There is a vast amount of new and existing video assets that needs to be digitised – for broadcast, broadband, satellite, DVD, etc – and the MPEG-2 codec has clearly become the universal solution. George Mancuso addresses the ‘hardware vs software’ question.
Traditionally, ‘hardware-based’ MPEG encoders have dominated broadcast and professional equipment powered by single chip IC encoders or chipsets encompassing Application Specific ICs (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) or Digital Signal Processors (DSP). However, another approach is rapidly becoming reality for the professional broadcast market: ‘softwarebased’ encoding, utilising software applications for encoding and transcoding media that run on PCs powered by general-purpose CPUs. Utilised in the consumer market for several years, software-based encoders have been unable to break into the professional broadcast arena because of limitations including speed, quality and the reliability required for broadcasting. However, recent advancements in the speed of these processors and improvements in the software (both applications and operating systems) have changed the landscape. Real time, software-based approaches to MPEG, such as Ligos’ MediaRig family of MPEG encoding products, are now a true alternative for the professional broadcast industry.
White paper continued on pdf.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - (September 3, 2003) : Ligos Corporation today announced their intention to develop and bring to market new products based on the emerging H.264 video codec standard and Intel-based platforms. The two companies will work together to combine an H.264 implementation optimized for Intel-based platforms with the customization and advanced features necessary to enable an enhanced video experience across a broad spectrum of applications and environments.
Intel researchers have optimized the H.264 codec for Intel-based platforms. Ligos will expand and incorporate the Intel-optimized H.264 technology into future Ligos products for the PC, handheld and broadcast video markets.
H.264, also known as AVC or MPEG-4 Part 10, brings a new level of efficiency in terms of compression and quality to digital video, enabling a wide variety of applications such as high-definition DVD, video-on-demand, digital home products, video over IP, and delivery of video over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks.
“We’re very pleased to again be working with Intel to bring next generation video technologies like H.264 to a larger audience,” said Mark Koziol, President and CEO of Ligos Corporation. “Intel and Ligos have a long history of redefining what can be done with the combination of our optimized video software running on powerful Intel-based platforms. Our goal is to develop and distribute “best of breed” H.264 products in such a way that they make the greatest impact on a broad variety of markets.”
“The improved quality and bandwidth efficiency of H.264 requires intense computational power and Intel researchers have optimized the H.264 codec to take advantage of the high performance of Intel-based platforms for servers, PCs and handheld devices,” said Shane Wall of Intel’s Emerging Platform Lab. “We intend our platforms to play a pivotal role in the creation and consumption of next-generation media which will be aided by Ligos’ development and delivery of H.264 applications to a wide audience.”
Work is already underway to extend the H.264 implementation with advanced features for optimized applications on Intel-based systems and devices with availability from Ligos targeted for later this year.
About Ligos Corporation
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ligos Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of software-only media stream management technology. Since 1997, Ligos has been a leader in video compression, delivering real-time software codecs and video tools designed to run on standard platforms. For more information on Ligos Corporation, its products or licensing, access its website at http://www.ligos.com or call 1 (415) 249-0100 or toll free in the United States at 1 (888) 464-8765 to speak with a sales representative.
Ligos® is a registered trademark of Ligos Corporation. All other trademarks product names, and/or trade names are used solely for the purpose of identification and belong to their respective holders. Copyright © Ligos Corporation 2003.
Time Warner Cable First to Deploy SeaChange’s Digital Transcoder Software for Seamless Ad Insertion into Digital Cable Channels
Source: SeaChange International, Yahoo Business News
MAYNARD, Mass - (May 3, 2003) SeaChange International is shipping a new software system that empowers cable television operators and content originators to repurpose ads, programs, movies and other video for digital channels, video-on-demand and High-Definition television. With SeaChange’s Digital Transcoder - a seamless enhancement to SeaChange digital video platforms - video content is automatically reformatted to serve disparate video origination points with the highest appropriate video quality.
Hollywood studios, television networks and advertisers are repurposing their video content to reach additional audiences on various digital platforms. SeaChange is focused on streamlining the television ‘content pipeline’ - from origination to television homes - and Digital Transcoder is a key enabler. Already, Time Warner Cable of Houston and Time Warner Cable of San Antonio have launched the software on their existing analog ad insertion platforms to place ads and promotions in the digital tier.
“Digital Transcoder seamlessly extends our customers’ SeaChange ad insertion, VOD and broadcast systems, allowing all their archived and incoming content to feed digital services,” said James Kelso, vice president/general manager, broadband systems, SeaChange. “This new software does all the heavy lifting, unveiling yet another layer of revenue opportunities. It’s another example of SeaChange platforms adding intelligent automation to simplify the ‘content pipeline’ in the face of increasingly complex media operations.”
