ultimately, any owner of a Pearl device can benefit from the flexibility and freedom of Epiphan Cloud’s remote production capabilities. Small teams or solo producers especially can unlock tons of efficiency with the ability to stream, record, mix and switch multiple productions from a single location — eliminating travel time and accommodation expenses. Users with multiple devices (e.g., higher-ed institutions, court systems) will also find their needs met with Epiphan Cloud’s powerful fleet management capabilities. Colleges and universities, for example, often have recording and streaming devices deployed across campus. Epiphan Cloud minimizes the IT time needed to manage these devices with centralized configuration and management, 24/7 monitoring and alerting, and time-saving tools like multi-device firmware upgrades.
https://www.epiphan.com/cloud
140 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Epiphan Video Epiphan LiveScrypt Epiphan LiveScrypt is a dedicated, automatic, live transcription device that converts speech to text in real time for display on monitors and mobile devices during live events. Powered by advanced speech recognition technology, LiveScrypt makes it easier to achieve high-quality audio for accurate AI-based transcription with built-in professional audio inputs. Event organizers need a way to accommodate attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing, or to improve engagement by ensuring everyone is able to follow along with what’s being said. Traditionally, these needs have been met by transcriptionists. The problem is, the supply of transcriptionists with the requisite skills for live transcription is far lower than those who work with pre-recorded audio. Due to their greater scarcity and qualifications, live transcriptionists command a high price that can be prohibitive for companies working with modest or maxed out budgets. Machine-based transcription is a more affordable alternative, but most automatic transcription services on the market today are for post production. Some work by having the user upload an audio recording, which is run through automatic transcription software with the result sent to the user. Of course, post-production solutions like these aren’t suitable for live events. Unlike most other automatic transcription solutions on the market, LiveScrypt works in real time, displaying transcribed speech on in-room monitors or attendees’ mobile devices with a simplified QR code setup process. A low initial hardware cost and minimal per-hour transcription fees make LiveScrypt a cost-effective alternative to traditional live transcription services. It’s the perfect automatic transcription solution for conferences, company town hall meetings, lectures, sermons and more. There’s no need to have a tech expert on hand to operate LiveScrypt. All users have to do is connect their audio source and Ethernet network to the device, plug LiveScrypt into a
power source, and press START on the built-in touch screen to enable hands-off live transcription. Using LiveScrypt’s built-in touch screen, users can also select customizations to suit their unique requirements. This includes selecting from multiple languages, light and dark settings to make transcriptions easier to read, automatic punctuation and profanity filters. With traditional live transcription, pressure to keep pace with speakers increases the rate of human transcription errors — especially after fatigue sets in. LiveScrypt maintains high transcription accuracy (~92%) from start to finish. Through regular firmware updates, LiveScrypt incorporates advances in Google’s leading speech recognition technology to add new features and improve its transcription capabilities. It’s possible to control and monitor deployed LiveScrypt units from anywhere in the world with Epiphan Cloud, which centralizes access, configuration and monitoring of Epiphan devices.
https://www.epiphan.com/products/livescrypt
141 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Epiphan Video Epiphan Unify Epiphan Unify is a cloud-based service that gives users the tools to remotely produce broadcast-quality live streams and recordings from a single virtual hub. Unify makes it possible to remotely record, switch, mix and restream 4K video, enabling users to create captivating ondemand content and frictionless multisite hybrid experiences. Remote contribution is easy with the power to extract Microsoft Teams video signals in HD with isolated audio. And because Unify is an open platform, users can work with the hardware they have while insulating their businesses against labor shortages and supply chain snags. Unify is built on industry-recognized standards for cloud security and reliability, and impenetrable Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) encryption keeps data safe from contribution to distribution. That means users can rest easy knowing their stuff is protected from unwanted access. After launching a Unify project, users can configure their encoding settings and define streaming destinations; add remote video and audio sources and monitor them; create layouts with a simplified yet powerful custom layout designer; and more. As a cloud-based solution, Unify scales to meet users’ ambitions, eliminating resource worries by delivering what’s needed to make their plans happen. Unify is an open platform without proprietary protocols, walled gardens or vendor locks of any kind. This makes it easy to collaborate with remote producers and remote contributors anywhere in the world. Producers can connect any SRT encoder or camera to Unify and record, restream, mix and switch fullscale live productions from a single intuitive dashboard. Unify is powered by Epiphan Media Engine (EME), which is the same framework found in Epiphan’s Pearl line of trusted hardware encoders and Epiphan Cloud, a cloud-based tool that adds
remote production and multi-device management capabilities to Epiphan edge devices (Pearl systems, LiveScrypt). As a cloud-based signal aggregator and virtual production solution, Unify provides live event professionals (corporate, education and services) with the ability to efficiently manage multiple event locations through a centralized virtual hub with a trusted UI and open architecture, unencumbered by local processing speeds. Since hybrid and virtual event production took off in 2020 in response to venue closures and physical distancing requirements, there hasn’t been an easy way to bring in signals from remote contributors in broadcast quality. Consequently, many producers have relied on video conferencing platforms and “pin farms” to enable them to add, remove and switch between contributors as the event unfolds. Unify streamlines hybrid event production and eliminates the need for costly and cumbersome pin farms with the tools to connect, create and optimize in the cloud. With the ability to extract Microsoft Teams video signals in HD, Unify enables producers to make their clients look like stars using the tools their clients know (i.e., Microsoft Teams). This way users can look and feel great on camera, which will help them come across as confident and composed. In turn, viewers will feel more engaged and receptive to the message they’re hearing.
https://www.epiphan.com/unify
142 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Epiphan Video Pearl Nano With its refined yet powerful feature set, Epiphan Pearl Nano offers the ultimate blend of portability and versatility. This dedicated streamer and recorder is a perfect fit for smallscale events and Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) contribution encoding, or as a throwdown encoder for a full production switcher. A recent firmware upgrade adds the option of encoding video using the H.265 compression standard, also known as High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). Compared to H.264, H.265 is far more efficient at compressing information than H.264, resulting in video files that are about half the size with about the same visual quality. Customers can upgrade Pearl Nano with 4K streaming and recording capabilities through an optional feature add-on. H.265 encoding complements this nicely by halving the size of the content while preserving the visual clarity that makes 4K video something to behold. Even when users are not shooting in 4K, H.265’s superior efficiency can come in handy — for example, when at a conference center or remote location where bandwidth is costly or using a mobile connection. The device can distribute content to any content distribution network (CDN) or streaming server using common protocols like RTMP and RTMPS, or more modern ones like SRT, HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) and Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). The system features an SD card reader for removable storage and can automatically transfer recorded files to a USB drive, local server or network-attached storage device. If more local storage is needed, users can add an M.2 SSD to Pearl Nano’s expansion bay. Direct integration with Panopto, Kaltura and YuJa lets users start and stop scheduled streaming or recording events using Nano’s built-in screen and controls. The system can also push recordings to a user’s folder on the deployed platform to save administration time after events. Pearl Nano is ideal for three key applications: small-scale live
event production, SRT contribution encoding or as a throwdown encoder for a full production switcher. For small-scale live event production: Built-in inputs for video and professional audio, HDMI pass-through and PoE+ make setup a breeze. Plus, Pearl Nano’s powerful custom layout designer lets users create anything from simple picture-in-picture layouts to eye-popping compositions featuring dynamic backgrounds and other custom graphics. For SRT contribution encoding: Pearl Nano is compact (206 mm x 150 mm x 43 mm) and light (907 g), making it affordable to ship out to remote participants. And with the system’s refined feature set, nontechnical users shouldn’t have any trouble setting up to send out their SRT contributions. As a throwdown encoder: Pearl Nano includes an SDI input — the standard in broadcasting — letting users produce an event with an existing system while streaming from Nano to a CDN of their choice. With its compact form factor, Nano won’t add more bulk to the workflow, and its refined streaming and recording capabilities are easy to use. For backup recordings, Pearl Nano offers an SD card slot and an expansion bay for an M.2 SSD.
