Hong Kong – Imagine Communications, empowering the media and entertainment industry through transformative innovation, will be demonstrating a broad range of software-defined solutions at BroadcastAsia2017. Highlights will include IP-connected systems for live production; comprehensive content management, playout and advertising management solutions; and multiscreen delivery. As this functionality is increasingly implemented in software on standard IT platforms, the emphasis is on virtualisation and the cloud to provide highly cost-effective, highly productive platforms.
Imagine Communications has led the way in the positive transition to commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware and IP connectivity through its own projects, early participation in the Alliance for IP Media Systems (AIMS), and by forging strategic partnerships with key players from the IT industry. An excellent example is the partnership with Siemens Convergence Creators: this aligns its Smart Video Engine modular online video platform with Imagine Communications’ multiscreen media and advertising delivery solution, providing a one-stop solution for the creation, management and monetisation of a converged linear and online presence.
Live production is now embracing IP connectivity, thanks to the open architecture initiatives of AIMS. At BroadcastAsia, Imagine Communications will be demonstrating hybrid SDI-IP solutions for production architectures, showing how broadcasters can move into new architectures without putting current investment at risk, while still maximising the performance advantages. The demonstrations will also show ultra-low latency encoding for IP-based production in Ultra HD/4K and high dynamic range (HDR) image quality.
The company will also be demonstrating content management, branding and playout, for HD and for UHD, in the cloud as well as in on-premises solutions. This will be the first chance for broadcasters from the region to see the new user interface and advanced automation for the Imagine Communications Versio playout system, launched at the recent NAB exhibition.
Landmark, Imagine Communications’ sales and scheduling solution, will also be on show at BroadcastAsia. Built to help manage, connect, delivery and optimise advertising revenue, this open, modular platform ensures that media companies can build precisely tailored solutions for sales, scheduling and analytics, both for linear and nonlinear content delivery.
Imagine will also be showcasing its multiscreen delivery capabilities, with its unique high-density, high-quality transcoding and output devices, again capable of implementation in the machine room, in the data centre or in the cloud. Underlining the drive for quality as well as high efficiency, the demonstration will include the latest implementation of the HEVC codec, delivering excellent images at minimal bitrates. The practical, end-to-end demonstration will also feature the Siemens middleware and user apps, and will include dynamic advertising insertion to maximise revenues.
