Pixel Power Announces BrandMaster - The First Branding Switcher

Pixel Power has announced the launch of the world's first branding switcher - BrandMaster - a new product family that seamlessly integrates a complete master control switcher with broadcast graphics for channel branding.
BrandMaster injects sophisticated graphics capability for branding where it belongs: directly at the point of transmission, while simultaneously reducing the complexity of the signal path and streamlining the channel branding process.
BrandMaster is easily deployed for single or multi-channel environments and is available for both standard and high definition channels.
BrandMaster will have its first public demonstration at NAB 2009 at stand SU10012. It is available for immediate order for a special NAB introductory price starting at US$20,000, below the cost of competing master control switchers alone with limited or no graphics capability.
Pete Challinger, Chief Executive Officer of Pixel Power, said: "The Branding Switcher is a new concept in our industry. Broadcasters have to deal with an ever increasing number of channels, each of which is ideally expected to present its own unique brand. In order to deal with this, broadcasters have either made do with the very limited, yet premium priced graphics capability in a traditional master control switcher, or they had to deal with the cost and complexity of a separate island of graphics resources.
"BrandMaster is the first master control switcher made by a company that fully understands channel branding. BrandMaster puts a complete suite of automated broadcast graphics tools and full master control functionality inside a single, integrated device, making it easier to deliver a consistent, fully realised identity for a channel."
As the final step before transmission, master control is the logical place to add the graphical identity that defines the overall persistent look of a channel. In the past, graphics were seen as an element that feeds a switcher, but today it is increasingly likely to also find Pixel Power graphics systems such as LogoVision downstream of master control.
BrandMaster goes further by eliminating the need for separate graphics systems in master control. This streamlines the signal transmission chain significantly, reducing the amount of equipment, power consumption and total cost required to deliver a uniquely branded broadcast channel.
BrandMaster supports a wide range of branding requirements for both standard and high definition channels including multi-layer static and animated logos, clocks, text crawls, multiple tickers, DVE moves such as squeezeback, automated schedules, EAS and many other graphics elements. Full audio handling is included for multichannel sound with shuffling and voiceover capabilities. It also seamlessly integrates with all leading automation systems.
Like most new generation master control products, BrandMaster utilises an upstream router for crosspoint switching. With full support for major routing control protocols the system can work with local master control routers or busses on the main station router.
BrandMaster is available immediately. For more information about functionality and configurations, email: [email protected].
(KMcA/BMcC)