sit-up, the UK’s fastest-growing TV retailer, has brought online a new Omneon Spectrum media server system to provide a scalable production and playout infrastructure for three shopping channels — price-drop TV, bid TV, and speed auction TV — and two free-to-air movie channels, matinee movies and bad movies.
“We needed to replace and enlarge our video server to meet the expansion of our broadcast facilities in 2005 and beyond, and the Omneon Spectrum server system offered a modular architecture as well as a lower per-channel cost,” said David Upton, head of engineering at sit-up. “The technology behind the Omneon server system is IT-based and very open. The system’s use of open API interfaces made integration with our Pharos automation system quite simple.”
In the past year, sit-up has expanded its channel portfolio from two to three live channels and launched its new free-to-air movie channels. Running under the control of Pharos automation, the new Omneon Spectrum system supports three studio-based transmission outputs for price-drop TV, bid TV, and speed auction TV; plays out material for insertion into live studio production; provides channels for backup and review of media; and supports ingest and playout for movies.