PlayBox Announces IBC Preview

The international 'TV Station in a box' manufacturer, PlayBox Technology, has now been developing and refining its core video playout products for over ten years, offering the best of both worlds - broadcast performance and IT prices.
Systems include mixed-file format playout, automation, interactive CG and graphics, MAM and Newsroom capabilities for SD, HD and DVB (ASI/IP). The innovative scalable solutions fit workflows and budgets; from a single-channel playout server to a multi-channel turnkey broadcast centre. This technology has now also been applied to Digital Signage. The latest features and products designed to enhance and expand playout capabilities at all levels are on show at IBC 2009.
µPlay is an entry-level video and graphics playout package to meet the needs of the AV market at an affordable price.
The extensive all-in-one software includes all that is required to run a small channel for broadcasts such as IPTV, Internet TV, local cable TV, university TV, corporate TV and other such channels. µPlay benefits from PlayBox’s decade of experience with a reliable and very cost-effective solution for creating, scheduling and airing video and graphics.
It integrates graphics, animation, video, audio and real-time external data feeds to build the final layout and look of the media. The package supplies all that’s needed to run anything from a video sub-channel to a graphics-intensive, 24-hour automated information channel.
The PlayBox Technology Edge Server is the centrepiece of the company's unattended automated remote playout solutions that enable the full operation and monitoring of distant broadcast playout. This can use public internet as the link for all content delivery, control and monitoring.
Customisable to fit user requirements, single and multi-channel operation and full equipment redundancy are available. Rather than offering only unbranded generic feeds, the PlayBox automated remote playout solution can allow the complete localisation of content branding, including commercials, station IDs, multilingual audio, subtitles and graphics. This makes possible low-cost worldwide local playout from any network operations location.
PlayBox Metus MAM media asset management system can be the heart of a small TV station or of a large broadcast centre. It can organise and manage the assets of single or multi-channel operations, as well as the other content of diverse business operations. PlayBpx Metus MAM is available as a stand-alone solution or working with PlayBox Technology ingest, playout and branding systems for all areas from production and post through to TV broadcasters and multi-channel playout centres.
The new NewsAir newsroom computer systems integrates with PlayBox Technology playout capabilities to offer performance and a new level of cost-effectivness for newsroom operations.
The NewsAir NCRS provides journalists with a networked collaborative environment that can include news archive, chat, a phonebook and agency news aggregation, as well as operation over the internet that can work either separately or integrated with video facilities. The PlayBox Technology and NewsAir combination provides live news production and on-air performance at a fraction of the cost of established market suppliers, but not at the cost of performance and capabilities.
PlayBox DS is a next-generation digital signage platform that builds on PlayBox Technology's robust broadcast foundation to create a powerful and flexible new entry to the digital signage market. With straightforward multi-screen HD playout, as well as broadcast quality graphics and an easy-to-use interface, PlayBox DS, like all PlayBox Technology products, breaks new price-performance ground. PlayBox DS is 3D-ready and system-wide synchronisation enables the playback of stereoscopic files for 3D displays. PlayBox DS software can host 3D objects created on a 3D graphics package - ideal for detailed interactive displays. Suitable for the smallest projects to huge multinational installations with thousands of screens, PlayBox DS is a heavyweight performer at an affordable price.
Further information is available at: www.playbox.tv.
(KMcA/BMcC)