2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

Future Presents the Nominees and Recipients of the Seventh Annual Honors

Presented by

The Future Product Innovation Awards

Verizon Media...........................................41

Future US presents the nominees and recipients for the eighth annual Product Innovation Awards, which honor outstanding product introductions that serve the TV and professional video industry.

The products featured in this Program Guide are nominees submitted by manufacturers who paid an entry fee to be considered. The winners, identified by the award logo, were selected by a panel of professional users, editors and technical contributors of TV Technology and TVBEurope.

We hope you find this Program Guide useful and informative as we move into a new year in technological advances. And congratulations to all our winners!

Wavemaker Creative................................42

TVTECHNOLOGY Adobe..........................................................3

Productions in Premiere Pro

Adobe..........................................................4

Roto Brush 2 in After Effects

AJA Video Systems....................................5

BRIDGE LIVE

Blackbird.....................................................6

Blackbird

Blackmagic Design....................................7

LiveU..........................................................22

LU800

LiveU..........................................................23

LiveU Matrix IP Cloud Video Management and Distribution Platform

LTN Global.................................................24

LTN Cue

LTN Global.................................................25

LTN Flex

LYNX Technik AG......................................26

Smartplay Prebid Crew in a Box Worldcast Systems...................................43

SynchroStream Zixi.............................................................44

Zixi SDVP

TVBEUROPE Agama Technologies................................45

Agama 6.0 — Collaboration and Powerful Analytics Broadpeak.................................................46

S4Streaming Creamsource............................................47

Vortex8 EVS.............................................................48

LSM-VIA

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K

greenMachine HDR Evie+

Bridge Technologies...................................8

Scheduling Artist

Scheduling Artist

MediaKind.................................................28

NUGEN Audio............................................50

VB330v6

Canon U.S.A................................................9

EOS C70 Cinema Camera

Canon U.S.A..............................................10

CINE-SERVO 25-250mm T2.95-3.95 Lens

Canon U.S.A..............................................11

CJ20ex5B 4K UHD Portable Zoom Lens

Canon U.S.A..............................................12

C300 Mark III Cinema Camera

Dalet ..........................................................13

AmberFin Cloud Transcoder Service

Digital Nirvana..........................................14

MediaServicesIQ™

DVEO.........................................................15

Channel In a Box 1-12ch HD-SDI In/ASI Out

Edge Networks.........................................16

Evoca

EditShare...................................................17

EFSv Seamless Proxy Editing

EVS.............................................................18

LSM-VIA

Grass Valley...............................................19

GV AMPP — Agile Media Processing Platform

Harmonic...................................................20

VOS360 Live Streaming Platform

Interra Systems Inc..................................21

BATON Captions

MEDIAGENIX.............................................27

Aquila Streaming

MediaKind.................................................29

MK CE1

Net Insight.................................................30

Nimbra Edge

Net Insight.................................................31

Aperi

Planar.........................................................32

Planar® TVF Series

Primestream..............................................33

Media IO for IP NOC

QNAP Inc...................................................34

MEDIAGENIX.............................................49

Paragon pixitmedia..................................................51

ngenea pixitmedia..................................................52

pixstor Rohde & Schwarz.....................................53

BSCC 2.0 Broadcast Service and Control Center for 5G Broadcast/Multicast Ross Video................................................54

TVS-h1688X

Graphite PPC (Portable Production Centre)

Qumulo......................................................35

Simplestream Limited..............................55

CloudStudio

Ross Video................................................36

Simplestream App Platform

Graphite PPC (Portable Production Centre)

Supponor...................................................56

Shure Inc...................................................37

Virtual Advertising Platform

DuraPlex Omnidirectional Waterproof Subminiature Microphone

Simplestream Limited..............................38

Simplestream App Platform

Triveni Digital Inc......................................39

StreamScope® Combo Analyzer

TVU Networks...........................................40

TVU Partyline

2 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

Verizon Media...........................................57

Verizon Media Control Wildmoka..................................................58

Auto ReZone Worldcast Systems...................................59

APTmpX

ADOBE

Productions in Premiere Pro A New Framework for Large or Complex Workflows Developed With Top Filmmakers

P

roductions in Premiere Pro provides a new framework for organizing multi-project workflows, sharing assets and keeping everything streamlined whether the editor is working solo or collaborating with a team. Designed from the ground up with input from top filmmakers including the editorial team behind David Fincher’s “MANK,” Productions answers users’ needs for collaboration, efficiency and scalability in post production.

For teams with large and complex workflows, Productions allows editors to organize elements into smaller components, improving performance and enabling teams to work in parallel. Media referencing

across projects allows teams to reuse assets without creating duplicates.

Designed for collaboration, Productions uses shared local storage so multiple editors can work on different projects in the same production.

To fit with the current times, Adobe’s virtualization partners have adopted Productions to enable flexible remote collaboration workflows.

Project Locking provides intrinsic version management to ensure that no one overwrites each other’s work. https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/user-guide.html/ premiere-pro/using/production-panel.ug.html

3 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

ADOBE

Roto Brush 2 in After Effects

Uses Adobe Sensei to Make Rotoscoping Quick and Accurate

T

here are few production environments more demanding than broadcast. Adobe’s Roto Brush 2 saves countless hours spent on the time-consuming task so that editors and artists can keep their focus on the creative process.

Adobe’s Roto Brush 2 in After Effects dramatically accelerates the tedious process of manual rotoscoping by using Adobe Sensei machine-learning technology to quickly and easily generate accurate mattes when separating foreground and background elements in video sequences. Users simply paint over the object that they want

to isolate in a reference frame, including edge refinements for hair or other textures, and using Adobe Sensei technology, Roto Brush 2 tracks the object automatically and follows its motion, eliminating the need for tedious manual frame-by-frame rotoscoping. The selection is maintained even with quick movement, backgrounds in motion or when the selected object goes out of view behind other objects in the scene. https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html

4 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

AJA VIDEO SYSTEMS

BRIDGE LIVE High-Performance, Multichannel Video Encoding, Decoding, Streaming and Transcoding for Live Video

B

RIDGE LIVE is a turnkey 1RU solution that makes it easy to move UltraHD or multichannel HD video between uncompressed baseband SDI to/from a wide range of streaming and contribution codecs (H.265, H.264, MPEG-2 and JPEG 2000).

BRIDGE LIVE supports a flexible array of containers and protocols, including SRT, RTMP/S, RTP, UDP and MPEG-TS, and extends to Adaptive Bitrate ladder profiles and hand off for OTT packaging.

Combining AJA’s production-proven I/O technology with Comprimato’s powerful encoding/decoding/transcoding software, this

new gateway solution provides high-quality, cost-effective video processing, with SDI encode or decode for one channel of UltraHD up to 60p, or up to four channels of 1080 60p HD simultaneously, via four 12G-SDI connections that are also backwards-compatible to 6G, 3G and 1.5G SDI. A plug-and-play device featuring deep metadata support, BRIDGE LIVE suits a range of professional and enterprise-level video workflows. https://www.aja.com/products/bridge-live

5 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

BLACKBIRD

Blackbird The World’s Fastest, Most Powerful Cloud Video Editing and Publishing Platform

B

lackbird is the world’s fastest, most powerful professional cloud video editing and publishing platform. Enabling remote editing, Blackbird provides rapid access to video content for the easy creation of clips, highlights and longer-form content to multiple devices and platforms.