https://www.epiphan.com/products/pearl-nano
143 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER IHSE USA DP 4X1 KVM Desktop Switch The Draco DPS41 desktop series of KVM switches offers a wide range of features that makes this one of the most flexible 4X1 KVM switches ever. The DPS41 can be customized to support single head, dual head, triple head or quad head computer systems. Starting with a base DisplayPort fourinput, single-head package, up to 4K60 can be supported. Additionally, it can support audio, USB-HID and USB 2.0 devices. As video standards continue to evolve, such as dual or quad head 4K resolutions, system integrators must match video hardware with the right type of switch or display management system. This complex task is especially difficult when multiple computers need to be accessed at the same workstation area that may be working across different platforms or networks. For users who need to monitor or manage several computers, the DPS41 provides an easy way to access them with a single mouse and keyboard. However, many desktop KVM switches are specifically built to a specific number of display I/Os and cannot be field upgraded when more display outputs are needed. The DPS41 is purposely designed to allow quick customization to support multiple displays. The DPS41 base unit is a standard two-slot desktop chassis with support for USB-HID, USB 2.0 and optional audio connections for up to four computers to a single DisplayPort monitor. When more displays are added, simply expand the DPS41 with the 4X1 video expansion card using IHSE’s standard six-slot chassis. All DPS41 cards fit in any IHSE frame type and integrate with any IHSE KVM systems. The DPS41 KVM switches series works in tandem with other IHSE switch products, making it even more secure and flexible. With a typical desktop switch environment, the CPU devices (computer or laptop) normally resides at the access point or endpoint device at the workstation. Each device must connect directly to the physical input of the switch and the USB-HID keyboard and mouse manages the process of changing what computer is shown on the display. When a DPS41 is added to a larger KVM switch, each input port on the 4X1 becomes the
access point for a larger number of sources connected at the KVM switch. With the operating system and software-agnostic DPS41, multiple computers or servers can be accessed from the same user or operator workstation regardless of the operating system. Computers running Windows OS, Linux OS or Apple OS can all be accessed from the same extender point of access. With a typical network environment, normally all computer sources need to reside on the same network IP address. An added advantage of the DPS41 is the ability to have each computer or source on a different network address, thus allowing up to four different IP networks to be managed or monitored from a single workstation. Access to the sources can only be done through the control port of the DPS41. Since the transport layer between the graphics card is not based on TCP/IP protocol, each computer can be considered an autonomous separation between networks.
https://www.ihseusa.com
144 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER IHSE USA Draco ultra SSFRC Esports Extenders In esports, competition milliseconds count. These professional, highly attended events are run on offline computers running frame rates of 120, 144 or even 240 fps. Therefore, video production must provide low latency and high frame rates for the gamer’s computers while producing audience previews in standard 1080p/60. Unfortunately, most streaming or production equipment used today are limited to 60 Hz, which means production teams need to be able to switch between real-world action and nonbroadcast resolutions and frame rates without losing quality or interfering with the gamer's computer graphics resolutions, which can jeopardize the match and/or the viewing experience. IHSE has solved this problem with the introduction of Synchronized Sequential Frame Rate Conversion (SSFRC) technology available in its Draco ultra series of DisplayPort and HDMI extenders. This technology can be used to enable live screen display, real-time broadcast, or super-slowmotion (slo-mo) replay when combined with an EVS replay system. SSFRC technology combines high frame rate (HFR) computer actions and broadcast transmission workflows into one extender system. Not only does this simplify the onsite infrastructure but also ensures that the same content is available everywhere at a pristine quality level that greatly enhances the overall impact of the event and enjoyment of viewers. This is a great solution for larger esports venues that service the general public and where expensive computer hardware needs to be moved closer to the production team or locked away to prevent accidental damage or potential theft. Production teams simply place the keyboard, mouse and high frame rate display at the player’s station. Connections between the computer and player’s station can be separated up to 10 km using fiber optic cable connections. Each Draco ultra SSFRC extender is then routed
back to the main KVM switch systems, allowing full control of the HFR computer used at each player’s station and which source is streamed to video walls, live broadcasts or media sites such as Twitch.tv or YouTube. With IHSE’s new Draco ultra SSFRC extenders a complete production system, supporting up to 240 frames per second for offline computers can be accomplished while secondary outputs can be configured to stream at 60 frames without additional encoders, decoders or other signal transmission devices that could create excessive latency or GPU bottlenecks in the gamer’s computer. The result is a pristine esports event that meets the highest quality broadcast production standards for today’s fast-paced and exciting matches.
https://www.ihse.com/solutions/esports/
145 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER PTZOptics SimplTrack Lite The SimplTrack Lite is a plug-and-play auto-tracking camera that automatically creates smooth tracking shots without the need for technology expertise or a camera operator. Users can simply unbox the camera, plug it into a USB 2.0 connection, and start recording or streaming with motion tracking: no software setup required. The camera can also be configured with specific preset tracking zones via a simple, one-time setup process. Preset zones can keep the camera centered on specific areas like whiteboards or conference tables. Capturing 1080p video with 20X optical zoom, a 59.5-degree field of view and 270 degrees of rotation, a single SimplTrack Lite can record or stream wide, tight or tracking shots of subjects from up to 55 feet away. The camera features 3.5mm audio jack for an external mic, and it can also capture audio using a computer’s built-in microphone when connected via USB. The SimplTrack Lite is fully compatible with most video conferencing, lecture capture and learning management systems and includes output options for NDI®|HX, USB, IP, SDI and HDMI. It’s designed for set-it-and-forget-it automated operation, but users that are looking for more control can enable Manual Mode via IP or included RS-232 cable to operate the camera with the included IR remote, a PTZ camera joystick controller or camera control apps. This is designed to be an affordable motion-tracking camera that pros will love — and everyone can use.
https://ptzoptics.com/simpltracklite
146 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Teradek Prism Flex Prism Flex is an encoder/decoder for low latency, 4K HDR, point-to-point streaming video. Designed for mission-critical IP video transport workflows, it is used by top brands like NASA, Netflix, NBCUniversal, BBC and USA Today for secure IP video delivery. Like its predecessor, the Cube, Prism Flex packs a ton of functionality into a tiny package — delivering secure, reliable, low-latency streaming with a wide variety of transport protocols. With a compact form and low power-draw, Prism Flex streams stunning 4K, 10-bit, 4:2:2 color-accurate video with 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 I/O, so it’s easy to integrate into any live production workspace and workflow. With on-board recording and store and forward functionality, it is the perfect complement to remote collaboration workflows. And, Prism Flex gives users secure monitoring options for viewing their streaming content with latency over WAN as low as 300ms on AppleTV, Mac OS and iOS devices. It provides color-accurate 4K HDR video streaming in AVC or HEVC. With 10-bit, 4:2:2 support, Prism Flex delivers the highest-quality streaming video for broadcast and production workflows. Pairing with Teradek’s Core cloud platform transforms Prism Flex into an IP video powerhouse — allowing users to remotely collaborate, manage, archive, monitor and distribute their streams to any and all destinations simultaneously. Prism Flex features and benefits when used with Teradek’s Core Cloud Platform: • Multi-streaming: Sends streams to multiple destinations simultaneously • Point-to-point streaming: As well as to Facebook and Youtube • Network bonding: Avoids mid-stream drops and bonds several internet connections together • Archiving: Saves on storage and keeps content in the cloud • Transcoding: Transcodes video to AVC before sending it out to CDNs • Remote management: Manages codec from anywhere • Store and Forward: Records and uploads files in chunks for efficient delivery
grow at a high demand. Prism Flex represents the modern evolution of the hardware and cloud connectivity needed to meet live production needs. Prism flex is an accessible 4K HDR streaming platform that can be easily scaled from independent content producers to enterprise business organizations. But image quality alone won’t cut it. The fail points of streaming still exist. That’s why Prism Flex is loaded with modernized functionality that is typically found in expensive encoders — network bonding for streaming in highly congested environments and events; 5.1 surround sound to support advanced audio reproduction; HEVC encoding for bandwidth optimization; cloud connectivity for security and evolving streaming demands; and ease of use. To illustrate the operation of the technology: Producing a live stream of the latest rocket launch, a Prism Flex encoder would be sitting at the remote production studio in Texas. All 4K HDR camera feeds are piped into the main switcher. The program output is then connected via 12G-SDI into the Prism Flex. Prism Flex transmits a low-latency video signal over the public internet to Teradek’s cloud ecosystem that distributes the show out Facebook Live, Youtube Live and the company’s website to receive over 1,000,000 views.
