Author: Zuzanna Lenart

Stand S1-H21, CABSAT, Dubai World Trade Centre, 21 – 23 May 2024:  Pebble, the leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, will demonstrate Automation 2.0, the new generation of its proven software platform, already in use with major broadcasters across the Middle East. 

For more than two decades, Pebble has led the industry in secure and stable playout automation and content management, with the enviable reputation of being a trusted supplier to major broadcasters and content companies worldwide. The agile software platform supports from a single channel to a very large numbers of concurrent channels, while providing full functionality for premium services. 

The architecture meets the needs of broadcasters who prefer to build playout systems with best-of-breed components from multiple vendors, as well as those who are migrating to IP and using all-in-one playout engines, or any combination of both. To meet all these requirements, Pebble provides enterprise automation and the most flexible integrated channel solution supporting SDI, SMPTE ST2110 and NDI sources and feeds, all in one server.

“Our users – including more than 40 broadcasters in the MENA region – depend on our software for the mission-critical work of channel playout and content management,” said Samir Isbaih, VP sales Middle East and APAC for Pebble. “We are constantly listening to our customers, and they are telling us they have two key concerns: hybrid deployments (on-premise and cloud) and security. That is where we focused our R&D investment in developing Pebble Automation 2.0.” 

Most broadcasters are looking at hybrid implementations for playout. Many still prefer primary facilities on premises, with backup and disaster recovery increasingly moving to private datacentre or public cloud. To gain maximum cost efficiency in this configuration requires sophisticated new architectures, bringing state-of-the-art technology and software design standards to the media industry. 

At the same time, systems with communications between the ground and the cloud demand new and extremely tight security protocols, to minimise the risk of cyber-threats to the broadcast channels.  

Pebble Automation 2.0 was introduced in 2023 and has been widely welcomed by the industry. It is shortlisted for one of the coveted BroadcastPro Middle East Awards – Best in Broadcast Playout – to be presented at CABSAT. 

“Playout solutions from Pebble are seen as a stable, safe choice by the major broadcasters in the region, while modern, extremely flexible and feature rich,” explained Samir Isbaih. “We are dedicated to our solutions, to provide the best security, redundancy and the highest reliability. We are also heavily invested in the region, with a growing team of expert engineers based in the UAE providing project management, project implementation and after sale support to ensure the most effective solutions are designed, installed, handed over, and supported through the life cycle of the system.” 

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Epsom, Surrey, UK, 11 April 2024: Pebble, the leading automation, content management, and integrated channel specialist, today announced a collaboration with NVIDIA. Through this collaboration, PRIMA enables Pebble’s customers to access the power of NVIDIA Holoscan for Media, enhancing their media capabilities. At NAB Show 2024, attendees will be able to see for themselves the first results of this powerful collaboration at the Pebble booth in the West Hall, W3267.

PRIMA – the Platform for Real-Time Integrated Media Applications – is a sophisticated Linux/Kubernetes-based software platform supporting a range of applications to address the needs of modern media and broadcast organisations, whether on premises, in the cloud or via a hybrid combination. With an architecture that emphasizes flexible deployment, enhanced security, economic scalability, and centralized management, PRIMA is built to meet the evolving needs of media businesses.

NVIDIA Holoscan for Media is a neutral, flexible, hybrid, IP-based platform architecture for the development and deployment of media applications. The open-source platform is built on industry standards and APIs, including SMPTE ST 2110, AMWA NMOS, RIST, SRT, and NDI.

PRIMA, as part of NVIDIA’s early-access program for Holoscan for Media, will initially support a core set of applications: playout, workflow, and IP management and control. The PRIMA applications add to Pebble’s range of market-leading playout solutions, integrating with and expanding the capabilities of these products.