A fully featured editor accessed through any browser, easy to learn and needing only limited bandwidth to use, Blackbird powers significant productivity and efficiency benefits for any enterprise organization working with video.

An ultra green technology, Blackbird supports the sustainability goals of the media production industry.

Unique and transformative, Blackbird is proven with blue chip customers such as IMG, A+E Networks, Deltatre, Sky News Arabia, Arsenal FC, Riot Games, U.S. Department of State, TownNews, Eleven Sports and many others. http://www.blackbird.video

6 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

BLACKMAGIC DESIGN

Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K World’s Most Advanced Digital Film Camera With 12K Super 35 Image Sensor

B

lackmagic Design’s URSA Mini Pro 12K (US$9,995) is a new digital film camera with an advanced 12,288x6,480 12K Super 35 image sensor, 14 stops of dynamic range and high frame rate shooting at up to 60 frames per second in 12K at 80 megapixels per frame. This new third-generation model supports new Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science and higher Blackmagic RAW performance, all in the award-winning URSA Mini Pro camera body.

Oversampling from 12K gives customers the best 8K and 4K images

with the subtle skin tones and extraordinary detail of high-end still cameras. Customers can shoot at 60 fps in 12K, 110 fps in 8K and up to 220 fps in 4K Super 16. The URSA Mini Pro 12K features an interchangeable PL mount, as well as built-in ND filters, dual CFast and UHS-II SD card recorders, a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port and more. https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ blackmagicursaminipro

7 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

BRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES

VB330v6

With Combined QoE/QoS Functionality, It Is Everything a Broadcast Engineer Needs

T

he VB330v6 combines QoE and QoS functionality, providing intuitive, visual monitoring and analytics for IP networks across thousands of streams in backbone networks and head-ends ­— covering multiple formats, including IP multicast and OTT. The VB330v6 includes: Appliance or cloud-based implementation, ensuring scalability and future-proof status Runs 1000 ETR290 and Gold TS protection engines concurrently Timeline archiving of metadata, including thumbnails, MOS and closed captions for compliance verification Dual NICs for video network connectivity, with up to 20/50

Gigabits of throughput

• TACACS+ and other enterprise-level security features • EBP signaling to verify synchronised ABR content • Black/freeze frame alarming across 1000 concurrent streams

•

The VB330v6 embodies both award-winning technological innovation and direct contribution to bottom-line profits. The sheer processing power and feature set of the VB330v6 is unrivalled in the field, but strategically, also contributes to end-user service delivery and thus the ultimate profitability of network providers. http://www.bridgetech.tv

• • •

8 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

CANON U.S.A.

EOS C70 Cinema Camera Ready For Action: Canon’s First RF Mount Cinema Camera

T

he camera features Canon’s innovative and next-generation Super 35mm DGO Sensor that further extends the high dynamic range and lowers noise levels by reading out each photodiode with two different gains. One gain prioritizes saturation ­— protecting detail in highlight areas — while the other suppresses noise in the shadows. The result is an image with up to 16-plus stops of total dynamic range, clean, rich shadows and vibrant highlights in up to 4K/60p or 2K/120p in Super16mm Crop mode. The EOS C70

camera also features Canon’s recently developed DIGIC DV7 image processor that collects the extensive information captured from the DGO sensor and processes it into exceptional HDR imagery while offering choices between Canon Log 2 and 3, in addition to PQ and HLG gamma functionality. https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/ support/details/cameras/cinema-eos/eos-c70/eos-c70

9 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

CANON U.S.A.

Canon CINE-SERVO 25-250mm T2.95-3.95 Lens

Compact, Lightweight, Using Canon Optical Elements, While Offering Performance and Reliability in Professional Shooting Environments

T

he new lens, which is available in both EF and PL mount, features 10x optical zoom, a built-in 1.5x extender and a powerful and removable servo motor drive unit, providing broadcast-friendly shoulder operation for ENG/EFP and documentary style shooters. The lightweight design of the lens (6.7 pounds) is remarkable given the zoom range and feature set, especially when compared with other lenses of similar focal

lengths. This outstanding model, as well as the Sumire Prime Lenses announced in 2019, have further strengthened Canon’s robust lineup of Cinema Lenses. https://www.usa.canon.com

10 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

CANON U.S.A.

CJ20ex5B 4K UHD Portable Zoom Lens

Designed to Be Used With Broadcast Cameras That Have 2/3-Inch Sensors, Delivers Outstanding 4K UHD Image Quality in a Lightweight, Compact Form Factor That Empowers Agility in Shooting

T

he CJ20ex5B lens achieves a high-level 4K UHD performance across the entire zoom range thanks to Canon’s proprietary optical design technology and coatings, which incorporate materials such as UD and Super-UD lens elements and a fluorite coating, that help to reduce chromatic aberration and minimize ghosting

and flaring. Focusing fluctuation has also been decreased due to an improved inner focusing system that improves resolution in the periphery areas of the screen. https://www.usa.canon.com

11 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

CANON U.S.A.

EOS C300 Mark III Cinema Camera Family Tradition: The Newest Model Is a Super 35mm Modular Workhorse

T

he next-generation Super 35mm workhorse features a new Dual Gain Output (DGO) sensor and, like the full-frame EOS C500 Mark II digital cinema camera, employs a modular design and an interchangeable lens mount optional accessory that allows users to easily

customize the camera according to the needs of each project, making it an ideal tool for a wide range of video content production. https://www.usa.canon.com

12 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

DALET DIGITAL MEDIA SYSTEMS

AmberFin Cloud Transcoder Service High-Performance Transcode Service Supports Wide Range of Formats

D

alet AmberFin Cloud Transcoder Service is SaaS-based, high-quality media processing service offering robust transcoding, media packaging and distribution capabilities with unlimited scalability. It includes every feature from the on-premises version of Dalet AmberFin, with tools beyond simple media conversions, ensuring media professionals have access to image scaling, standards conversions, cut/splice, caption conversion, audio normalization, localization versioning, IMF creation and submission and HDR conversions.

Unique among elastic cloud transcoders, Dalet AmberFin Cloud

Transcoder Service can be accessed via a public cloud managed service environment or deployed as a scalable container-based service inside a customer’s existing private cloud infrastructure. The high-performance transcode service, supporting a wide range of formats, takes a factory-like approach to managing media conversion projects with the highest degree of quality and economy. It is designed to optimize resources and costs for customers who require burst capacity, a native cloud presence, usage-based pricing or all of the above. https://www.dalet.com/platforms/amberfin

13 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

DIGITAL NIRVANA

MediaServicesIQ™ Suite of Cloud-Based Microservices Leveraging Advanced AI and Machine-Learning Capabilities

provides a comprehensive, one-stop portal by M ediaServicesIQ which users can access Digital Nirvana’s high-performance,

compass speech-to-text, video intelligence, and generation of metadata that can be orchestrated to provide intelligence and actionable insights.

These capabilities enable intelligent and immediate logging and feedback of content quality and compliance, better positioning broadcasters to meet regulatory, compliance and licensing requirements for closed captioning, decency and advertising monitoring.

AI-powered technology solutions: speech-to-text, content classification, closed-caption generation and conformance, and a video intelligence engine that can detect ads, logos, objects and faces.