The trend towards 4K HDR content streaming continues to
http://tdek.co/prismflex-launch-pr
147 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
TSL Products PMiD and PMiD-CO Intelligent Power Distribution Units TSL launched its new PMiD and PMiD-CO intelligent Power Distribution Units (PDUs) at the NAB Show. Both units share a common architecture with the ‘-CO’ unit adding a second power inlet with internal changeover, to provide resilient power for devices that need it — all while maintaining the compact single rack unit (1RU) form factor that broadcasters expect. Thanks to a redesigned platform, both units can be supplied rated for operation at up to 32A (16/20A also available) — all with 14-way IEC C13 outlets. TSL has a long history of supplying power distribution specially designed to support broadcast use cases in fixed facilities and mobile systems, with more than 50,000 units sold to date. Intelligent units were first developed in 2005, adding voltage, current and power factor monitoring and individual output relay control via web browser UI and/or SNMP (e.g., failed power supplies can be detected when operating current drops below normal limits, immediately alerting support teams to a potential issue). TSL has deployments worldwide including many with multisite operations where systems can be effectively managed by remote engineering teams, reducing the need for on-site staff. The new platform has been developed to build on and improve the ability to manage installations remotely, not only supporting operational efficiency, but contributing to a more sustainable environment as equipment can be selectively
switched off when not required (e.g., out of hours working). In addition, as companies review how they can make their operations more sustainable, a major factor is power usage; the updated units only measure what is being used so improvements can be tracked and reported on. In time-critical situations, engineers will really appreciate the new always-on LCD display, with its intuitive user interface allowing flexible monitoring and operation in person. Other new features ensure these new units are even better suited to meet the needs of modern broadcast installations: • Security has been improved through the use of encrypted HTTPS communications. • Environmental monitoring of temperature/humidity via internal and optional external sensors. • Residual current measurement has been added, something that is becoming increasingly important to monitor across a facility. • Visual status indicator LEDs have been added to the rear (as well as the front) to help identify channels quickly and accurately. • Current waveforms across each of the 14 outputs can be visualized simultaneously as graphs on the web UI, allowing broadcasters to understand the characteristics of equipment and identify potential issues.
https://www.tslproducts.com/products/power-management/power-distribution-units
148 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
AJA Video Systems AJA HELO Plus Portable and resilient, HELO Plus offers the same flexible streaming and recording advantages as AJA’s popular HELO device, with a vastly expanded feature set inspired by user feedback. Offering powerful new production capabilities, HELO Plus features dual streaming outputs and multi-input processing; SRT support; advanced encoding/decoding; improved scheduling options and device operation; layouts and graphics insertion; and more. Designed to help video and streaming professionals achieve a higher production value with greater cost efficiency and a smaller gear footprint, HELO Plus includes a range of standout streaming and recording features. Dual streaming outputs allow users to create assets with different parameter settings per output (bit rate, GOP length, frame rate, picture geometry, b-frame cadence, etc.), and feed each into one of two destinations, so they can easily create assets with different parameter settings from a single input. HELO Plus users can also opt to select either of the device’s two encoders to drive USB, SD card or NAS recording, so that it can include the output of the layout. A new “Layouts” feature affords users a near-endless array of production possibilities, allowing an SDI input and HDMI input to be combined into a single output stream and add graphic overlays to the composite. Each live video source can be used in its own picture-in-picture (“PiP”) element and placed in their own PiP locations, with a matte background plus a graphic being used as a foreground element for titles and more. Users can then seamlessly move between layouts during a streaming session. Ten layouts are stored per preset, with 20 presets available, so set parameters can be recalled for specific events.
A built-in graphics framestore enables storage of more than 90 images in the device’s internal memory, while a built-in scheduler makes it easy to schedule independent recording/ streaming events ahead of an event. A complement to AJA Ki Pro Ultra 12G and Ki Pro GO recorders, HELO Plus can also participate in a Ki Pro “Group,” acting as a follower device that starts and stops streaming and/or recording upon group leader command. Alternatively, the HELO Plus can act as the leader and Ki Pros can be set to follow, or the HELO Plus can act as leader or follower to a group of HELO Plus devices. • Simultaneous high-quality H.264 HD streaming and recording • A web-based scheduler to set up recording/streaming events for specific dates and times without external control system • Powerful multi-input video and graphics processing to create sophisticated production looks using Layouts without external switchers and the ability to add more processing power to existing cost-efficient equipment • Dual streaming outputs for simultaneous live streaming to multiple content delivery networks with improved resiliency and efficiency • 3GSDI input and 3GSDI output • HDMI input/output • Stereo analog audio input/output • 1GigE network connection for control and SMB recording/ playback • dedicated MicroUSB port for use with AJA MiniConfig software • USB 3.2 Gen1 port (5 Gbps) for media recording and playback • SD card slot for media recording and playback • External power supply with locking connector
https://www.aja.com/products/helo-plus
149 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER G&D North America Inc. VisionXS-IP-DP-UHR Sometimes less is more: the new high-end extender product series VisionXS produced by German KVM manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D) comes with a small housing and big performance. Following the motto “smaller, more compact, more powerful,” G&D developed a new compact multi-purpose KVM tool. The high-performance KVM-over-IP extender is now available with high-performance video transmission for resolutions up to 4K60. Compared to its previous models, the VisionXS uses standard networks at up to 10 Gbps, opening up a new dimension of possibilities. Especially fast videos and frequently changing image content now require significantly less compression, thus improving the user experience many times over. Versatile Signals for the Best Video Experience In a first step, a high-end IP system for DisplayPort UHR has been launched and will be followed by devices for HDMI and DVI-I. For the VisionXS series, the manufacturer also relies on its proven, lossless compression bluedec™, which enables authentic, pixel-perfect video experiences.
application due to security measures such as VPN setup and encryption structure, customers whose applications have higher requirements, can use the KVM-over-IP matrix system ControlCenter-IP to enable instant switching. Safety Feature Transmission Redundancy As an additional safety feature, each device is equipped with two transmission ports. This enables fast switching to the fallback transmission line. No additional hardware is required to use the transmission redundancy, because the second port can be enabled via software key — even at a later date. If the product is connected to the KVM network via both transmission ports, switching quickly between both transmission interfaces is possible thanks to link aggregation.
Space-Saving The size of the modules is an important difference that stands out at first glance. The console modules of the VisionXS series are significantly smaller now and thus require less space. With their smaller size, the products can also be used in applications where space is a critical factor. Integrated Switch Functionality One of the highlights of the new VisionXS is the integrated “IPMUX” feature. With this function, one console manages several target IP addresses of up to 20 computer sources without the need for additional hardware. For simple applications, the onscreen display can be used to switch to the different sources. The advantages: low effort, fewer devices, smart application. Since the switching process is not seamless in the IP-MUX
Universal Compatibility Enables a High Degree of Flexibility An important advantage of VisionXS extenders is the ability to combine them with G&D’s matrix systems. For customers, this means even more flexibility, because VisionXS products can either be operated in pairs as an extender line or they can also be integrated into matrix installations.
https://www.gdsys.de/en/kvm-solutions/kvm-extenders/visionxs-ip-dp-uhr/
150 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Ross Video Ross Primestream Asset Management v 9.0 Primestream v9.0 advances MAM capabilities by bridging signal-based architecture with file-based workflow — all while allowing access remotely via a standard web browser. This is a significant contribution to the time, ease and quality of content creation for a wide range of applications. For example, broadcasters get a jump on their news production by being able to start editing news packages while a liveevent or last-minute breaking news is happening. Sports venue
can keep with the action by being able to make quick highlights on-the-fly, and corporate users can start editing live meetings while the meeting is still in session — allowing for a polished recording to be available on-demand in a timely fashion following the meeting. One of the key advantages of course, is the ability to do all or any of this production from both on-premises headquarters to remotely via web browser access or cloud.
https://www.rossvideo.com/primestream
151 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Ross Video Ross Production Cloud Production Cloud is an end-to-end highly flexible production solution that is specifically designed for broadcast-quality content live production fully powered by the cloud and optimized for AWS. Supporting perpetual and subscription licensing models and operating natively within a customer supplied cloud ecosystem, the Ross Production Cloud allows production teams to collaborate and produce live shows and events, using the same interfaces that they are already experienced with.