Springboard to digital cable ads
The average local cable spot insertion operation places thousands of spots into analog channels each week, from typical 30-second ads and cable promotions to long-form infomercials. Ad traffic is increasing significantly with digital cable tier and High-Definition channel ad avails; it will dramatically escalate as targeting and VOD ad models emerge. With each new outlet requiring different bit rates and encoding parameters, having an automated transcoding solution becomes crucial as local insertion opportunities soar to millions per week in hybrid transmission environments.
SeaChange’s Digital Transcoder handles these opportunities within the normal framework of today’s automated analog spot insertion operations. Spots are encoded once (from tape or other sources) for scheduled playback to any channel with transport or program streams requirements. Formats including MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (in support of IP streaming services) and High-Definition (480i, 720p and 1080i) are supported across a wide range of bit rates. Scheduling, verification, monitoring, traffic & billing and system maintenance processes operate seamlessly as before.
Once initialized within the SeaChange Spot System, the “set and forget” Digital Transcoder automatically applies the unique encoding parameters (file type, bit rate, audio and meta data) assigned to each insertion point. Digital Transcoder preserves storage space on Spot System Master Video Libraries since only one copy is needed to fulfill various output requirements - even for very large multi-zone cable systems or ad interconnects serving many regional cable systems. Taking spot quality assurances another step further with automation, Digital Transcoder solves the problem of varying audio levels in program breaks. During transcoding, spot audio levels are matched and locked-in to the predetermined levels for each individual channel.
Specifically tuned for multichannel cable environments, SeaChange Digital Transcoder is powered by exclusive software developed in partnership with transcoding technologies leader Ligos Corporation. The SeaChange Digital Transcoder supports video quality specified by cable operators, studios and advertisers. It employs unique tactics like Macroblock Reduction, Quantization Matrix Control, Advanced Rate Control and dual pass encoding.
These technologies analyze the digital content, determine the ideal transcoding algorithm, and predict hundreds of known situations within the content with the potential to generate digital video artifacts. The software automatically adjusts the transcoder’s compression and filters to avoid artifacts and produce the highest quality content.
SeaChange software and automation: Spot investment protection
SeaChange Spot insertion systems helped automate local cable and cable interconnect advertising beginning in 1994. More than four million spots are aired daily by SeaChange Spot customers Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Insight, National Cable Communications, Rogers, Time Warner, RCN and others. Engineered for fully automated operations, SeaChange Spot software allows these customers to transition from analog to digital cable advertising without adding personnel or changing operations. SeaChange continues to reinvest and develop new software that extends the capabilities of its deployed systems.
SeaChange will demonstrate Digital Transcoder and other strategic software and systems supporting the television content pipeline at SCTE Cable Tec Expo in Philadelphia, May 12-14 in booth 2360. Digital Transcoder for ad insertion is shipping now; it will be available for SeaChange VOD Systems in the third quarter of 2003.
SeaChange drives the on-demand business with highly automated and fault-resilient digital video systems. Today, SeaChange VOD Systems provide more than 445,000 on-demand streams in over 83 deployments for North America’s largest cable operators including Adelphia, AOL Time Warner, Cablevision, Comcast, Insight, Mediacom, RCN and Rogers. Around the world, broadcasters and television networks are empowered by SeaChange’s systems, capitalizing on digital video to streamline their operations.
About SeaChange
SeaChange International provides digital video systems that are changing television. Its powerful server and software systems enable television operators to provide new on-demand services and to gain greater efficiencies in advertising and content delivery. With its Emmy-winning MediaCluster technology, thousands of SeaChange systems are helping broadband, broadcast and satellite television companies to streamline operations, expand services and increase revenues. SeaChange is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts and has product development, support and sales offices throughout the world. Visit http://www.seachangeinternational.com .
About Ligos Corporation
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ligos Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of software-only media stream management technology. Since 1997, Ligos has been a leader in video compression, delivering real-time software codecs and video tools designed to run on standard platforms. For more information on Ligos Corporation, its products or licensing, access its Web site at http://www.ligos.com or call 1 (415) 249-0100 or toll free at 1 (888) 464-8765 to speak with a sales representative.
SeaChange Spot System and SeaChange Digital Transcoder are trademarks of SeaChange International, Inc.. Ligos is a registered trademark of Ligos Corporation. All other trademarks product names, and/or trade names are used solely for the purpose of identification and belong to their respective holders.
Ligos and SeaChange International Partner to
Co-develop New MPEG Transcoding Technology
San Francisco, CA - (April 3, 2003) Ligos Corporation today announced that it has co-developed a new MPEG transcoder with SeaChange International, a leading provider of digital video systems for television.
“We’re extremely pleased to be able to work with SeaChange to offer its customers greater flexibility for their MPEG-2 encoding requirements,” said Mark Koziol, President and CEO of Ligos Corporation. “Our partnership with a customer of the caliber of SeaChange is a further endorsement of the work we’ve been doing for years, and a confirmation that the time has come for an alternative to less flexible encoding solutions.”