Building upon internal custom or industry-standard production and monitoring workflow platforms, MediaServicesIQ provides access to a collection of high-performance AI capabilities in the cloud that en-

https://digital-nirvana.com/mediaservicesiq/

14 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

DVEO

Channel In a Box 1-12ch HD-SDI In/ASI Out

Multifunction ATSC 1.0 Channel in a Box With Built-In PSIP Mux

D

VEO’s new multichannel playout system, “Channel In a Box” is perfect for broadcasters and cable operators because it incorporates more functions than competitors. This product plays live and stored content managed by a sophisticated scheduler, and inserts ad clips, graphics, logos or crawling text anywhere on each channel. The device incorporates a full PSIP Mulitplexer that enables digital turnaround from other stations’ feeds. It also has a built-in EPG generator that informs all TV sets of the channels being watched and information about the TV programs. In this prod-

uct, DVEO has developed a very comprehensive all-in-one multichannel playout system, which supports the following capabilities: ad insertion, EAS interfacing, PSIP MUX and the ability to present the transmitter-ready content via ASI or IP output. There are other multichannel playout systems on the market, but our product is unique since it incorporates a PSIP MUX. https://dveo.com/pdf/Channel-In-a-Box-with-multiple12ch-HDSDI-inputs-and-ASI-output-with-built-in-PSPI.pdf

15 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

EDGE NETWORKS

Evoca

Disrupting the Pay-TV Market With Combined Next-Generation TV and Broadband Solution

E

voca is a revolutionary television service that uniquely blends next-generation broadcast and broadband, delivering high-quality programs more reliably and efficiently than legacy cable, satellite and streaming providers. Evoca’s patent-pending architecture includes a proprietary set-top box, a standard TV antenna and an internet connection. True to its vision to provide the highest-quality TV experience at an affordable price, Evoca is broadcasting the only 24-hour, dedicated 4K UHD stream in the United States.

Now that consumers demand live and on-demand TV program-

ming, the best way to achieve that is through a blend of broadcast and broadband. Evoca’s intelligent architecture selects the best delivery method based on content type and viewer interest, ensuring a seamless, buffer-free experience that doesn’t interfere with bandwidth. Evoca’s innovative system represents the future of broadcast and is ideal for consumers in small to mid-sized markets who have expensive and limited options for internet and television. https://evoca.tv/

16 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

EDITSHARE

EFSv Seamless Proxy Editing Cost-Effective Editing in the Cloud With Exceptional User Experience

E

FSv enables the capability of true seamless proxy editing — making it the first cost-effective, cloud-editing infrastructure, overcoming many of the primary objections of migrating media workflows to the cloud. A solution that also solves the workarounds associated with proxy editing and conforming, EFSv facilitates a true seamless proxy editing experience for all editors including Premiere Pro, Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve and Edius, significantly improving the efficiencies of remote editing workflows.

Making cloud editing more accessible to more facilities, EFSv

optimizes the use of both object and block storage located in the cloud, allowing for savings up to 75% compared to the existing costs of cloud storage and workstations.

The seamless proxy editing feature of EFSv enables irresistibly affordable cloud editing that’s economically viable for anyone, redefining the economics of editing in the cloud while significantly improving the user experience. https://editshare.com/products/efsv/

17 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

EVS

LSM-VIA Introducing the New Replay Experience

L

SM-VIA provides operators with a centralized and integrated environment for them to execute their replays and highlights with newfound creativity and productivity.

The new system leverages the benefits of EVS’ VIA platform of microservices and comes with native IP connectivity. As a result, new and more flexible workflows can be deployed, including the possibility for operators to work from anywhere on the network.

For the design of the LSM-VIA’s controller, EVS has worked in close collaboration with its community of operators. Thanks to their exten-

sive input, the company has managed to create a tool that provides the highest level of intuitiveness, optimized to work in the most challenging and high-pressure live production environments.

The system offers programmable buttons, advanced functions, an integrated touchscreen and a second viewer, enabling more direct access to content and giving operators the freedom to tell the story they want with more functionalities and fewer keystrokes. https://evs.com/en/product/lsm-via

18 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

GRASS VALLEY

GV AMPP — Agile Media Processing Platform

The First Cloud-Based SaaS Platform for Broadcasters to Fully Leverage the Power of Elastic Compute

G

V AMPP is purpose-built for the cloud and overcomes historic reliance on costly, inflexible hardware-based media systems. Using just a browser, this revolutionary platform brings unprecedented flexibility to spin up/down applications as needed — and only pay for what you use. Its modular construct means specific workflow functions run as solutions constructed from a wide range of microservices.

AMPP allows production teams to flexibly create customizable workflows. A variety of apps — multiviewers, router panels, test signal generators, switchers, graphics renderers, clip players, recorders — can

all be quickly be deployed supporting a wide range of workflows. Built on a unique microservices architecture based on five core technologies — fabric, timing, connectivity, identity and streaming — GV AMPP enables elastic media services and overcomes the barriers that complicate common IP and cloud deployments, delivering seamless network connectivity, timing and ultra-low latency. https://www.grassvalley.com/products/cloud-basedworkflows/gv-ampp/

19 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

HARMONIC

VOS360 Live Streaming Platform Makes Video Streaming Smarter, Faster, Simpler

T

oday, video streaming consumption is surging rapidly, and content providers need efficient and agile options for service delivery. Harmonic’s VOS®360 Live Streaming Platform offers a complete, fully managed solution for live streaming, delivering real-time scaling and exceptional video quality from source to screen.

Harmonic’s VOS360 platform makes video streaming, smarter, faster and simpler , thanks to several technology innovations. Seamless 1+1 geo-redundancy capabilities on the VOS360 platform ensure uninterrupted streaming, which is critical to the success of video streaming services.

In addition, the VOS360 platform tackles one of the biggest chal-

lenges with live video streaming — being able to handle the unexpected peaks in viewership during live events such as sports. This is achieved through dynamic, real-time CDN selection.

Harmonic’s VOS360 platform deserves to win this award because it leverages the cloud, along with technology innovations like 1+1 geo-redundancy and dynamic real-time CDN selection to bring unparalleled efficiency to live video streaming. https://www.harmonicinc.com/video-streaming/vos360live-streaming-platform/

20 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

INTERRA SYSTEMS INC.

BATON Captions

Simplifies Caption Creation and Verification for Live and VOD OTT Content

B

ATON Captions is a new addition to Interra Systems’ comprehensive automated QC platform, BATON, which simplifies this process and improves workflow efficiency utilizing machine learning (ML) and automatic speech recognition technologies. Using this solution, broadcasters and media companies can ensure that when content is delivered in multiple video quality levels within OTT video streams, the captions maintain a high quality. BATON Captions enables users to address all of their captioning needs, from caption generation to QC, auto corrections, review and editing.

This high-performance solution enables broadcasters and media companies to dramatically expedite the caption creation and verification processes for both live and VOD content BATON Captions tackles a critical industry challenge: how to generate and distribute a high volume of content while assuring high-quality captions. What makes BATON Captions innovative is its industry-leading performance and technology innovation. https://www.interrasystems.com/BATON-Captions.php

21 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

LIVEU

LU800

The First Production-Level Field Unit

T

he LU800 is the first all-in-one, production-level field unit, designed for live news and dynamic sports coverage.

