Menu
Investors

Latest News

Author Archives: Matt

  1. Pan-African news channel use Stingray channel in a box

    Leave a Comment

    Leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, Pebble Beach Systems, today announced that Africa 24, the first pan-African news channel, has installed the Stingray channel in a box solution at its Paris transmission centre.

    Africa 24 is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week television news network which aims to provide editorially independent, balanced and realistic coverage of the African continent. As the most watched French-language African channel, it broadcasts to a core audience of viewers from Sub-Saharan Africa, and is also available via satellite to subscribers in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. The network was launched in 2009 and expansion plans include offering further language variants including English, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese.

    Stingray leverages Pebble Beach Systems’ best of breed automation and integrated channel technology to deliver a full HD ingest and playout channel-in-a-box solution for systems of up to 6 channels. In addition to hosting clip-based channels, it is designed to handle complex reactive channels featuring live content, late-breaking changes and dynamic schedules. Thanks to its client-server architecture, multiple channels can be controlled from a single operator position, and user privileges and access to specific functionality can be set on a per channel basis.

    Africa 24’s single channel fully redundant Stingray system was supplied by Pebble Beach Systems’ partner in France, Soft4TV, and was installed in May, with operator training completed early in June. It integrates into the broadcaster’s existing technical infrastructure, offering automatic media movement from the current media SAN. Stingray’s native 2D Flash graphics playout capability is deployed deliver graphics which are dynamically updated when breaking stories arrive, and Stingray’s audio and DVE functionality are used to generate transitions between news segments.

    Yacine Barro, the Executive Director of Africa24 confirms:

    “When the service providers for our backup channel moved location, we elected to migrate the management of both main and backup channels to our own technology in-house. We are a new broadcaster and are still growing, so a key priority was to find a solution that could evolve with us. We evaluated all the big name channel-in-a-box solutions, and Stingray was the most open and scalable, offering the greatest potential to add more channels and language variants. Of course, Pebble Beach Systems’ excellent reputation and great references were also a factor!”

    Pebble Beach Systems Managing Director Peter Hajittofi comments:

    “Stingray is based on proven 64-bit architecture and leverages our best-of-breed Marina enterprise automation and Dolphin integrated channel device, so Africa 24’s mix of live and clip-based programming, with frequent late-breaking changes to the schedule, really plays to the strengths of this channel-in-a-box solution.”

    About Pebble Beach Systems

    Pebble Beach Systems is a world leader in automation, channel in a box and integrated channel technology, with scalable products designed for multichannel transmission, news, sports and interactive television as well as content management, workflow and direct archive control. Installed in more than 50 countries and with proven systems ranging from single up to over 100 channels in operation, Pebble Beach Systems offers open, flexible systems which encompass ingest automation, workflow automation, archive automation and complex file-based workflows.

    For further information, please contact:

    Tom Gittins – Sales Director
    Email: tom.gittins@pebble.tv
    Web: www.pebble.tv

    Pebble Beach Systems is a Vislink company

    About Vislink plc

    The Vislink Group is a global technology business specialising in the collection and delivery of high quality video and associated data from the field to the point of usage. Vislink provides solutions to the broadcast market for the collection and play out management of live news, sport and entertainment events and to the surveillance market including defence, law enforcement and public safety customers for the delivery of secure video and data communications. With offices in the UK, USA, Brazil, UAE, and Singapore, Vislink employs over 300 people worldwide. Our solutions include the design and manufacture of microwave radio, satellite transmission, cellular, wireless camera systems and broadcast management software; our development and manufacturing operations are in the UK and the USA.

    The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

    For further information, visit www.vislink.com

  2. Marina Lite automation debut at Broadcast Asia 2014

    Leave a Comment

    Leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, Pebble Beach Systems, is showing the new Marina Lite automation solution for the first time in Asia on booth 5E3-01 at next month’s Broadcast Asia exhibition.

    Optimised for small scale systems of up to 4 channels, Marina Lite was launched at NAB and is based on the company’s flagship Marina automation platform which currently controls in excess of 300 channels at leading broadcasters and service providers worldwide. This new solution benefits from Marina’s sophisticated and configurable control layer, and each configuration is available with fault tolerant options, such as 1+1 redundancy with fully automatic changeover.

    Managing Director Peter Hajittofi explains further:

    “Marina Lite delivers world class automation at an affordable price to broadcasters with low channel counts. Based on the proven and resilient 64-bit client-server architecture of our enterprise level Marina automation platform, Marina Lite is capable of controlling traditional legacy products as well as emerging solutions – such as integrated channel technologies – within video, IT and hybrid infrastructures. One of its major strengths is the highly intelligent and flexible playlist, which has the ability to control highly reactive channels with frequent late scheduling changes.”