Daniel Robinson, Pebble Head of Product, explains: “By supporting NVIDIA Holoscan for Media, Pebble can deploy PRIMA into dynamic media facilities as envisioned and recommended by the EBU, which enables many media applications to run on a shared compute platform rather than purpose-built hardware. A unified platform reduces administrative overhead and management while allowing for re-use and maximising utilisation across an entire platform, thus driving down costs with the added bonus of being more sustainable. NVIDIA Holoscan for Media also provides reference architectures for supportable large-scale Kubernetes [the open-source container orchestration system for automating software deployment, scaling, and management] environments with PTP, high-bandwidth network, ST 2110, and GPUs.”

“Broadcast and entertainment studios are looking for the latest architectures that provide more sustainable and cost-saving opportunities to meet their extensive media business needs,” said Guillaume Polaillon, Product Line Manager for Live Media Solutions at NVIDIA. “By using Holoscan for Media, PRIMA can bring these innovative solutions to life with enhanced scaling and security for media workflows, helping to realize a new generation of broadcast and media content.”

Pebble has worked with NVIDIA to build a comprehensive ecosystem that ensures common services such as networking, storage, and traffic management for users to harness.

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Epsom, Surrey, UK, 8 April 2024: At NAB 2024 Pebble and Virtual AI will be showcasing FAST solutions based on Pebble’s PRIMA Playout and Automation product and Op2mise from Virtual AI.

Pebble and Virtual AI have partnered to address the growing FAST market, the two companies are combining market leading playout solutions with advanced AI driven TV scheduling and planning capabilities to bring new levels of functionality and revenue optimization for FAST services.

Neil Maycock, Pebble CCO, explains “Pebble and Virtual AI have already identified that the combination of Op2mise and Pebble’s playout solutions provide customers with a feature rich solution for FAST. With the introduction of PRIMA at NAB we are now expanding the range of customer requirements we can address. PRIMA Playout and Op2mise are an ideal combination to target FAST applications where customers want to minimise operating costs and leverage public cloud.”

“Virtual AI is proud to offer a top-tier scheduling product tailored specifically for the fast- growing FAST sector,” says Simon Osman, Commercial Director at Virtual AI, “As viewers and platforms increasingly seek a broadcast quality experience, our solution coupled with Pebble stands out. Op2mise creates value for chanel operators and content owners by leveraging the power of automation, data analytics and revenue optimisation. We are excited to showcase our commitment to delivering excellence in detail.”

Pebble and Virtual AI will be at NAB, where they will be demonstrating the capabilities of Pebble Playout and the Op2mise solution, supported by experts from both companies to discuss any FAST requirements.

Find out more on booth #W3267 at NABShow 2024, 14-17 April.

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Epsom, Surrey, UK, 27 March 2024: Pebble, the leading automation, content management, and integrated channel specialist, is delighted to announce that it will be launching its latest innovation, PRIMA, at NABShow 2024 on booth #W3267.

PRIMA, the Platform for Real-time Integrated Media Applications, has been designed to provide a unified set of services targeting flexible deployment, security, economic scalability, and centralised management. It has been built from the ground up to utilise leading technologies in a way that addresses the rapidly evolving needs of Pebble’s growing customer base.

The initial product set for PRIMA leverages Pebble’s core business of channel origination and consists of applications covering playout, workflow, and control. Media and broadcast organisations deploying PRIMA solutions will benefit from Pebble’s many years at the forefront of developing playout, channel origination, and file-based workflow management, as well as PRIMA’s integration of Pebble’s leading NMOS-based IP stream configuration and management to ensure future-proof workflows.

“PRIMA is an exciting addition to Pebble’s range of solutions that significantly expands our addressable market and importantly addresses key requirements that our customers are looking for from modern software applications, such as security, cost efficiency, and flexible scalability,” comments Peter Mayhead, Pebble CEO. “We are delighted with the initial response to it that we’ve had from customers.”

PRIMA is being introduced alongside Pebble’s established range of market leading playout solutions, and has been carefully designed to both integrate with and expand the capabilities of the existing product line. PRIMA also significantly expands the range of customer applications that Pebble can address, leading to exciting new opportunities for the company as it looks to further develop its market-leading technology to occupy new niches in the broadcast and media ecosystem.

Find out more on booth #W3267 at NABShow 2024, 14-17 April.

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