MainStreaming has joined the Microsoft for Startups programme and is now working as a partner to develop delivery solutions built in the company’s Azure Cloud services.
The induction follows MainStreaming’s entry into the Ultra HD Forum Italia Society. It allows MainStreaming to integrate Azure Cloud alongside the company’s proprietary video streaming technology.
Microsoft Startups UK MD Amali de Alwis said: “At Microsoft, we enjoy working with businesses who are disrupting industries with exciting technology, which is why we’ve been so excited to have MainStreaming join our ScaleUp programme. We aim to foster growth and innovation for our partners in an ecosystem that offers the tools they need to succeed.”
Globecast goes Outdoors
Meanwhile, Globecast has agreed a multi-year partnership with Outdoor Sport Channel for the worldwide distribution of its HD and 4K content to MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributors), and as the exclusive distributor in the US.
Outdoor Sport Channel HD is a 24-hour global sports network featuring outdoor, action, summer and winter sports, as well as sports news.
The distribution deal includes the linear channel and VoD content on all platforms including CATV, DTH, IPTV, OTT and smart TVs for North America, South America, Europe, the Russian Federation, Asia-Pacific, and exclusively in the US.
Outdoor Sport Channel founder and CEO Henk van Meer said: “In order to further maximise our worldwide distribution, we teamed up with Globecast as they are the ideal partner to help us ‘go global’ because that is what they do best.
“Globecast understands today’s operator and TV audience needs and we are keen to market, offer and sell our channel to each and any distributing operator on the planet with a long-term vision.”
Verimatrix, Broadcom partner on Android TV solution
Elsewhere, Verimatrix has announced a new collaboration with Broadcom to streamline Android TV set-top box (STB) deployments, by pre-integrating components of the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) with Broadcom’s Android TV Platform.
The pre-integrated solution uses the standard Android TV MediaCas framework API to secure Android TV platforms and reduce complexity for STB manufacturers.
Verimatrix COO Asaf Ashkenazi said: “What is unique about our collaboration is that it enables both a rapid and secure deployment of premium video services via Android TV – we are proud to be the first security vendor to enable Broadcom to offer this for 4K/UHD content.
“Any STB vendor or video service provider that selects our pre-integrated solution can rest assured that the process of deploying Android TV, as well as managing future upgrades, will be as hassle-free as possible with minimal time and effort required.”
AVIWEST debuts latest encoders
Finally, AVIWEST has unveiled its new RACK Series of video contribution encoders, due for release this summer.
By integrating a hardware H.265/HEVC encoder and H.264/AVC encoder into a compact platform, the RACK Series is said to suit space-constrained live production, including contribution applications and multicamera remote/at-home productions.
The RACK Series can also be used on vans or trucks and connected to a roof-mounted AVIWEST QUAD CellLink 3G/4G antenna or KA satellite transmitter, enabling video broadcast from any location around the world, according to the company.
Powered by SST technology (Safe Streams Transport), the encoder offers reliability on any network through IP-bonding stack that aggregates all available bandwidth without needing to stop a live transmission.
AVIWEST senior product manager Samuel Fleischhacker said: “As broadcasters aim to deliver superior-quality video content for live events, data costs are spiralling out of control.
“The RACK Series features a next-generation encoder that is extremely powerful, significantly reducing the bit rates typically associated with broadcasting high-quality video in real time over bonded cellular and the public internet.”
