Singapore – Encompass Digital Media launched its new US$7 million broadcast monitoring facility, the MEGAPOD – the first-of-its-kind multi-channel broadcast monitoring and play out facility with multi-channel and multi-format for linear and over-the-top (OTT) delivery capabilities – on April 29. The MEGAPOD can handle up to 250 channels, from ingest to delivery across multiple screens.

“MEGAPOD is a one-of-its-kind facility in Asia which enables our customers to manage and monetise their media assets in a more efficient and error-free environment,” said Deepakjit Singh, Managing Director, Encompass Digital Media Asia. “The innovative design and fully automated processes enable real-time monitoring and processing of the content for delivery across the globe on multiple screens.”

MEGAPOD

The MEGAPOD offers broadcasters a ready infrastructure for expansion, allowing the launch of a new channel every two-and-a-half weeks, provides significant reduction time to any anomalies, and reduces book-to-build time to less than three weeks. The fully automated, end-to-end central monitoring system is built on the back of iControl – the world’s most advanced, fully automated integrated monitoring and control system.

“Currently over 120 content channels are in the process of getting on-board with the MEGAPOD and we expect this number to multiply as more clients in the region tap into our offering. We believe the MEGAPOD, with its advanced technology and a pool of highly skilled staff, has the potential to become the media processing hub in Asia,” said Deepakjit.

Together with Encompass Asia’s existing facility, the MEGAPOD offers a variety of robust services with high redundancy, including play out, distribution, digital media manipulation, ad inserts, OTT services, as well as other creative, technical and global archival services. In addition, the facility also houses a post-production studio, giving clients the full end-to-end solution to create and deliver content on the go. To date, a number of tier one broadcasters operating across Asia have indicated plans to take advantage of the efficiencies that the MEGAPOD will generate.

“With Singapore’s vision to become a global media hub for the creation, development, and distribution of original content, facilities like the MEGAPOD are complementary to the ecosystem that is being built to realise this goal,” added Deepakjit.