The LU800 combines multicamera and superior video/audio capabilities with mission-critical transmission in a native 5G unit. Designed from the ground up to unlock 5G potential, the unit offers unparalleled quality of service and resiliency.

The LU800 enables complex remote productions (REMI), supporting up to four fully frame-synced feeds in high resolution from a single unit.

Delivering the highest-quality video performance, the LU800 offers up to 4Kp60 10-bit HDR transmission for optimal color depth and richness. https://go.liveu.tv/lu800

22 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

LIVEU

LiveU Matrix IP Cloud Video Management and Distribution Platform The Fully Managed Service Gives You the Peace of Mind to Focus on What You Do Best — Content Creation

D

esigned by broadcasters for broadcasters, LiveU Matrix is an essential tool that works for you, making live content management simple and affordable.Combining a powerful front-end with a reliable IP cloud-based transport layer, LiveU Matrix allows your news teams to share high-quality, low-latency live feeds with multiple internal and cross-organizational endpoints. LiveU Matrix has

become the go-to tool for the newsroom. Major news broadcasters including CBS, CNN, Cox Media Group, Fox Sports, Meredith Corp., Quincy Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group are curating their content with LiveU Matrix. http://go.liveu.tv/matrix

23 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

LTN GLOBAL

LTN Cue Simplify and Scale Channel Management With In-Network Decoration

L

TN Cue is an easy-to-deploy, highly scalable, fully managed linear metadata insertion service. Cue enables frame-accurate ad insertion while simplifying channel management as well as allowing revenue growth from targeted TV ads in addition to content replacement workflows across cable, satellite, OTA and streaming OTT markets. Cue takes all SCTE-35 decoration and management off-premise and onto the LTN Global transport network.

LTN Cue provides interoperable automated translations for distributor-specific SCTE-35 marker profile requirements. The playout automation system communicates specific program information, so

LTN Cue understands what content is playing and each distributor’s program content’s rights. This type of marking enables the distributor to insert addressable or targeted advertising that’s more specific to the viewer, significantly increasing the revenue associated with such ad inventory.

LTN Cue enables new channel versions, each with relevant SCTE markers for different destinations, improving partnership flexibility and commercial relations between advertisers, channels and MVPDs. https://ltnglobal.com/solutions/cue/metadata-insertion

24 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

LTN GLOBAL

LTN Flex

Enabling ‘A-Grade’ Quality Video Production Under Any Circumstance

L

TN Flex is a fully integrated, highly scalable, customizable solution for taped and live video production. The IP-enabled centralized production model offers a complete and seamless workflow, from content creation to delivery, enabling the highest quality production under any circumstance.

LTN Flex uses LTN’s advanced transport network to connect remote locations with centralized production studios to enhance and distribute high-quality content from any source to any destination.

LTN Flex delivers game-changing cost savings by reducing the

personnel and equipment required on-site to produce high-quality content. Organizations previously limited by the high cost of traditional production can now create and distribute more first-rate content.

LTN Flex levels the playing field by offering the quality of an ‘A grade’ traditional broadcast production at a price point that opens up new content creation opportunities for all levels of sports leagues and entertainment studios. ltnglobal.com/solutions/flex/remote-video-production

25 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

LYNX TECHNIK AG

greenMachine HDR Evie+ Addresses the Challenge of Broadcasting or Archiving Content in Both SDR and HDR

H

DR Evie+ uses patented, dynamic, segmented frame-by-frame algorithms that use sectional dynamic tone mapping that allows adjustment of each segment (144 segments/frame) of the 3G or 4K HDR content all in real time. Using optimized HDR captured or produced program content, HDR Evie+ converts HDR to SDR and retains exceptional detail in darker areas and preserves detail in bright areas that would be burned out by more basic HDR to SDR converters. Once configured, the process is totally automatic, an-

alyzing and converting the incoming HDR image in 144 segments every frame; it requires no changes of the aperture of the camera or other operator intervention.

The segmented dynamic conversion is especially suited for demanding and unpredictable content, with fast moving subjects and high contrast conditions typically found in live sports and news broadcasts. https://www.lynx-technik.com

26 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

MEDIAGENIX

Scheduling Artist Workflow-Based Suite of Augmented Intelligence Products for Assisted Scheduling

A

mid growing complexity we help make optimum use of available content by leveraging augmented intelligence. Our suite of AI tools seamlessly integrate into the scheduling workflows. They help with individual tasks, or help lift the content supply chain to new levels of operational and strategic excellence. The planners determine the level of abstraction the algorithm is allowed to handle.

Content Recommendations for Linear Scheduling Combining this with other (query or ML-based) value criteria and filters automatically provides the planner with a list of recommended content.

Automated Off-Peak Scheduling By applying filters and specifying which value criteria are important, planners can have entire off-peak schedules automatically generated in a matter of seconds. The algorithm learns which choices result in the best schedule.

Ratings Prediction for Linear Our ML tool predicts the ratings of scheduled content for every relevant target segment, at MTV3 with an 25% increase in accuracy.

https://www.mediagenix.tv/en/scheduling-artist/

27 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

MEDIAKIND

Aquila Streaming An End-to-End Solution for Processing and Delivering Video Over Any Streaming Network to Any Device

A

quila Streaming is a highly advanced end-to-end solution for processing and delivering video over any streaming network to any device. Providing significant bandwidth savings and low endto-end latency for live content, it supports all video resolutions up to UHD, delivering content to a wide variety of devices. It’s offered with multiple deployment options including as-a-Service.

Aquila Streaming incorporates MediaKind’s award-winning technology portfolio, including Encoding Live media processing, offering tightly integrated workflows for the smooth delivery of seamless consumer experiences. It significantly improves TCO for service providers

by enabling a rapid time-to-market and the ability to scale quickly with rapid channel setup and teardown.

TV service providers benefit from a standards-driven, scalable, ABR-enabled platform with built-in monetization through advertising and linear rights capabilities, multiple DRM interfaces for content security, CMAF LLC low latencies and Constant Video Quality. Aquila Streaming optimizes bandwidth cost efficiencies, while ensuring a broadcast-like quality to the consumer. https://www.mediakind.com/aquila-streaming/

28 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

MEDIAKIND

MK CE1 A Video Contribution Encoder Built on Cloud-Native Software Coupled With Hardware Acceleration

T

he MK CE1 is a video contribution encoder built on cloudready native software and coupled with exceptionally powerful hardware acceleration. When combined with MediaKind’s multicodec professional decoder, RX1, the MK CE1 creates a unique market-first video contribution workflow. The products unite to deliver BISS CA content security, coupled with UHD resolution and the flexibility to accommodate new industry standards and emerging codecs.

Equipped for demanding live event coverage and remote/athome production, the MK CE1 supports UHD, SMPTE ST 2110 and SRT, strengthening MediaKind’s Cygnus Contribution solution with enhanced IP interoperability and security over managed and

unmanaged networks.

The MK CE1 delivers low latency, HEVC or MPEG-4 AVC encoding of HD/UHD video content for premium live events. It supports 4:2:2 10-bit content contribution into the cloud, reducing the bitrate required to deliver first-class media experiences.