    Marina Lite has drivers for over 20 third party devices, and interfaces to many popular traffic systems, including Myers ProTrack via BXF. Automatic caching from nearline storage to the playout devices is also provided. Systems can be upgraded from 1 to 4 channels, and if the number of devices to be controlled should grow, or the channel count needs to increase, the entire system can be upgraded to the full Marina enterprise solution.

    In addition to the launch in Asia of Marina Lite, Pebble Beach Systems will also be showcasing:

    New configurations for the award-winning self-contained Stingray channel in a box.

    Stingray leverages Pebble Beach Systems’ core automation and server technology to deliver a full HD ingest and playout solution. The system provides multi-format playback with mixed formats on the same timeline, and is now scalable for systems from 1 up to 6 channels, with redundant versions available for each configuration.

    The Pebble Web Client

    The new Web Client delivers highly granular and efficient control and monitoring of multiple devices across geographically dispersed locations, enabling the user to connect to both Marina systems and Dolphin integrated channel devices from a single web client. The client will offer transmission playlist monitoring and editing, a ‘Lighthouse’ monitoring by exception feature, and also a monitoring IP streaming output for multiple Dolphin devices.

  3. Manhattans MNN channel count rises with Pebble Beach systems

    Leave a Comment

    Pebble Broadcast Systems, the US operation of leading automation, content management and channel in a box specialist Pebble Beach Systems, today announced that it has been awarded the contract to supply Marina automation and Dolphin integrated channel technology for a wide-reaching technology upgrade at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), Manhattan’s public access television station.

    The system, which encompasses MNN’s ingest, QC and playout infrastructure and workflows, is supplied via Diversified Systems, Inc., and installation of the first phase has already begun, with the second and final phase due for completion in 2015.

    Marina automation will be controlling a total of 9 fully redundant Dolphin playout channels (6 SD and 3 HD), and the system features a ground-breaking implementation of Dolphin’s flexible Flash graphics capabilities, delivering a web player look and feel to the channels’ output. In addition to providing SD and HD outputs, each Dolphin is also capable of providing full resolution IP output streams.

    12 ingest channels are provided and a further 12 ports are configured for review purposes. Marina controls 10 VTRs for ingest and emergency playout, together with an Evertz router. Three client stations are provided, for transmission, scheduling and ingest, with the ingest client able to carry out up to 6 concurrent ingest operations together with media review, QC checks, and clip segmentation.

    Hector Pena, Manager of Broadcast Operations at MNN, explains further:

    “We are upgrading the entire operation to HD and increasing our channel count from 4 to 9, so an upgrade of our automation and playout infrastructure was a priority. The tight integration of the Dolphin channel in a box with Marina was a real plus. We were also impressed with how customizable and easy to use the Marina automation system is: anyone who is familiar with industry-standard desktop editing tools can jump straight in and do clip marking and segmentation on it. This keeps training to a minimum and really makes the transition to this new technology easy for us.”

    Eric Openshaw, General Manager at Pebble Broadcast Systems, comments:

    “Our Marina and Dolphin solution provides MNN a big step forward allowing them to manage ingest, QC, and playout from the same system while automating their file workflow around a central nearline storage system. The use of the graphics and DVE capabilities within Dolphin will give their channels a fresh modern feel in addition to the continued flexibility to change the look as their requirements evolve.”

  4. Pebble beach announces first marina lite automation sale.

    Leave a Comment

    Leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, Pebble Beach Systems, today announced the first sale of its new Marina Lite automation solution, to ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 in Vienna, Austria.

    Marina Lite, which is launched at NAB 2014, is a compact automation solution designed to deliver world class functionality at a competitive price. Developed to meet the needs of the broadcaster with low channel counts, it is based on the proven and resilient 64-bit client-server architecture of the enterprise level Marina automation platform, and is capable of controlling legacy products as well as emerging solutions, such as integrated channel technologies within video, IT and hybrid infrastructures.

    PULS 4 is a daughter company of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG in Germany, and the Marina Lite automation system, replaces an in-house solution. The system will incorporate main and backup core servers which are capable of controlling PULS 4’s redundant output chains, featuring playout servers in addition to Viz graphics, a VSM router controller, Evertz master control switcher, and Junger audio processing using the Ember control protocol.

    The system will be provided with the SmartPanel option, which offers PULS4 direct control of devices in the output chain, as well as a low resolution IP stream of their output. In addition to the tangible operational advantage of a single operator having this level of device control within the automation client, the Smart Panel brings system management benefits by improving reporting and traceability, as commands made via the SmartPanel are incorporated into Marina’s AsRun log.