It combines production switching, real-time graphics, ingest, playout, newsroom, asset management and remote contribution capabilities, with innovative ground-to-cloud technologies designed by Ross to bring on-premises SDI and NDI live feeds into the cloud ecosystem, and vice versa. Ross Production Cloud makes it easy for teams to expand their existing production capabilities, or experiment and explore new programs and formats with the reliability and support that they’ve come to expect from Ross solutions.
https://www.rossvideo.com
152 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Ross Video Ross XPression Tessera One LED Display Graphics Control System Building on the impressive success of XPression Tessera, Tessera One is a complete LED content management system that features customizable XPression graphic templates and DashBoard Control Panels, which offer a simple and intuitive control interface that anyone can use. For sporting events, customers can either choose to create their own graphics or take advantage of Tessera One’s library of prebuilt and customizable graphics templates for baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer. Either way, Tessera One helps customers produce dynamic, data-driven content that will engage fans and generate new revenue through enhanced sponsorship opportunities. Tessera One is a simple, compact, affordable and powerful system. Its slimline 1RU chassis delivers up to three 1080P HD outputs, which can be mapped to fill over six million LED
pixels. It also utilizes low-latency video input processing of three frames latency. This means that a video input signal passed through Tessera One with graphics composited over it will not distract the fans in the stands. What they see on-screen will appear at the same time as it does on the playing surface or stage. From showing live event video with scoring to driving ribbon boards to additional fan engagement auxiliary displays , Tessera One delivers the same feature set as a traditional Tessera system in an all-in-one, cost-effective solution. And to complete your Ross Venue Control experience, Tessera One also provides licensing for XPression INcoder and DataLinq™. INcoder enables users to import video files using a watch folder-based workflow, and DataLinq™ makes it even easier for less experienced users to display scores or data in real time.
https://www.rossvideo.com/tessera
153 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Telos Alliance Telos Infinity Virtual Intercom Platform Trail-blazing Technology. Fully-Featured Cloud-Based Intercom. The Industry VIP. Telos Infinity® Virtual Intercom Platform (VIP) is the first fully-featured cloud-based intercom system. It delivers sophisticated comms virtually, making cloud-based media production workflows available on any device — smartphone, laptop, desktop or tablet. Users can even use third-party control devices, like Elgato’s Stream Deck®, to control Telos Infinity VIP. Now you can harness Telos Infinity IP Intercom’s award-winning performance, scalability, ease of integration and operational/cost efficiencies anywhere — at home, on-prem, site-to-site or in the cloud.
• Flexible Deployment Options • TelosCare™ PLUS Service Option for Premium Service & Support Deployment Options Meeting users where they are on the path toward virtualization, Telos Alliance offers several deployment options for VIP, which scales to suit users’ varying requirements, from a few remote smartphone VIP instances to an enterprise solution requiring hundreds of instances. • On-Prem: Use Telos Infinity VIP hardware appliance or your own server for on-prem installations. • Integrated: For both On-Prem or cloud versions, Telos Infinity VIP can be integrated with Telos Infinity hardware comms or any third-party intercom or audio subsystem using AES67 or SMPTE 2110-30 connectivity. • Cloud Server: Software for supported cloud platform installations. A complete communications infrastructure in the cloud with connectivity options for integration with third-party cloud-based and on-prem audio subsystems. • Software as a Service (SaaS): Various third-party Telos Alliance partners will offer a Telos Infinity VIP SaaS option, allowing users to lease it in a virtual environment.
Telos Infinity VIP • Cost-Efficient: Less maintenance, infrastructure, space required • Scaleable: Pay only for what you need • Ease of Use: Virtual panels on familiar devices (smartphone, computer, tablet) • Workflow Flexibility: At home, on-prem, site-to-site, in the cloud • Reliable, Proven Cloud Workflows
https://www.telosalliance.com/ip-intercom-communications/telos-infinity/VIP-virtual-intercom-platform
154 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Angry Audio C4 Chameleon Livestream Audio Processor Angry Audio introduces the Chameleon C4 Livestream Audio Processor. Built exclusively for streaming and HD audio applications, C4 is the first in a family of processors based on the company's Chameleon technology platform. Chameleon uses a form of artificial intelligence to analyze the incoming audio and make processing decisions accordingly. Parameters are being continuously adjusted to fit the audio content, which means the same device can be used for virtually any format. Because Chameleon does so much automatically, it is quite easy to deploy. Plug it in, hook it up, flip a few switches and you’re done. Of course, the true test of an audio processor is the sound. Chameleon is the brainchild of audio processing guru Cornelius “Corny” Gould. Everyone who knows Corny’s work will have high expectations. Angry Audio says the C4 delivers all the loudness, consistency and punch to make every stream sound great. C4 contains an exclusive precision loudness controller that is
adjustable from –24LUFS to –14LUFS. This is critical for anyone needing to comply with streaming loudness standards (and proposed standards) from Apple, Amazon, YouTube and others. The C4 is perfect for broadcasters with HD channels and/or livestreams. For syndicated programs, C4 makes the perfect “head unit” at an audio uplink before sending to affiliates. At –24LUFS, it can even be used before a radio station’s main overthe-air processor to improve consistency. For content creators, C4 delivers consistent loudness and the most polished, professional sound that will make their streams stand out from the rest. And with less than 5ms of latency, C4 can even be used for visual radio and the audio portion of live video programs, i.e., YouTube, Facebook live, etc. The C4 offers both analog and digital inputs and outputs, a premium headphone amplifier and a built-in power supply (no wall wart), all in a powder-coated RF-proof steel enclosure. The C4 has a list price of $999.
https://angryaudio.com/audiochameleon/
155 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
ATEN UC8000 MicLIVE 6-Channel Podcast AI Audio Mixer The MicLIVE 6-CH is the industry’s first AI-optimized audio mixer for podcasting as it adopts SmartEQ technology to deliver acoustic enhancement for an optimized voice recording experience. Integrating audio mixing equipment into a compact stage box housing, this audio mixer offers up to six-channel audio inputs, a built-in DSP and AD/DA converter, and it adds audio up to 24 bit/96 kHz to any USB-C-enabled laptop or tablet. To polish users’ audio creation, the MicLIVE 6-CH features the capability of varying a user’s voice with 24 Voice FX programs, SmartEQ, the jingle pads that can save up to eight special audio effects, and the auto ducking function. In addition, it ships with a built-in preamp that provides gain for the microphone’s signal and a phantom power (+48V) power supply, which is suitable for
connecting condenser microphones. Apart from its easy-to-use, flexible hardware design, the MicLIVE 6-CH works with dedicated ATEN software, OnAir Audio, giving users complete control over every parameter while allowing them to simply assign audio from their computer, as well as edit the audio and customize sound effects through the intuitive interface. Usually, broadcasting a live performance requires a team of professionals to assist with BGM or volume control, but thanks to the MicLIVE 6-CH, now just one user can create a pro-level broadcast. The MicLIVE 6-CH is an all-in-one solution tailormade for podcasts, talk shows, livestreaming, worship and music applications.
