Widening The Broadcast Horizon: Pharos at IBC2006
Stand 10.421, IBC, Amsterdam RAI, September 8-12
Pharos returns to IBC this year with a powerful expansion of its broadcast process management system, enabling television networks to widen their business horizons without increased cost. File-based management systems bring many operational efficiencies but the technologies and formats can hinder a business if not handled correctly. Pharos will demonstrate the integration of both broadcast and commodity IT systems and show how to make workflow easy to control and manage. Several large systems have recently been deployed and will be announced during IBC. Pharos will show workflow examples from these projects and share its expertise in media asset management.
NEW: Pharos Mediator continues to drive workflow efficiency
Pharos will unveil major new additions to Mediator Enterprise, already recognised as one of the most innovative new developments in broadcasting. Pharos will announce major new deals with globally recognised broadcasters implementing the Pharos Mediator.
Developed from the field-proven Mediator media management system, Mediator Enterprise enables television network staff to concentrate on content rather than kit. It automatically tracks content flow from initial acquisition to playout and post-transmission storage. Configurable for large or small networks, Mediator Enterprise includes ingest tools, browsing, quality-control processing and management of tape, near-online and archive libraries. On signing in to the system, individual operators are presented with a familiar web-based control screen matching the specific roles they perform within the organisation. As content progresses towards and beyond transmission, it is automatically presented to the appropriate user. Combining media asset management and workflow management, Mediator Enterprise offers a step-change increase in the efficiency of broadcast network operation.
The accompanying image shows one of the role-specific screens from Mediator Enterprise.
NEW: Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder
Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder enables rich media files to be converted quickly and easily from a wide range of telco-specific formats such as the 3GPP and 3GPP2 standards used in high-speed wireless networks. Source files are displayed on a browser-driven control screen. Transcoding is activated by dragging and dropping files between source and destination format folders. Files can be converted in any order between MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DV, 4:2:2, 4:2:0 and uncompressed. Output bit-rate is user-assignable. Applications of Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder include downconverting broadcast-quality content for internet-based distribution, upconverting internet-delivered ENG feeds, and a wide variety of file-format interchange tasks in programme production, post-production and playout. The unit occupies a compact 1U x 600 mm chassis and is controlled via a standard browser.
NEW: Pharos Pilot Ria 2 web-based routing control
A powerful update to the Pilot Ria web-based intranet control system will be introduced by Pharos at IBC2006. When launched at IBC2004, Pilot Ria set new levels of operational flexibility for broadcast staff by enabling full reactive control of routing equipment from any web browser via local or secure-coupled intranet. It can be deployed quickly and easily throughout a single-site or multi-site facility and, when necessary, enables engineering staff to reconfigure a system from home or while travelling. Pharos Pilot Ria 2 adds to the existing feature-set major enhancements including salvo/macro functions, destination locking, and destination grouping.
NEW: Pharos first to implement Isilon storage into media asset management
Pharos will exhibit a major innovation, being the first to implement Isilon intelligent clustered storage into a media asset management system. This enables broadcasters to benefit from Isilon's 'pay as you grow' storage solutions, expandable up to 528 terabytes of capacity and 7 gigabyte/s data speeds.
Staff attending IBC2006:
- Roger Heath - Commercial Director
- Spencer Rodd - Technical Director
- Steve Robinson - Automation & Control Product Manager
- Jason King - MAM Product Manager
- David Barnes - Director of Sales
- Nigel Haycock - Account Manager
- Paul Scott - Account Manager
- Hannah Trimble - Sales Communications
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Published on 13 Jul 2006