    Andreas Kohlstock, Production Manager at PULS 4, confirms:

    “The Marina Lite solution from Pebble Beach Systems ticked all the boxes for us. In addition to meeting our price requirements, it integrates with our legacy technology as well as giving us an upgrade path for the future.”

    Marina Lite systems are available in configurations from 1 to 4 channels, and if the number of devices to be controlled should grow, or the channel count needs to increase, the entire system can be upgraded to the full Marina enterprise solution. Marina Lite enables the control of over 20 third party devices, and offers file import from proven traffic interfaces, including Myers ProTrack via BXF. Automatic caching from nearline storage to the main server is also provided.

    Pebble Beach Systems Managing Director Peter Hajittofi comments:

    “Marina Lite leverages the proven and resilient 64-bit client-server architecture of Pebble Beach Systems’ enterprise level Marina automation platform, which currently controls in excess of 300 channels at leading broadcasters and service providers worldwide. This enables us to provide broadcasters of up to 4 channels access to best-of-breed automation control of legacy products as well as emerging solutions.

    One of Marina Lite’s major strengths is its intelligent, flexible playlist, which offers the ability to control highly reactive channels with frequent late scheduling changes, and we’re excited to be able to bring this performance to Puls4”

  5. Pebble Beach Systems to launch Marina Lite at NAB 2014

    Leave a Comment

    Leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, Pebble Beach Systems, today announced the launch of Marina Lite, a new automation solution which is optimized for small scale systems of up to 4 channels.

    Marina Lite, which will be demonstrated for the first time at next month’s NAB on Booth N1114, is based on the company’s flagship Marina automation platform which currently controls in excess of 300 channels at leading broadcasters and service providers worldwide. This new solution benefits from Marina’s sophisticated and configurable control layer, and is scalable from 1 to 4 channels and from 1 to 4 clients. Each configuration is available with fault tolerant options, such as 1+1 redundancy with fully automatic changeover.

    Managing Director Peter Hajittofi explains further:

    “Marina Lite delivers world class automation, at an affordable price. Developed to meet the needs of the broadcaster with low channel counts, it is based on the proven and resilient 64-bit client-server architecture of our enterprise level Marina automation platform, and is capable of controlling traditional legacy products as well as emerging solutions – such as integrated channel technologies – within video, IT and hybrid infrastructures. One of Marina Lite’s major strengths is its highly intelligent and flexible playlist, which has the ability to control highly reactive channels with frequent late scheduling changes. We’re excited to be able to offer this best of breed performance to broadcasters with low channel counts.”

    Marina Lite has drivers for over 20 third party devices, and interfaces to many popular traffic systems, including Myers ProTrack via BXF. Automatic caching from nearline storage to the playout devices is also provided. Systems can be upgraded from 1 to 4 channels, and if the number of devices to be controlled should grow, or the channel count needs to increase, the entire system can be upgraded to the full Marina enterprise solution.

    In addition to the launch of Marina Lite, Pebble Beach Systems will also be showcasing:

    New configurations for the award-winning self-contained Stingray channel in a box.

    Stingray leverages Pebble Beach Systems’ core automation and server technology to deliver a full HD ingest and playout solution. The system provides multi-format playback with mixed formats on the same timeline, and is now scalable for systems from 1 up to 6 channels, with redundant versions available for each configuration.

    DolphinIP integrated channel device

    Developed to meet the needs of broadcasters who wish to move away from traditional SDI-based infrastructures, the DolphinIP integrated channel device delivers an MPEG2 and H.264 stream over IP (TSoIP). This adds full resolution IP delivery to the Dolphin range, and complements the IP monitoring output capability which the standard Dolphin already offers.

    MARLIN pre-render graphics workflow

    Marlin is a powerful pre-render graphics workflow tool for Marina automation which leverages the power of Adobe® After Effects® CC. By managing the advance generation of complex promos and captions on this widely used Adobe graphics platform, and storing the resulting file as a video clip for playout, Marlin reduces the dependence on dedicated 3D graphics playout hardware, simplifies graphics workflows and lowers the processing demands on playout devices.

    Lighthouse monitoring by exception

    Designed to alert operators clearly and unambiguously to upcoming events that need their attention, Lighthouse is the new tool for Marina automation which monitors by exception. The dedicated user interface gives a clear indication of potential issues across multiple channels, displaying, for example, missing media alerts, or timing and overlap anomalies. With more channels being controlled by fewer operators, Lighthouse maximises the opportunity for errors to be detected early and safeguards the smooth playout of all channels.