https://www.aten.com/us/en/products/usb-peripherals/content-creation/uc8000/
156 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Broadcast Bionics Bionic Table Turn any space into a studio and create your content using the “Bionic Table!” When space is at a premium but there’s no studio capacity to produce more content, harness all your resources by installing a Bionic Table anywhere you like! It’s designed to be used in the break-out zone, meeting room, coffee area or even in a corner of your own home. The concept is very simple, all you need is space for a regular table, and on it place 4x microphones, 4x headphones and an edge device such as a Microphone xNode. Then, connect your own laptop/tablet/smartphone and choose which utensils you want to use from the table menu (i.e mics, audio sources, audio beds/stings, phones, webcams, etc.). Contributors can connect to your Bionic Table session remotely, using a web mic, so you don’t even need to be in the same room, town or even country! To further simplify operations the Bionic Table also uses automix to control levels. Record your Bionic Table session and download your recording as a stereo mix or as full multitrack file. The Table output is a full broadcast-quality live audio stream, which is available over the network and can be made available to streaming services or as a recorded file. Because Table is accessed via your network, you’ll still have access to your recordings and your own specific table setting when you leave the Table. Once you’ve removed your device, it’s ready right away for another session. Bionic Table is a truly flexible way of turning any space in your facility into a studio without the need for expensive specialist studio equipment, and is completely adaptable to the user’s needs — all they need to bring to the Table is their device and their creativity!
https://bionics.co.uk/BionicTable.cshtml
157 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Cobalt Digital 9904-UDX-4K +UDX-DANTE-16x16 As audio channel counts continue to grow, using traditional point-to-point audio can pose challenges and limitations. Audioover-IP technologies not only overcome those challenges but also enable entirely new workflows and possibilities, in addition to leveraging commodity networking hardware. Dante, developed by Audinate, is an especially attractive audio-over-IP solution because setup, routing and monitoring are essentially plug-and-play. Transitioning to IP infrastructure can seem daunting but the Dante Controller software simplifies the process. Cobalt Digital has added Dante audio support to the already versatile 9904-UDX-4K openGear card. With the +UDXDANTE-16x16 license option, the 9904-UDX-4K can de/embed 16 channels of audio to/from an SDI or HDMI with full audio
routing capabilities between SDI, MADI and Dante, both input and output, adding up to 32 channels for a high-density solution without the need for any new hardware. Users will be able to ingest and process up to 16 audio channels from the network and will be able to output up to 16 channels back into the network using Dante and a standard RJ45 Ethernet connector making it a truly versatile solution. The 9904-UDX-4K supports video formats from SD up to 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 4K60, offers up/down/cross conversion, SDR/HDR conversion and extensive audio processing. The new +UDX-Dante-16x16 license brings high-density, convenience and very cost-effective support to Dante users’ focus on expanding pro AV applications and more support for live events.
https://www.cobaltdigital.com/products/4692/9904-udx-4k
158 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Dielectric FMP FM Pylon Antennas Dielectric will soon bring the high-efficiency, low windload and reliable innovation of its broadband pylon TV antennas to FM broadcasters. Dielectric’s new FMP antennas represent the broadcast industry’s first slot cavity microstrip FM antenna product family, bringing novel benefits to high-power FM broadcasters. Benefits include multicasting, pattern flexibility, increased reliability and small tower footprint. Television broadcasters have long valued pylon antennas for their straightforward designs, versatility and structural benefits such as low wind load The cylindrical design attributes of pylon antennas historically translated to narrow bandwidth characteristics that were impractical for FM signals. Dielectric’s engineering breakthroughs introduce techniques to increase that bandwidth, making full-band FM operation in pylon antennas a reality. The engineering breakthroughs of the FMP family include reducing the antenna Q factor, which improves the bandwidth from one to 20 percent; and stabilizing the H:V ratio across the band. The 20 percent bandwidth translates to full FM band operation, which is the key goal of the FMP antenna’s design. Dielectric has also included its patented parasitic dipole, which adds a vertical component to the existing horizontal signal. This creates more pattern options for FM broadcasters, including elliptical and circular polarization, and contributes to the substantial bandwidth increase. While Dielectric’s special pylon designs for FM radio differ from TV systems, the FMP family carries over many traditional pylon antenna benefits including optimal downward radiation, smaller size and lower weight. For example, FMP antennas reduce the number of parts used in equivalent ring-style antennas by more than 60 percent. The streamlined componentry also improves reliability over the long term as there are far fewer parts to repair or replace. The pylon design also provides broadcasters and tower crews with top-mounting options, in addition to the traditional side-mounted configurations of ring antennas. This is ideal for
high-power FM stations that want a true top-mounted omnidirectional antenna. The FMP can handle input powers of 100 kW and higher, which also makes the antenna excellent for combined operation of multiple stations. Dielectric’s FMP designs use full-wavelength spacing between antenna elements. This reduces the number of antenna elements required compared to ring-style designs, which require half-wavelength spacing, hence more elements, to cover the full FM band. The efficient design is also easy to scale. Antennas are built in four-layer building blocks and can be increased to eight or 12 bays to suit higher power requirements and elevation pattern gains. Dielectric’s abilities and drive to push innovation are showcased further with the actual FMP antenna design process, which was completed in a virtual environment and then quickly built to validate the designs. This process would traditionally take years and numerous iterations of parts to develop the antenna. Dielectric recently established a team of specialized engineers to create new designs quickly and efficiently using HFSS (High Frequency Simulation Software), which greatly accelerated the development process.
https://www.dielectric.com/antenna/new-fm/
159 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER DJB Software Inc. DJB Radio Studio A complete internet radio and podcasting solution in one! Meet DJB Radio Studio. Based on the wildly popular Button Box “infinite cart-wall” software, DJB Radio Studio allows you to connect up to 10 audio sources to a PC, laptop or Windows tablet for instant, professional audio podcasting or long-form recording. The on-screen virtual mixer features per-channel VU and lets you mix the local cart-wall or play-stack audio with any external USB mic, audio interface or analog device and simply record your podcast with the push of a button. Pause and resume your recording as needed, then edit the final product in an easy-to-use waveform editor. Everyone pulls double duty these days and DJB Radio Studio is no exception. This evolution of Button Broadcaster Pro carries all of the tools you need to run an internet stream or standby automation solution. A built-in scheduler will rotate music, IDs and other elements seamlessly. The database editor allows you to catalogue and categorize your audio. Drag and drop your tracks right onto the cart-wall and clean them up with the on-board waveform editor. Talent working remotely can mimic in-studio automation with the built-in playlist editor, play-stack, cart wall and “live-to-tape” voice tracking. Studio is perfect for morning shows, talk radio contributors, sports commentators and more! You bring the codec — DJB Radio brings the Studio. • Great for laptops or Windows® tablets • A grab-and-go solution for podcasting or remote broadcast
• Connect USB mics, audio interfaces or analog devices • Built-in Virtual Mixer with custom channel names • Mix up to 10 inputs at once • Record and edit podcasts with three simple mouse clicks • Create playlists or use the “infinite cartwall” for soundboard audio • Built-in scheduler for internet radio • Drag and drop audio directly onto buttons • Windows® 11-compatible www.djbradio.com|sales@djbradio.com|702.487.3336
https://www.djbradio.com/studio
160 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Inovonics Inc. 552 HD Radio Modulation Monitor Inovonics’ 552 HD Radio Modulation Monitor is the ideal choice for advanced FM and HD Radio signal monitoring. Simultaneously monitor in real time the off-air FM modulation along with up to four HD Radio Channels. The 552 collects a history of signal parameters and displays HD Radio™ album artwork, station logos and similar visuals on the remote web interface. The 552 includes a built-in BandScanner™, a real-time clock and full SNMP functionality. Rear-panel alarms constantly check for Audio Loss, RF Loss, Multipath and Overmodulation, while advanced notifications alert personnel with email or SMS messaging when any or all of the alarms occur. SNMP is fully supported.
remotely via any web-enabled device. • Spectrum graphs include RF Baseband, MPX and Left/Right Audio. O-Scope views for MPX, Pilot, RDS and all audio channels. • The 552 collects a history of signal parameters and displays HD Radio™ album artwork, station logos and similar visuals via remote web interface. • Measures real-time audio diversity delay between the FM and HD1 broadcast. • Full-time off-air program audio is available simultaneously as L/R-analog, AES3-digital and Dante®-based AES67 AoIP streaming, all with adjustable levels, plus a multi-listener internet IP stream and front-panel headphone jack. • StationRotation enables the user to monitor up to 30 different Station Presets.