The announcement follows Ligos’ recent introduction of MediaRig, a family of modular, multi-standard encoding and transcoding products that provide high performance and pristine quality in a variety of formats. MediaRig Core provides the underlying MediaRig software engine to broadcast and professional video system developers to meet application-specific encoding requirements, and to provide an alternative to the complexities, costs and boundaries associated with MPEG encoding hardware.
Broadcast and professional video system developers interested in previewing new products and technologies from Ligos are invited to visit at the NAB 2003 show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April 5-10 2003, in the South Hall at Booth #SL1656.
About Ligos Corporation
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ligos Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of software-only media stream management technology. Since 1997, Ligos has been a leader in video compression, delivering real-time software codecs and video tools designed to run on standard platforms. For more information on Ligos Corporation, its products or licensing, access its Web site at http://www.ligos.com or call 1 (415) 249-0100 or toll free at 1 (888) 464-8765 to speak with a sales representative.
About SeaChange
SeaChange provides digital video systems that are changing television. Its powerful server and software systems enable television operators to provide new on-demand services and to gain greater efficiencies in advertising and content delivery. With its Emmy-winning MediaCluster technology, thousands of SeaChange systems are helping broadband, broadcast and satellite television companies to streamline operations, expand services and increase revenues. SeaChange is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts and has product development, support and sales offices throughout the world. Visit http://www.seachangeinternational.com .
Ligos®, MediaRig™ and GoMotion® are registered trademarks of Ligos Corporation. All other trademarks product names, and/or trade names are used solely for the purpose of identification and belong to their respective holders. Copyright © Ligos Corporation 2003.
New Software-based MPEG encoding platform for Broadcast Applications to be shown at NAB2003
San Francisco, CA - (April 1, 2003) Ligos Corporation today announced Thales Broadcast & Multimedia as the latest customer for its breakthrough product, MediaRig Core. MediaRig Core is a multi-standard, software-based video processing “engine” that assembles all the software required to transform the PC platform into an affordable professional-class real-time encoder or transcoder. The companies will be exhibiting their latest products at the NAB2003 show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April 5 – 10, 2003.
This latest announcement follows the introduction of Ligos’ MediaRig Core, a multi-standard encoding and transcoding engine for Broadcast, Broadband and Professional video applications. MediaRig Core’s scaleable, modular software allows video system developers and manufacturers to meet application-specific requirements on an as-needed basis. When compared to other solutions in the market, MediaRig Core provides a more cost-effective solution, with equivalent reliability and performance, and superior picture quality and features.
“We’re very excited that MediaRig Core has already been so well received by a leading broadcast solution provider such as Thales,” said Mark Koziol, President and CEO of Ligos Corporation. “We have found many video system developers and manufacturers are dissatisfied with hardware-based MPEG solutions, but they need to maintain a high level of quality, performance and reliability. MediaRig Core was designed to meet those needs, and we’re finding that it exceeds the expectations of the industry.”
Since 1997, Ligos Corporation has been a leader in software-based video compression technology, delivering modular, real-time software codecs and video tools designed to run on standard platforms. Available for evaluation and licensing through the Ligos Partner Program, MediaRig Core provides video system developers the ability to add scalable broadcast MPEG functionality digital media systems on an as-needed basis. Broadcast and professional video system developers interested in previewing MediaRig are invited to visit Ligos at NAB2003 show in Las Vegas, at the South Hall of the LVCC, at Booth #SL1656. Thales Broadcast and Multimedia will be exhibiting at Booth #C2000.
About Ligos Corporation
Headquartered in San Francisco, Ligos Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of software-only media stream management technology. Since 1997, Ligos has been a leader in video compression, delivering real-time software codecs and video tools designed to run on standard platforms. For more information on Ligos Corporation, its products or licensing, access its Web site at http://www.ligos.com or call 1 (415) 249-0100 or toll free at 1 (888) 464-8765 to speak with a sales representative.
About Thales and Thales Broadcast & Multimedia
Thales is a world leader in professional electronics in three key markets: Defense, Information Technology & Services and Aerospace. The Group employs 65,000 people in nearly 50 countries worldwide, and generated revenues of over $10 billion in 2001. Thales Broadcast & Multimedia, a Thales Group company, designs, develops, manufactures and markets equipment, systems and solutions in the field of:
- Terrestrial Transmission (radio and TV)
- Digital Video Processing and Multimedia Distribution
for broadcasting, cable TV, satellite and telecommunication services providers worldwide. Thales Broadcast & Multimedia has deployed its systems in 170 countries.
Ligos and MediaRig are registered trademarks of Ligos Corporation. Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories. All other trademarks product names, and/or trade names are used solely for the purpose of identification and belong to their respective holders. Copyright © Ligos Corporation 2003.
)