The MK CE1 enables significantly lower time-to-market for new video offerings while maintaining content integrity for facilitating highly immersive experiences. https://www.mediakind.com/video-processing-storage/ mk-ce1/

29 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

NET INSIGHT

Nimbra Edge Performance Excellence for Open Cloud-Based Live Media Delivery Workflows

A

s media organizations are complementing their existing content offering by embracing live IP media delivery, cloud solutions stand as the perfect companion to leverage the potential of scalable virtualized deployments.

Nimbra Edge is built on the solid foundation of providing a robust platform for live video contribution and distribution workflows while maintaining independence of the preferred cloud deployment (public/private/hybrid) and retransmission standard protocols (RIST, SRT, Zixi).

This flexibility in combination with a seamless integration of existing appliance ecosystems from different vendors expand the possibil-

ities to monetize investments. Nimbra Edge is focused at its core on reliability and performance, where usability plays an important role to ensure minimal operational time.

Interoperability with media management solutions is also possible thanks to a consolidated reference API. Overall, Nimbra Edge is a powerful service that excels the capabilities of a traditional intelligent video delivery platform. https://netinsight.net/products-and-services/nimbra/ nimbra-edge/

30 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

NET INSIGHT

Aperi

Seamless Migration to All-IP Infrastructure, Open Standard-Based

B

roadcast facilities are in the process of transitioning from traditional hardware solutions to an open standard-based all-IP infrastructure. Aperi is a pioneer of virtualized-media production that offers scalability and all-IP at its core.

Aperi’s open and standards-based, truly native live IP video infrastructure brings data center robustness, agility and economics to the most mission-critical live sports, entertainment and news program productions in the world.

Aperi offers instant deployment by starting and stopping software applications using lightweight virtual machines. New channels and

workflows to spin up or down as needed. No need to adapt or change the underlying common off-the-shelf compute and switch platform.

The future-ready, IP format-agnostic design, allows you to reach consumers wherever they are — on mobile devices and tablets — with a platform that accommodates 4K, remote production and more.

Aperi’s flexible and optimum architecture, increases the responsiveness, cost-efficiency, quality and timeliness of the contents for media companies. http://www.apericorp.com/

31 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

PLANAR

Planar® TVF Series New 0.9 Millimeter Pixel Pitch Model Supports Higher-Resolution Video Walls

T

he Planar® TVF Series is a family of fine pitch LED video wall displays available in 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8 and 2.5 millimeter pixel pitches. With a 27-inch, slim-profile display cabinet, the Planar TVF Series features front serviceability and a creative, stackable design that eliminates cabinet-to-cabinet cabling and reduces the complexity of installation and vertical alignment.

Featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio, Planar TVF Series allows every pixel pitch to achieve popular resolutions and provides clear, crisp images at nearly every angle and viewing distance. Introduced in

June 2020, Planar TVF 0.9 increases the pixel count by nearly 78% compared to the 1.2 millimeter model. Planar TVF Series now offers the Planar® EverCare™ Lifetime Limited Warranty, a program designed to provide customers with complete confidence in their LED video wall purchase while reducing their lifetime cost-of-ownership, making video wall deployment uniquely predictable and worry-free for customers. https://www.planar.com/products/led-video-walls/tvf/

32 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

PRIMESTREAM

Media IO for IP NOC Capturing Live Feeds From Virtually Anywhere and Any Source

B

onded-cellular compression and transmission harnesses IP to capture and send live video from almost any location to the NOC. It’s the key to drastically simplified workflows for remote production and live contribution, delivering high-quality video at a fraction of the cost of uplink trucks and satellite antennas.

With Primestream’s Media IO™ and our IP Network Operations Center technology, live IP stream production has never been easier. Media IO is an IP-based recording and playout solution for capturing content from virtually any IP stream, camera or broadcast source, both on premise and in the cloud and then transcoding

it live for fast integration into any production, management and delivery workflow. Incoming live feeds from both baseband and nonbaseband IP sources such as SRT, RTSP, HLS are transcoded in real time into ProRes, XDCAM, AVC-Intra, DVCPRO, HEVC and H.264 codecs on the fly. Since IP sources are captured live and in real time, editors can preview live streams and edit them within Apple Final Cut X and Adobe Premiere Pro even as the video feed is still capturing. primestream.com

33 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

QNAP INC.

TVS-h1688X Scorching Connectivity. Rigorous Data Integrity.

Powered by Xeon Processing. Run on ZFS.

T

he TVS-h1688X network attached storage supports HDD, SSD and M.2 NVMe storage, with potential maximum data capacity exceeding 200 TBs, and expansion options beyond that. Flexible storage options facilitate various volumes, caches and tiers, to help allocate capacity and performance to fit each specific use case. QNAP’s software also enables easy backup jobs to off-site and cloud storage, as well as the ability to locally mount and cache cloud storage.

Intel Xeon processing combined with 32 GB (128 GB maximum) ECC DDR4 RAM and the QuTS hero OS support elite performance

with block-level inline deduplication, compression and compaction.

Data integrity is maintained with self-healing against silent data corruption, as well as RAID support for drive failure protection.

Dual 10 GbE RJ45 and quad 2.5 GbE ports come standard for multi-editor, high-definition editing off of the NAS. Thunderbolt3 expansion for direct connectivity and 25 GbE connections are easily installable for even greater throughput. https://www.qnap.com/en/product/tvs-h1688x

34 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

QUMULO

CloudStudio Lets Creative Suites Run With Unlimited Speed, Scale in Public Clouds

Q

umulo’s CloudStudio allows creative agencies, post-production studios, broadcasters and visual effects studios to more efficiently collaborate on editorial projects, such as creative content development, rendering and production, by securely moving on-prem workspaces, including desktops, applications and data, to the public cloud.

CloudStudio leverages the power of Qumulo’s file software and meets the demands of today’s data-driven media and entertainment organizations for massive content production and storage, providing a modern infrastructure that can handle the toughest 4K and 8K work-

loads with limitless scalability both on-prem and in the cloud.

Deployable on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud, CloudStudio allows artists to use the creative suites they know and that studios already own, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, 3ds Max and many others, to accelerate production schedules and work on projects from anywhere in the world with uncompromising speed, flexibility and security. https://qumulo.com/solution/cloudstudio/

35 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

ROSS VIDEO

Graphite PPC (Portable Production Centre) A Complete Production Solution Neatly Housed in a Single Compact Carrying Case

T

his powerful all-in-one production platform combines big switcher performance, stunning XPression graphics, instant-access clip servers and pristine RAVE audio with unmatched portability and ease of operation. Like the popular Ross Graphite All-in-One Production System, the Portable Production Centre can be run by a single operator and its ultra-quiet fan means it can be deployed just about anywhere, even next to on-air talent!

The Graphite PPC addresses the current need for remote production due to COVID-19 restrictions. It is also a very compact

yet powerful “flight pack� for such applications as sports and live events.

Graphite PPC has received Best of Show InfoComm 2020 Special Edition Awards from AV Technology and Rental & Staging Systems, Best of Virtual Show 2020 (IBC) Awards from TVB Europe and TV Technology, plus two NAB 2020 Product of the Year Awards. https://www.rossvideo.com/products-services/acquisitionproduction/production-switchers/graphite/

36 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

SHURE INC.

DuraPlex Omnidirectional Waterproof Subminiature Microphone Minimalistic Form Factor Offers a Consistent Out-of-the-Box Experience and Superb Durability

F

rom film, TV and theater productions to everything in between, exceptional audio production is essential.