Features • Monitor off-air analog FM and HD Radio signals (HD1-HD8)
https://www.inovonicsbroadcast.com/product/552
161 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Marketron Marketron Integration Suite Disparate applications and software tools create data silos that impact decision-making and cause organizational inefficiencies. The Marketron Integration Suite, which leverages open APIs, connectors and custom integrations, gives Marketron customers the ability to consolidate disparate data sources — including linear, O&O and third-party digital advertising systems — into a single ecosystem. Through this consolidation, broadcasters centralize data, reduce bottlenecks, provide visibility and propel innovation. Our prebuilt integrations with leading third-party platforms for business functions like CRM and accounting, allow order, AR and sales data to pass between Marketron and these key systems. This allows broadcasters to:
• Sync order data from Marketron’s traffic platforms to CRM providers for insights on best customers • Extract inventory and spot data from Marketron to an existing measurement tool to analyze airtime revenue with other business data • Load digital and linear orders from other platforms into Marketron’s ecosystem for comprehensive data views and invoicing Our integrations increase efficiency through automation by eliminating manual processes and the need for multiple services or platforms to complete tasks. With the Marketron Integration Suite, broadcasters choose the solutions that will scale their business and we make them work together.
https://www.marketron.com/integrationsuite/
162 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Marketron Marketron NXT Siloed media buying causes inefficiencies for advertisers and lost revenue potential for broadcasters. Radio stations need to provide advertisers a marketing solution comprising both traditional radio and digital advertising tactics. With this in mind, we built Marketron NXT — a digital ad platform built specifically for radio stations to increase revenue by offering a simple and professional way to create cross-channel proposals for advertisers. Selling third-party digital advertising amplifies existing linear advertising programs.
Complete with a digital + radio proposal tool, order entry and execution, transparent reporting and consolidated invoicing, NXT boosts digital sales by 15% and streamlines the process from quote to cash. NXT includes comprehensive and ongoing training for the entire organization to ensure that your team can successfully sell and support digital products, making revenue growth a reality.
https://www.marketron.com/marketronnxt/
163 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Nautel AUI — Advanced User Interface The original Nautel Advanced User Interface (AUI), launched in 2009, set the industry standard for sophisticated remote monitoring and control of broadcast transmitters. This year Nautel launches a totally rewritten AUI with an all-new operating system and architecture, that will be standard on all new Nautel transmitters and offered as a free upgrade for all existing AUI-enabled transmitters. The new AUI platform provides performance, security and a path well into the future. The AUI places powerful monitoring and control in your hands whether local to the transmitter or remote via desktop computer, tablet or phone, and requires no additional software to be installed on these devices. It enables speedy diagnosis of transmission issues and provides the critical information and tools for immediate response. Radio engineers can avoid trips to the transmitter site, which translates into better use of their valuable time and financial savings for the station. The AUI is accessed locally via a LAN connection or remotely over the internet using any modern browser. AUI screens are easy to navigate and read, clearly displaying the parameters that matter the most. No matter where you are, you’re only moments away from ensuring your transmitter is operating optimally.
• RDS, SNMP and Presets normally seen only in high-power transmitters • User-defined Presets with automated Scheduler • Customizable automated notifications • Optional Orban Inside™ audio processing • Nautel PhoneHome™ • Built-in reports for critical data and settings • Runs on any browser and each transmitter’s AUI is bookmarkable • User-defined fields for transmitter name and serial number • Low bandwidth usage
AUI Features & Benefits • Powerful, secure HTML5 AUI • Built-in instrumentation, including Spectrum Analyzer, Lissajous and more
Availability The new AUI is currently in beta and will soon be rolled out for existing Nautel transmitters series, including the new VX Series. The upgrade for existing customers is free.
https://www.nautel.com/products/innovations/remote-access/aui/
164 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Nautel Nautel Software-Based Air Chain At the 2022 NAB Show Nautel demonstrated its disruptive approach to the FM+HD air chain. In a collaboration with the Telos Alliance, Nautel has introduced Software-Based Air Chains in a webinar series “Radio Air-Chain Innovation” (visit nautel.com/ webinars/digital-radio/ for these archived webinars). Nautel demonstrated how software air chains can provide: • multiple standby air chains • integrated Omnia for Nautel audio processing • secure transport • the elimination of FM-HD blend issues These benefits can be achieved no matter whether the air chain originates at a local studio, an on-premises data center or even the cloud.
form, whether this is a physical on-site server, an on-premises data center, or even cloud services like Amazon Web Services. To maintain consistent timing across the entire air chain Nautel synchronizes all air-chain services to the high-quality crystal in the broadcast transmitter all the way back to the air-chain ingest in the cloud or other server without the need for GPS or other synchronization. This architecture definitively solves the FM-HD1 time alignment problem challenging the industry today. Furthermore, an integrated transport allows for multiple air chains to feed a transmitter concurrently with graceful changeover from one air chain to a backup or emergency air chain. The integrated Omnia audio processor can auto-detect EAS alert tones and switch inputs and the implementation can also automatically switch over the entire air chain from a remote feed to a local emergency feed. This includes all integrated services from FM HD1-4 audio, RDS and HD EAS.
Additional Detail Nautel is pursuing its vision to provide a transmitter that takes one or a few simple IP addresses or URIs for all its content needs and push all the intricacies and station personalization into a better managed software environment, where remote assistance can be provided. Nautel has developed an integrated FM and HD Radio transport architecture that allows for a location and platform agnostic air chain architecture bonding all broadcast services into a single transport stream that ends at the transmitter exciter and originates from software-based air chains. Software-based air-chain services (ACS) can be virtualized or containerized allowing for a common implementation regardless of the underlying host plat-
https://www.nautel.com/products/innovations/hd-radio/radio-air-chain/
165 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Nautel VX Series The VX Series consists of 10 FM analog transmitter models with power output ranging from 150 W to 5 kW. Building on the legacy of the company’s proven VS Series, the new VX Series offers advanced control, instrumentation, and features in a compact footprint. The architecture of the new Series incorporates state-of-the-art DSP, power supply and FET technology to ensure robust performance, serviceability and value. The RF power chain, based on a new high-voltage FET, exhibits the best analog FM performance we’ve seen in our design labs. This new power chain is mated with a dual core DSP for pristine signal generation, giving large amounts of headroom for future enhancements. The VX Series uses titanium-grade industrial power supplies implemented as hot-swappable with front-panel fingertip removal. Control of the VX Series is accomplished via Nautel’s new HTML5 Advanced User Interface (AUI), which is the result of a complete OS and UI redesign.
