Imagine Communications outlines transformation strategies for the media industry at IBC

Imagine proposes a practical approach to innovation that will allow average companies to customize the path and pace of their transitions to next-generation architectures and business models.

Who visits these days IBC 2018 can share with experts Imagine Communications at its stand 4.A01 technical, operational and business questions on key industry issues, from how the SMPTE ST 2110 actually works in the real world, to how you can extract value from remaining advertising inventory, or when it makes sense virtualize operations broadcasting or the creation and distribution of content transition to a public cloud.

And as evident in IBC, Imagine's objective is to outline practical innovation and migration strategies that allow medium-sized companies to customize the path and pace of their transition to next-generation architectures and business models.

Tom Cotney, CEO of Imagine, commented that "the ultimate goal of a complete IP environment is now widely agreed upon across the industry, but the journey will be unique for each customer. The timing and availability of capital will be different for each customer. And there are several schools of thought about when to buy the maturity curve of new technology. Our goal is to serve our customers no matter how the variables converge for them and help them achieve their goals."

Cotney adds that “with their businesses in transition, Our clients need partners, not suppliers. Partners need to have a full understanding of how a media company makes money today and where capital is being applied to enable them to compete and be ready with a solution that fits their strategy. “Professionals come to Imagine because we can have a 360-degree view of their business and present them with a new technology solution or migration strategy that is right for them.”

At IBC 2018, Imagine is demonstrating that practical innovation and strategies enable a gradual and managed transition to next-generation architectures and business models through three main solution pillars: advertising management, live production and playout.

Atresmedia and Tv Azteca, two references

Among the success stories that Imagine is sharing these days, the project that for Atresmedia (Spain) has completed its Versio integrated playout installation with the installation of a broadcast center Versio-based disaster recovery. The new backup function maintains a close synchronization with the main broadcast center to ensure instant and seamless failover if necessary.

On the other hand, the Mexican TV Azteca, has deployed a next-generation broadcast and master control infrastructure. The scalable platform, based on software that runs on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, is currently driving 120 channels from Azteca's headquarters in Mexico City.

TV Azteca continues to grow in terms of the number of hours of programming it produces, as well as the expansion to create content for OTT and other digital platforms. With plans to gradually transition to IP distribution, cloud-based operations and 4K UHD, the company was looking to replace aging broadcast and master control infrastructure with flexible technology that would allow them to efficiently manage their current business and easily evolve to meet future requirements.

Advertising technology

Visitors to the Imagine booth can explore a unique portfolio of integrated solutions for inventory management and optimization, data analysis and targeted delivery, designed to help media companies increase revenue and reduce costs in multi-channel, multi-platform and multi-market operations.

They highlight the world debut of xG Scorecard, a powerful solution business intelligence that provides real-time information at a glance and precise knowledge of how spots drive sales for advertisers.

The first reporting tool of its kind combines data from traditional sales and traffic systems, operational databases, rankings, clickstreams, and even social media into a single view that can be customized to meet the needs of specific users. By bringing together data that is typically siled, xG Scorecard simplifies the process of uncovering trends and detecting correlations vital to growing a media company's business.

On the other hand, note that Imagine Communications, SpotX y Theo Technologies are demonstrating a comprehensive ecosystem that enables media companies to monetize inventory, create campaigns, play video across devices and platforms, and deliver ads to IP-connected devices, addressable TV, and traditional linear broadcast displays from unified campaign and delivery silos.

live production

Imagine also showcases its latest innovations for live production, including first high-capacity 100GbE network links, an intuitive control panel for live sports that provides better handling of automation interruptions and processing compatible with SMPTE ST 2110 for HD, UHD and IP.

Highlights include a network processor demonstration Image of Selenium and the multiviewer of MT EPIC UHD-ready devices that work together to efficiently monitor signals from multiple dedicated displays, with monitoring inputs and outputs, all over IP.

Para hacer frente al enorme desafío de ancho de banda asociado con el monitoreo de señales UHD sin comprimir, SNP hace una señal “proxy” de cada señal UHD que toca en ambas direcciones. EPIC MV utiliza estas señales proxy – que son a todo color, a velocidad de imagen completa, y típicamente resolución HD – en lugar del original UHD, lo que resulta en una reducción significativa en el costo total del sistema.

Playout

En su espacio en IBC, Imagine muestra también su concepción del playout con Versio Platform, el primer ecosistema de playout basado en microservicios y nativo de la nube; Versio IOX, la única solución de almacenamiento multipetabyte de alta disponibilidad y paridad diseñada desde cero para satisfacer las demandas de fiabilidad y rendimiento de la transmisión; y Nexio+ AMP, el servidor de medios de comunicación de mayor densidad de la industria con capacidad híbrida de SDI/IP y H.265.

Imagine también muestra varios escenarios de transición para migrar de las operaciones de emisión tradicionales a las de la próxima generación a un ritmo que funcione para cada cliente individual. Por ejemplo, las empresas de medios de comunicación que utilizan la automatización de Imagine, ampliamente adoptada por ADC y D-Series, pueden continuar en la plataforma de su elección, a la vez que incorporan las nuevas funciones y capacidades que ofrece el motor de emisión Versio.