Designed to stand up to the toughest conditions, DuraPlex is Shure’s new line of subminiature (5mm) omnidirectional lavalier and headset microphones designed to protect against dirt, dust, water and moisture. Consisting of DL4 Omnidirectional Waterproof Lavalier Microphone and the DH5 Omnidirectional Waterproof Headset Microphone, the line complements Shure’s expansive portfolio of mid- and high-tier wireless systems, and boasts the company’s first IP57 certification rating.

DuraPlex offers the market an entirely new tier of audio performance and ruggedness. The microphone yields consistent, neutral sound quality for vocal clarity in multiple environments. The 1.6 mm Shure Plex Cable is immune to kinks and memory effects, resulting in unmatched performance due to an innovative spiral construction with redundant shielding. Ideal for unpredictable, high-stakes environments like reality TV, theater or fitness instruction, DuraPlex delivers uninterrupted audio in all conditions. https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/dl4

37 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

SIMPLESTREAM LIMITED

Simplestream App Platform A Powerful Framework for Premium Content

S

implestream’s App Platform is an end-to-end, white-label solution for broadcasters, telcos and rights holders, that incorporates a unified OTT workflow (including content ingest, encoding, DRM and 4K delivery) together with customizable, branded apps for desktop, mobiles, tablets, smart TVs and other connected devices. The solution is operated by Media Manager, a powerful service manager CMS, that combines content and customer iden-

tity management with real-time analytics and a flexible payment gateway. Our team of UX/UI designers and app developers work directly with each customer to create compelling user-experiences across all screens to launch AVOD, SVOD and TVOD services in rapid time and at a reduced cost. http://www.simplestream.com/solutions/app-platform

38 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

TRIVENI DIGITAL INC.

StreamScope® Combo Analyzer Real-Time Analysis of ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 Service Quality

A

s broadcasters transition to ATSC 3.0, they need effective tools to evaluate the quality of both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 transmissions.

Triveni Digital’s StreamScope® Combo Analyzer enables TV stations to troubleshoot NextGen TV and ATSC 1.0 service issues and ensure exceptional service quality. The StreamScope Combo Analyzer speeds up fault isolation and the average time to repair, increasing operational efficiencies for broadcasters and reduces overall costs.

The StreamScope Combo Analyzer deserves to win this award

because it is the only solution on the market today that supports both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 standards, allowing broadcasters to compare streams and quickly detect, isolate and resolve issues to ensure high service quality at all times.

The StreamScope Combo Analyzer is currently being used by major TV station groups, including Sinclair Broadcast Group and Meredith. http://www.trivenidigital.com

39 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

TVU NETWORKS

TVU Partyline Cloud-Based, Broadcast-Quality Video Conferencing for Live Production

T

VU Partyline solves the multiple remote conferencing needs of broadcast-grade productions where quality, low latency and interactive communications are instrumental for a quality program.

TVU Partyline addresses various teamwork needs such as behindthe-scenes live production collaboration between crew, talent and guest, press briefings where coordinating a roster of guests or reporters to be interviewed is key, and finally, fan participation and engagement during live events to supplement both programming and venue entertainment.

The key benefits TVU Partyline provides over traditional

video conferencing include professional broadcast quality audio and video perfectly synced across all participants, private audio communications, mix minus audio where Program Feed Foldback return removes your audio from the program avoiding echo effect and undetectable latency. All Partyline participants can interact and collaborate with each other on a common line, as if they are all in the same control room, with communications remaining in perfect sync. https://www.tvunetworks.com/products/tvu-partyline/

40 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

VERIZON MEDIA

Smartplay Prebid Optimizing Streaming Revenues With Profitable Programmatic OTT Solutions

V

erizon Media Smartplay Prebid is a server-side ad insertion integration using Prebid technology to expose premium OTT advertising inventory to more demand partners and maximize ad yield. Smartplay Prebid allows content providers to conduct simultaneous auctions, and evaluate the bids alongside other ad buys creating fair market competition that increases yield by driving higher eCPMs and fill rates while also providing full price transparency into how much advertisers value their content.

Verizon Media has integrated this new technology seamlessly into Smartplay, its industry-leading manifest generation and session

management technology. When combined with Verizon Media’s Smartplay’s session data, visibility and control are put back into content owners’ hands — not behind OTT walled gardens. Verizon Media provides a unique lens across comprehensive streaming and advertising workflows and supplies powerful tools like Smartplay Prebid to all streaming customers as an added value to support their success. https://www.verizondigitalmedia.com/media-platform/ streaming/smartplay/#prebid

41 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

WAVEMAKER CREATIVE

Crew in a Box The World’s First Professional-Quality, Plug-and-Play, Remote Production Solution

C

rew in a Box is the world’s first professional-quality, plug-and-play, remote production solution. Each unit arrives at talent’s doorstep in a fully disinfected military-grade case containing a 6K cinema camera, expandable 3-foot wide LED light, direct address teleprompter/Interrotron, detachable second teleprompter/Interrotron monitor for off-axis eyelines and two professional microphones.

On-camera talent simply opens the box and plugs it in, and Crew in a Box automatically connects over the internet to a remote team of filmmakers who control every component. This is achieved with cellular bonding,

without needing to connect to the user’s home Wi-Fi network, eliminating concerns of compromised security.

While Crew in a Box was developed in response to the pandemic, the system has been embraced by more than 10 broadcast networks as a cost-effective, long-term solution that excels in situations such as direct-to-camera address, interviews, roundtable discussions, press junkets, variety and talk shows with remote guests and more. https://www.crewinabox.com

42 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

WORLDCAST SYSTEMS

SynchroStream Time-Synchronous IP Transmission and Playout of Audio Content

S

ynchroStream is the must-have professional solution for precise and stable time-synchronized audio transmission. The user defines the target latency, just once, and SynchroStream presents the distributed audio at the exact same time. When synchronizing audio, SynchroStream works in the range of microseconds and below. Fixed delay lines can even be adjusted to an eighth of a microsecond — 125 nanoseconds! SynchroStream is the new implementation in APT IP Codecs to perfectly synchronize IP audio streams in the time domain. It is a hardware and software option of

the latest APT IP Codec generation and utilizes an externally supplied 10 MHz clock and the 1 pps GPS signal as time reference.

With SynchroStream, broadcasting networks or surround sound transmissions benefit from the highest stability and the finest adjustment of synchronization. https://www.worldcastsystems.com/en/c209p233/ synchronized-ip-transport/new-synchrostream

43 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

ZIXI

Zixi SDVP Delivering Live Broadcast-Quality Video Over Any IP Network, Any Protocol, Any Cloud Provider and Any Edge Device

Z

ixi provides the cloud-based and on-premise Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP) that enables monitoring and management of reliable broadcast-quality video delivery over any IP network, any protocol, any cloud provider and any edge device, making it easy and economical for media companies to source, manage, localize and distribute live events and 24/7 live linear channels in broadcast QoS, securely and at scale. The SDVP is the unique integration of four main components: Protocols, Video Solutions Stack, ZEN Master and

the Zixi Enabled Network. Each part of the SDVP provides unique capabilities and solutions that make live video distribution with Zixi unparalleled. Zixi’s SDVP is distinctive in that it is the only software platform designed for live video to afford its users the ultimate flexibility to monitor and manage live video streams across a wide range of protocols, IP networks, cloud and service providers and edge devices. https://zixi.com/

44 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

AGAMA TECHNOLOGIES

Agama 6.0 — Collaboration and Powerful Analytics Enhancing Immediate Visualization of Ongoing Incidents

A

gama version 6.0 is a complete end-to-end modular suite that provides detailed real-time information on video service quality, viewer behavior and device health. It also offers advanced streamlined network monitoring, as well as active monitoring and analysis of the availability and quality of adaptive bitrate streaming services.