The VX Series offers multiple features and outstanding value: • A choice of 10 TPO levels ranging from 150 W to 5 kW • High AC-RF efficiency • Compact rack-mount design, only 20-inch to 25-inch depths • Large, easy-to-view color display • Easy access to FETs, fans and filters for quick serviceability • Powerful, secure HTML5 AUI • Instrumentation, RDS, SNMP and Presets normally seen only in high-power transmitters • Optional Orban Inside™ audio processing • Nautel PhoneHome™ for enhanced service • Four-year warranty Nautel is accepting pre-orders for the VX Series now; first deliveries for the 150 W to 2 kW systems anticipated in Q4 2022, and 3 kW to 5 kW shipments in Q1 2023.
https://www.nautel.com/fm-transmitters/vx-series
166 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Orban Labs OPTIMOD XPN-Enterprise Virtualization and centralized operating environments are rapidly gaining interest in the radio and internet broadcast markets. Orban, a longtime innovator in processing, again leads the way with OPTIMOD XPN-Enterprise™, a Linux-based, customizable processing platform for control of multiple signals from a single point. The first product of its kind to reach the market, XPN-Enterprise is easy to use and provides proprietary OptiCloud™ processing for up to eight FM and eight HD/DAB+ radio channels, plus eight internet stream channels, for a total of 24 output channels in a 1RU package and using appropriate XPN-Enterprise Nodes for connection to the server processing platform. Content to be OptiCloud-processed is brought to one location, utilizing any of the most common methods of audio transport — AES3, AES-67, SMPTE 2110-30, Dante® or Livewire+, and creates the necessary outputs (analog, AES3, FM Composite, DMPX and Orban uMPX™) using the appropriate XPN-Enterprise Nodes for distribution to each transmitter site or stream. This state-of-the-art AoIP audio processing system allows individual processing for each input; factory presets give users a quick start for each format in the group or cluster, and exclusive “Less-More” controls make it easy for users to fine-tune the processing to meet their signature sound. Kantar or Nielsen watermarking for each broadcast output is provided using the appropriate node. Further simplifying the processing path, Orban offers a full line of “Last Mile” solutions including low bandwidth (<500 kbps for FM and HD-1, HD-2 and HD-3) solutions for virtually any requirement. This service proves useful to stations whose trans-
mitter sites are located in areas with less-than-ideal internet access. Several XPN-Enterprise I/O Nodes, additionally, are PoE (Power over Ethernet) capable, further simplifying installation. The XPN-Enterprise platform is highly cost-effective for broadcast groups or clusters, as well as for other users who need to manage several broadcast and/or streaming signals from a central location. Multiple “big iron” product enclosures — and their associated rack space, I/O and cabling — are replaced with a single 1RU server and easily wired AoIP nodes. Users also appreciate the immediate access and control to stations’ signals, whether the physical plant is near or far away. The first user of XPN-Enterprise has planned purchases of more than 400 channels; those systems are now being deployed, with plans to add OptiCloud cloud-based capabilities in the near future. For more information on OPTIMOD XPN-Enterprise, contact Orban (sales@orban.com) or visit https://orban.com.
https://www.orban.com/overview-optimod-xpn-enterprise
167 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER RCS RCS Disaster Recovery From natural disasters to viruses taking down IT infrastructure, whatever the emergency, RCS Disaster Recovery is a high-tech, cutting-edge safety net that gets broadcasters back on-air, easily, efficiently and quickly. Unlike other automation systems that require multiple external pieces of software, RCS Cloud is a true disaster recovery cloud solution, written for and on Amazon Web Services, following best practices and securities. RCS Cloud disaster recovery can not only back up your audio, logs, metadata and SQL backups, securely with Zetta’s built-in Site Replication service, but we’ve also incorporated business-friendly workflows. For example, if you have a remote talent without VPN access, then utilize RCS Cloud’s empty voice track positions, already built into your everyday clock, to voice track using RCS Cloud’s two-factor authentication to forward their voice tracks to your local Zetta system.
https://www.rcsworks.com/disaster-recovery/
168 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Teradek Prism Flex Prism Flex is an encoder/decoder for low latency, 4K HDR, point-to-point streaming video. Designed for mission-critical IP video transport workflows, it is used by top brands like NASA, Netflix, NBCUniversal, BBC and USA Today for secure IP video delivery. Like its predecessor, the Cube, Prism Flex packs a ton of functionality into a tiny package — delivering secure, reliable, low-latency streaming with a wide variety of transport protocols. With a compact form and low power-draw, Prism Flex streams stunning 4K, 10-bit, 4:2:2 color-accurate video with 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 I/O, so its easy to integrate into any live production workspace and workflow. With on-board recording and store and forward functionality, it is the perfect complement to remote collaboration workflows. And, Prism Flex gives users secure monitoring options for viewing their streaming content with latency over WAN as low as 300ms on AppleTV, Mac OS and iOS devices. It provides color-accurate 4K HDR video streaming in AVC or HEVC. With 10-bit, 4:2:2 support, Prism Flex delivers the highest quality streaming video for broadcast and production workflows. Pairing with Teradek’s Core cloud platform transforms Prism Flex into an IP video powerhouse — allowing users to remotely collaborate, manage, archive, monitor and distribute their streams to any and all destinations simultaneously. Prism Flex features and benefits when used with Teradek’s Core Cloud Platform include: • Multi-streaming: Sends streams to multiple destinations simultaneously • Point-to-point streaming: As well as to Facebook and YouTube • Network Bonding: Avoids mid-stream drops and bonds several internet connections together. • Archiving: Saves on storage and keeps content in the cloud • Transcoding: Transcodes video to AVC before sending it out to CDNs • Remote Management: Manages codec from anywhere • Store and Forward: Records and uploads files in chunks for efficient delivery
grow at a high demand. Prism Flex represents the modern evolution of the hardware and cloud connectivity needed to meet live production needs. Prism flex is an accessible 4K HDR streaming platform that can be easily scaled from independent content producers to enterprise business organizations. But image quality alone won’t cut it. The fail points of streaming still exist, that’s why Prism Flex is loaded with modernized functionality that is typically found in expensive encoders. Network bonding for streaming in highly congested environments and events, 5.1 Surround Sound to support advanced audio reproduction, HEVC encoding for bandwidth optimization, cloud connectivity for security and evolving streaming demands and ease of use. To illustrate the operation of the technology: Producing a live stream of the latest rocket launch, a Prism Flex encoder would be sitting at the remote production studio in Texas. All 4K HDR camera feeds are piped into the main switcher. The program output is then connected via 12G-SDI into the Prism Flex. Prism Flex transmits a low-latency video signal over the public internet to Teradek’s cloud ecosystem that distributes the show out Facebook Live, YouTube Live and the companies website to receive more than 1,000,000 views.
The trend towards 4K HDR content streaming continues to
http://tdek.co/prismflex-launch-pr
169 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER The MaxxKonnect Group Thimeo StereoTool STXtreme Advanced Audio Processor Thimeo STXtreme is a new FM, AM, HD and/or streaming audio processor from Thimeo Audio Technology. This advanced audio processing appliance offers all the well-known features of Thimeo’s software audio processor — Stereo Tool. Highlighted features include: • Delossifier repairs and removes audible MPEG artifacts and restores missing high frequency audio spectrum. • Declipper repairs and restores clipped audio, and the FM section optimizes the signal for maximum loudness, dynamics and clarity. This helps improve listener reception in fringe and multipath areas. • Advanced Composite Clipper, by Hans Van Zutphen, optimizes the signal for maximum loudness, dynamics and clarity. This helps improve listener reception in fringe and multipath areas. • AutoEQ automatically pre-equalizes the incoming audio before the AGC stage, which creates a superiorly consistent sound on your station. • Natural Dynamics is a powerful and unique feature that enhances percussion elements to create a more audibly appealing sound. • Fully Customizable Processing Bands, which allow the user to choose both the number of bands (up to nine) and the band frequencies. • Integrated MicroMPX Encoder, which lets the user send full composite audio via IP at bitrates as low as 176 kbps to multiple remote decoders. • Full featured RDS Encoder, which is capable of the standard PS and RT, as well as RadioText+. This encoder is UECP and ASCII over IP capable, and fully remote controllable. • Touch-friendly HTML5 user interface that allows full access to every element of the processing suite and can be easily used from a PC, tablet or smartphone.
to each other to achieve maximum audio quality and minimal latency. The monitoring output can run at a latency below 5 ms. STXtreme can output composite MPX through analog and digital connectors or stream it over an IP link using MicroMPX on low bandwidth connections without loss of quality. Here are some of the benefits of STXtreme over Stereo Tool: • Plug and play. • Nothing to configure, just connect the power and input/output audio, and you’re ready to go. • Proven hardware with proven stability. • Perfectly tuned hardware, minimal latency. No need to worry about sound card settings/CPU usage/synchronization etc. This also minimizes FM output latencies to, depending on settings, between 5 and 100 ms. • Protection against firmware (and some hardware) issues built into the hardware — The hardware itself keeps track of whether the processing is running properly, if any problems are detected, it will, independently from the software, trigger a reboot of the system. • Specially designed audio interface — The audio interface can play both analog or digital 176.4/192 kHz FM output and 44.1/48 kHz digital HD output simultaneously, perfectly synchronized, to allow for perfect HD/FM synchronization. • A myriad of analog and digital inputs and outputs — Whatever you need will be there. Future updates will add patch points for watermarking, external processing, processing multiple signals ,etc. • Very fast boot times — The system boots in about 21 seconds, and firmware updates take the same amount of time.
