Primestream has introduced Xchange Media Cloud, a Cloud-based version of the company’s Xchange media asset management (MAM) platform.
Primestream said the platform can be up and running for remote workers in a few hours, making the solution ideal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Xchange Media Cloud enables Cloud production for video, sound, graphics, creative and visual effects teams in broadcast news, enterprise video and other media operations.
The Cloud-based solution also integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud software applications, including Premiere, After Effects and Photoshop.
Primestream president and CEO Claudio Lisman said: “These are challenging days for enterprise video departments, as more and more employees are mandated to work from home and find themselves disconnected from their usual media workflows.
“With Xchange Media Cloud, we’re bringing the robust functionality of our enterprise-grade Xchange MAM right to their remote workstations. By giving these remote collaborators easy access to content, projects and the creative tools they’re used to, Xchange Media Cloud removes roadblocks and ensures continuity in the video production supply chain. And it’s fast and easy to get started — we can get teams up and running quickly.”
Verimatrix, Akamai partner for watermarking
Verimatrix has announced a partnership with Akamai to offer global enterprise server-side watermarking capabilities.
Verimatrix Watermarking consists of session-based, user-specific tracking and source identification, allowing operators to trace sources of pirated content in real time.
This is said to protect against various attack types, including compression, recording/capturing, re-streaming, collision and geometric manipulation.
Akamai users can enable the StreamMark server-side version of the Verimatrix Watermarking solution to embed robust, secure and imperceptible watermarks in digital content before delivery.
The solution is pre-integrated with Akamai workflows to protect unicast OTT delivery by uniquely marking individual sessions without requiring client device integration.
Amit Kasturia, Akamai’s senior manager of Media Product Management, said: “Akamai’s scalable and secure edge watermarking integrations are designed to help our customers identify pirates’ attempts to capture content and minimise their means of illegal distribution, and a partnership with a leading watermarking provider like Verimatrix further bolsters our ability to do so.”
InSync Technology augments FrameFormer Link
InSync Technology has added support for motion compensated frame rate conversion of live video streams to its FrameFormer Link software standards conversion engine.
The new FrameFormer Link Live tool kit can be integrated into any live production automation or workflow management platform through its open API, the company said, including support for live conversion of all formats up to and including UHD/4K.
The solution can be deployed on premises or in any Cloud environment and requires CPU-only processing.
“We are bringing the unique ability to apply motion compensated frame rate conversion to live UHD streams in the Cloud,” said InSync Technology marketing director Daryl Blair. “This evolution of our popular FrameFormer software engine can be easily integrated into any customer, partner or service providers’ platform for the highest-quality conversions.”
StreamAMG delivers Grand National against the odds
StreamAMG has successfully delivered the Virtual Grand National live to major bookmakers over the weekend.
StreamAMG managed the production, playout and live stream of the simulated race, in place of the cancelled Grand National. The operators and Inspired donated the event’s profits of approximately £2.6 million to NHS Charities Together.
The event was delivered to UK bookmakers including Bet365, William Hill and PaddyPower Betfair, serving live video to a peak of over 60,000 simultaneous users.
The operation was produced within the company’s MediaCityUK MCR in Salford alongside Manchester-based Inspired Entertainment, who provided the race for broadcaster ITV and the betting market. The Aintree race was recreated using advanced algorithms based on performance data, along with cutting-edge CGI.
Steve Rogers, CCO – Virtual Sports at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’ve worked with StreamAMG to deliver virtual sports for almost 10 years, their reliability and track record as a trusted partner made them the natural choice to stream the Virtual Grand National.”
The Finish Line crosses into remote working with EditShare
Post production company The Finish Line has deployed EditShare’s Flow media management solution to scale its business through remotely enabled workflows.
The UK-based post house chose the Flow platform to create a secure Cloud-based media control layer to remotely handle editorial workflows, including ingest of rushes, storyboarding, review and approval.
Embedded production tools enable search, browse, retrieve, assemble and distribution of content with automation capabilities to orchestrate complex migrations and/or redundant tasks.
“The benefits of working from home are immense, and we will come out of this knowing that we can work effectively from home, even when not forced into it,” said Zeb Chadfield, founder and finishing artist, The Finish Line. “Everyone should be trying to find ways to enable their teams to work remotely as much as possible.”
Rob Adams, VP worldwide sales, EditShare, added: “The Finish Line’s business model takes the best of all worlds and delivers on the highest standards. Physical walls, geographical and time zone boundaries have no effect on the efficiency and delivery of high-quality productions.
“Rapidly changing global events have forced a rethink about workflow collaboration. The traditional office, or in this case, the cutting room, is no longer the norm. Zeb is thinking – and working – light years ahead in terms of remote production. We are honoured that he is driving this new approach and putting Flow right at the core of what is likely to be the industry’s next big shift.”