This release comes with a new Penalty Box Dashboard Widget that provides an immediate visual understanding of ongoing incidents for video headend analyzers. Considered one of the smartest functionalities in the suite, the widget shows thumbnails and audio bars for impacted channels, providing quick visual confirmation and highlighting of problems.

To meet the needs from increasing work pace, remote work and distributed teams, one of the Agama cornerstones — collaboration — is more important than ever. Having implemented innovative features, such as integration with Slack and Teams, and dashboard widgets that can data mine and extract relevant QoS and QoE performance in the same pane as the Penalty Box, this new release creates situational awareness that enables faster analysis and problem resolution.

Agama solution empowers service providers to assure optimal video service quality and improve customer experience with greater efficiency and accuracy. https://www.agama.tv/v6/

45 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

BROADPEAK

S4Streaming Revolutionary Technology Dramatically Improves Video QoE Through ABR Network Control

B

roadpeak’s S4Streaming is a revolutionary technology that gives video service providers more control over streaming quality and bandwidth usage. Through a unique combination of server-side technologies, S4Streaming assesses and selects the appropriate quality for video streaming, enabling higher bit rates for on-demand content delivery, and decreasing video quality changes when network conditions vary. This technology has proved to be particularly efficient when streaming low-latency live and is entirely standard, it requires no specific adaptation on players.

S4Streaming comes at a pivotal time. During the global COVID-19 health crisis, ABR traffic has soared, resulting in unfair, unpredictable and unstable bandwidth distribution.

Broadpeak’s S4Streaming solution deserves to win this award because it solves an increasingly critical and very real-world challenge for service providers, allowing them to deliver consistent experiences across devices and players while optimizing the usage of network resources. https://broadpeak.tv/solutions/s4streaming/

46 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

CREAMSOURCE

Vortex8 World-Class Engineering Delivers an IP65-Rated, Water-Resistant LED With Internal Power Supply

T

he new Vortex8 is a 650W high-power 2 feet x 1 foot RGBW LED panel with built-in power supply featuring CCT ranging from 2200K to 15000K and is the first product in the Creamsource Vortex series. The IP65-rated water-resistant panel design effortlessly goes from punchy to soft light. Unlike point sources, Vortex8 requires little space for diffusion so users can use it in tight spots.

The absence of external antennas in favor of an internal design limits loss or breakage for gaffers and rental houses alike, improving

uptime and rental yield. For even greater lighting design versatility, macro-level controls let users manipulate up to eight individual zones.

Vortex8’s narrow source is concentrated with a precision lens array natively providing a 20° beam angle. This yields a blistering 13,900lux at 3 meters/9 feet in 5600K and a dollar-per-watt ratio of $7.69 per watt making it a high-value, extremely versatile lighting system. https://creamsource.com/product/vortex8/

47 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

EVS

LSM-VIA Introducing the New Replay Experience

L

SM-VIA provides operators with a centralized and integrated environment for them to execute their replays and highlights with newfound creativity and productivity.

The new system leverages the benefits of EVS’ VIA platform of microservices and comes with native IP connectivity. As a result, new and more flexible workflows can be deployed, including the possibility for operators to work from anywhere on the network.

For the design of the LSM-VIA’s controller, EVS has worked in close collaboration with its community of operators. Thanks to their exten-

sive input, the company has managed to create a tool that provides the highest level of intuitiveness, optimized to work in the most challenging and high-pressure live production environments.

The system offers programmable buttons, advanced functions, an integrated touchscreen and a second viewer, enabling more direct access to content and giving operators the freedom to tell the story they want with more functionalities and fewer keystrokes. https://evs.com/en/product/lsm-via

48 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

MEDIAGENIX

Scheduling Artist Workflow-Based Suite of Augmented Intelligence Products for Assisted Scheduling

A

mid growing complexity we help make optimum use of available content by leveraging augmented intelligence. Our suite of AI tools seamlessly integrate into the scheduling workflows. They help with individual tasks, or help lift the content supply chain to new levels of operational and strategic excellence. The planners determine the level of abstraction the algorithm is allowed to handle.

Content Recommendations for Linear Scheduling Combining this with other (query or ML-based) value criteria and filters automatically provides the planner with a list of recommended content.

Automated Off-Peak Scheduling By applying filters and specifying which value criteria are important, planners can have entire off-peak schedules automatically generated in a matter of seconds. The algorithm learns which choices result in the best schedule.

Ratings Prediction for Linear Our ML tool predicts the ratings of scheduled content for every relevant target segment, at MTV3 with an 25% increase in accuracy.

https://www.mediagenix.tv/en/scheduling-artist/

49 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

NUGEN AUDIO

Paragon A True Convolution Reverb With the Flexibility and Control of a Classic Algorithmic Reverb

T

he world’s first 3D-compatible convolution reverb, modelled on ambisonic recordings of real spaces. Paragon offers unprecedented tweakability via advanced resynthesis, with zero time-stretching or artifacts, and features spectral analysis and precise EQ of impulse responses (IRs).

Paragon operates in up to 7.1.2 channels of audio, making it perfect for surround applications, including Dolby Atmos beds. Further, it features individually configurable crosstalk per channel, HPF and LPF per channel, and switchable LFE. Paragon uses state-of-the-art technology, developed alongside the

University of York, to analyze, decompose and resynthesize 3D IRs and create new authentic spaces. This makes it possible to configure limitless combinations of reverb spaces.

Unlike a traditional convolution reverb, Paragon does not use static IRs, providing a wider scope to transform the sound of a space. Additionally, Paragon’s crosstalk creates a sense of liveliness and interaction between channels and allows users to produce surround reverb from mono or stereo sources. https://nugenaudio.com/paragon

50 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

PIXITMEDIA

ngenea Beyond Cloud

N

genea facilitates distributed collaborative workflows, giving teams access to the data they need, wherever it is stored, on whatever service it’s stored on — creating a global data management solution that goes beyond the cloud.

Developed to overcome the challenges of moving and accessing data across multiple storage platforms, ngenea provides an enormously scalable high-performance data management layer that extends the existing file system into alternative storage options. This, in-turn, empowers studios to access global talent by efficiently leveraging hybrid and cloud in a meaningful and agile way.

ngenea integrates with Projective Strawberry PAM, Iconik cloud MAM, Autodesk Shotgun, AWS Thinkbox Deadline and more.

In addition to a 20X transfer performance increase across AWS S3, Google GCS and Azure Blob, users can now enjoy ngenea’s new API-driven, open-format workflow integration capabilities, greatly simplifying the journey into the cloud for media-centric collaboration, burst and data protection requirements. https://pixitmedia.com/

51 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

PIXITMEDIA

pixstor Beyond Storage

P

ixstor goes beyond storage, offering the consistency, performance and scale that teams in data-intensive environments need to stay competitive.