STXtreme firmware and hardware are meticulously tuned
https://stxtreme.maxxkonnect.com
170 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER Wheatstone Corp. Layers Server and Glass Software Suite Full virtualization from mic to transmitter is now possible for broadcasters not yet ready to entrust their broadcast chain to a public cloud provider. Wheatstone’s new Layers product line introduces the entirely virtual broadcast operation, from multitouch “glass” consoles to backend mixing, audio processing and streaming into the transmitter or CDN provider. Its new Layers Server Software Suite runs on enterprise IP servers and replaces specialized hardware. One server can host multiple mix, FM processing or stream instances for several studios and locations connected by WheatNet-IP audio networking. New Layers Glass Software for the laptop, tablet or other glass surface includes full-function radio and television virtual consoles with familiar buttons, knobs and multi-touch navigation and menuing. Layers Glass user interfaces are also available for controlling, provisioning, and setting audio processing and streaming parameters.
https://wheatstone.com
171 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Telos Alliance Axia Quasar Soft Mature, Reliable AoIP Technology Tap into the power of AoIP with Axia Quasar™, our sixth-generation of AoIP consoles and the industry-standard in mixing excellence. Powered by mature and sophisticated AoIP technology from Telos Alliance — the inventor of AoIP for broadcast — Quasar is designed for steadfast reliability and modularity with no single point of failure. The Engine’s native AoIP processing, based on a server-class hardware platform, ensures high-performance audio. Quasar is part of the vast Livewire+™ AES67 ecosystem, making communication with other devices on the network easy by allowing detection, sharing, and control of audio resources across multiple studios connected to the network. With Quasar, AoIP’s promises of built-in redundancy, cost-efficiency, ease of use and setup, and system scalability are fully realized.
Quasar Soft is a customizable remote control solution that lets you control the Quasar surface from your browser. You can generate up to eight HTML5 pages and configure them to display any of the 64 input channels, plus a small monitor section, or even the entire master section of the console. Quasar Soft comes standard with Quasar XR consoles and is an optional upgrade for Quasar SR consoles. Included as part of the Quasar Soft license, Quasar Cast is a remote monitoring solution that lets you listen to any Livewire stream in the network through the same web browser. Quasar Cast generates a compressed OPUS stream from a source in the Livewire® network and can serve up to eight clients (including Quasar Soft instances). With Quasar Cast, you can listen to what is happening in the studio, and on the air, while you operate the console remotely using Quasar Soft.
https://www.telosalliance.com/consoles-audio-mixing/broadcast-consoles/axia-quasar-soft
172 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
Telos Alliance Axia iQs Virtual Broadcast Console The Axia iQ family takes a bold step into the virtual future with Axia iQs Virtual Broadcast Console — the software version of iQx that does not require a physical surface. iQs is the first soft console controlled by a full HTML5 interface, allowing you to not only control the mix from anywhere, but on any device. Telos Alliance and the Axia iQs Virtual Broadcast Console help
you on the journey to virtualization, wherever you are on that path. Our goal is to give you broadcasting options that are familiar while creating new ways of working that deliver on virtualization’s promise of added scalability, adaptability, cost efficiency, simple deployment and reliability.
https://www.telosalliance.com/consoles-audio-mixing/broadcast-consoles/axia-iq-family/axia-iqs
173 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
Telos Alliance Telos VXs Virtual VoIP System for Radio Telos VXs is here to help broadcasters reap the benefits of true virtualization as they adapt to changing broadcast workflows and operations, all while making it easier for teams to produce great-sounding and compelling content. Our Legendary Telos VXs VoIP System. Now Virtual. Using VoIP, VXs combines modern networking with the power of digital signal processing developed by Telos over the past three decades. Every call gets 5th-generation audio processing packed full of technology engineered to extract the cleanest, clearest caller audio from any phone line — even noisy cellular calls. VXs includes Smart AGC coupled with our famous threeband adaptive Digital Dynamic EQ, a three-band adaptive spectral processor, and noise gating. Call-ducking and host override are part of the VXs toolkit as well. Users can conference multiple lines with superior clarity and fidelity. Send audio gets its own sweetening with an AGC, limiter and Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) technology that eliminates open-mic feedback. And if you choose to use compatible telco services, calls from mobile handsets with SIP clients, HD-capable telephone sets and PC apps will benefit from VXs’ native support of the G.722 codec, instantly improving caller speech quality.
VXs will work with all console brands, networked or not, using Telos Alliance xNodes and the VXs Call Controller drop-in controller for your console. xNodes, like the Telos Alliance Mixed Signal Node, break out audio into analog and digital formats, along with GPIO logic commands. Installing a VXs VoIP system in facilities already powered by Livewire+™ AES67 networks requires even less time and hardware. Your new VXs phone system will plug right in for seamless integration. Additionally, support for AES67 gives broadcasters the capability of integrating VXs into any AES67 environment or compatible SMPTE 2110-30 environments. With plug-and-play connectivity, you can network multiple channels of audio with any manufacturer’s AES67-compliant hardware. Support for SAP advertisement means VXs smoothly integrates alongside AES67enabled Dante® devices.
Standards-Based for Easy Connectivity Telos VXs systems are “facility-wide” broadcast phone products. That means multiple studios, multiple stations, multiple shows — with minimal hardware requirements. Telco is delivered via IP from your SIP PBX, hosted VoIP service or UCaaS provider. For carrier-grade reliability and redundancy, a dedicated SIP trunk circuit can be integrated via a Telos-configured Asterisk-based PBX; legacy circuits such as POTS, ISDN or T1 can be integrated in the same way. Once connected, all telecom and audio connectivity flows via Ethernet.
https://www.telosalliance.com/broadcast-phone-systems/voip-broadcast-phone-systems/telos-vx/telos-vxs-virtual-voip-system-radio
174 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition
WINNER
OWC miniStack STX The OWC miniStack STX now features Storage and Thunderbolt Xpansion, continuing its award-winning legacy as the best sidekick a Mac mini can have. Meet the world’s first Thunderbolt-certified Thunderbolt 4 storage solution. With a universal SATA HDD/SSD bay and an NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD slot, you can expand your mini’s storage capacity to gigantic proportions. Three Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports enable you to connect to millions of Thunderbolt, USB and future USB4 drives, displays, A/V mixers, cameras and tablets; as well as desktop accessories like a keyboard, card reader or mouse. Now the possibilities of how you can use your Mac mini are limited only to your imagination. • Massive Capacity: add over 200x greater data storage on top of your Mac mini's built-in storage • Mega Thunderbolt: Use more accessories and devices with three Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports
• Maximum compatibility: Use with Thunderbolt or USB equipped Macs, PCs, iPads, Chromebooks, Android tablets… virtually anything that supports external storage • More Connectivity: Add a mix of up to five Thunderbolt devices, three USB devices and two displays • Power while working: 60 W of notebook charging power via Thunderbolt or USB-C • Pro-grade performance: Save/access/backup data and edit 4K video with up to 770MB/s real-world tested performance • Easy backups: Apple Time Machine and Windows File History ready • Plug and play: Includes Thunderbolt cable • Whisper-quiet: An aluminum housing with internal heat sink and high-efficiency cooling fan provides cool, nearly silent operation • Three-Year OWC Limited Warranty
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-ministack-stx
175 Best in Show | Best in Market Awards 2022 Special Edition