Powered by our proven high-performance parallel file system and trusted by thousands of studios worldwide, pixstor’s data-aware scaleout NAS can efficiently manage petabytes of data and billions of files, all under a single global namespace, and 100% guaranteed performance — even at 99% capacity.

With pixstor, users can now enjoy the widest range of choice in the

market for Amazon AWS, Google GCP and Azure cloud deployment options, powering the widest range of use cases for collaborative, remote working and studio-in-the-cloud requirements. pixstor search now has the ability to archive and restore assets to the cloud directly from the user interface, helping users rediscover and monetize past work instantly, thus avoiding the need for recreating efforts and minimizing retrieval costs. https://pixitmedia.com/

52 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

ROHDE & SCHWARZ

BSCC 2.0 Broadcast Service and Control Center for 5G Broadcast/Multicast Broadcasters and Network Operators Can Deliver More Mobile Services, Such as Venue Casting and Live Commerce

B

SCC2.0 builds on the success of its predecessor, which is deployed in proof of concept 5G Broadcast/Multicast trials in Germany, Brazil and China.

5G Broadcast provides mobile users with access to super high-quality video content. To this end, the BSCC2.0 supports various streaming platforms, including FLUTE (File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport Stream), DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Steaming over HTTP) and HLS (HTTP Live Streaming).

BSCC2.0 helps reduce costs, add agility and meets the demands of future mobile and fixed broadcast and multicast services. It’s based

on new modular software architecture to achieve improved software overload protection.

A number of key factors differentiate BSCC2.0 from rival solutions including 3GPP Release 16 support, the integration of Transport Streams over IP (TSoIP) protocols and multiservice support. Building on its specialist expertise in mobile transmission technology, BSCC2.0 has embedded multi-TX connection support, single frequency network (SFN) and multifrequency network (MFN) transmission support. https://www.rohde-schwarz.com

53 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

ROSS VIDEO

Graphite PPC (Portable Production Centre) A Complete Production Solution Neatly Housed in a Single Compact Carrying Case

T

his powerful all-in-one production platform combines big switcher performance, stunning XPression graphics, instant-access clip servers and pristine RAVE audio with unmatched portability and ease of operation. Like the popular Ross Graphite All-in-One Production System, the Portable Production Centre can be run by a single operator and its ultra-quiet fan means it can be deployed just about anywhere, even next to on-air talent!

The Graphite PPC addresses the current need for remote production due to COVID-19 restrictions. It is also a very compact

yet powerful “flight pack� for such applications as sports and live events.

Graphite PPC has received Best of Show InfoComm 2020 Special Edition Awards from AV Technology and Rental & Staging Systems, Best of Virtual Show 2020 (IBC) Awards from TVB Europe and TV Technology, plus two NAB 2020 Product of the Year Awards. https://www.rossvideo.com/products-services/acquisitionproduction/production-switchers/graphite/

54 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

SIMPLESTREAM LIMITED

Simplestream App Platform A Powerful Framework for Premium Content

S

implestream’s App Platform is an end-to-end, white-label solution for broadcasters, telcos and rights holders, that incorporates a unified OTT workflow (including content ingest, encoding, DRM and 4K delivery) together with customizable, branded apps for desktop, mobiles, tablets, smart TVs and other connected devices. The solution is operated by Media Manager, a powerful service manager CMS, that combines content and customer iden-

tity management with real-time analytics and a flexible payment gateway. Our team of UX/UI designers and app developers work directly with each customer to create compelling user-experiences across all screens to launch AVOD, SVOD and TVOD services in rapid time and at a reduced cost. http://www.simplestream.com/solutions/app-platform

55 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

SUPPONOR

Virtual Advertising Platform Commercially Proven to Deliver Class-Leading Quality in Premium Live Televised Sports

S

upponor’s new Virtual Advertising Platform builds upon years of deployments in top tier sports of Supponor’s live billboard replacement solution with a next-generation precision optical device, AI-based keying and graphics detection, web-based analytics and reporting, providing the sports broadcasting industry with the most advanced and comprehensive virtual replacement and placement advertising solution. By combining state-of-the-art IR, AI and chroma keying Supponor provides the highest quality, in the widest range of conditions at the right price.

The new platform supports a range of deployment models including venue-based, fully remote and cloud-hosted to optimize cost and convenience while ensuring alignment with production environments.

Launched in September to coincide with the new football seasons in Europe, it is used today by Bundesliga and LaLiga during the highest profile matches in these leagues and will be deployed in similar flagship events in North America in 2021. http://supponor.com

56 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

VERIZON MEDIA

Verizon Media Control Maximizing the Value of Broadcasters’ Content and Helping Them Reach New Audiences

V

erizon Media Control provides content owners with new ways to maximize the reach and monetization opportunities for their content. Its new features and enhancements make it possible to curate content and simulate live channels as well as syndicate to multiple platforms within a single platform. Its Channel scheduler allows content owners to create virtual live linear experiences using assets from their VOD library, a live feed or event. Syndication Publishing empowers content owners to syndicate their live streams or scheduled content to social media platforms. Additionally, its

Live Events Dashboard includes a new Live Event Markers feature, which enables operators to tag moments of interest such as scoring plays or songs in a setlist, during any live event. These tags or markers enrich the content and create opportunities for content enhancements such as scheduling ad breaks or inserting overlays that create a better viewing experience. https://www.verizondigitalmedia.com/media-platform/ streaming/control/

57 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

WILDMOKA

Auto ReZone Converts Live News Video to a Vertical Format for Mobile

“HOW DOES “AUTO REZONE” WORK? he process to transform a feed takes less than 10 seconds by the servers in the cloud (so the newly generated stream has a minimum time shift compared to the 16:9 original feed). The goal for a broadcaster is to offer both the horizontal format and the vertical ones for live shows. ReZone supports an unlimited number of situations, combining speakers, studio shooting and recorded video, weather forecast and so on. All the zones of interest are detected frame by frame by the Wildmoka AI/ML algorithms.

The Benefits Deliver a premium mobile-first experience without changing your existing newsroom workflow.

Boost your audience, including on youth and senior market segments.

Extend your mobile audience’s average viewing time.

Differentiate on social media with vertical formats.

Become the place to be for advertisers.

•

T

• • • •

https://offer.wildmoka.com/vertical-live-rezone

58 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide

WORLDCAST SYSTEMS

APTmpX

World’s First and True MPX/Composite Algorithm to Save Network Bandwidth

A

PTmpX is the world’s first and only MPX/composite algorithm to save network bandwidth without deconstructing the original composite signal. APTmpX offers the perfect balance between maintaining high quality and cost-effective MPX/composite transmission.

With 900 kbps or even less bandwidth requirement, narrowband IP connections, and in conjunction with APT’s SureStream technology, the internet can be used with confidence. APTmpX can be used without restrictions, be it in the digital or analog audio domain.

APTmpX marks a milestone in the transition to an MPX/composite environment — with this new technology, FM broadcasters now have

access to high-quality signal compression for FM MPX/composite transmission.

WorldCast Systems is committed to high quality, low latency, and minimal complexity and this solution meets the APT brand’s quality standards. In the end, with APTmpX, the user benefits from significantly lower hardware and distribution costs while maintaining the station’s sonic signature. https://www.worldcastsystems.com/en/c205p219/mpxtransport-over-ip/new-aptmpx

59 2020 Product Innovation Awards Program Guide