Digital Rapids today raised the bar for ease and efficiency in the digital distribution of media content, unveiling two new solutions for the delivery of media and data files between content owners, creators, collaborators, and distribution partners. New features in the Digital Rapids C2 data delivery software include support for unicast, multicast and hybrid distribution models, and a flexible architecture supporting dynamic deployments with exceptional cost-effectiveness. The new MediaMesh RX appliance, introduced today as a technology preview, receives and repurposes media and associated data from centralized distribution sources, forming the ideal endpoint for syndicated delivery of ad spots through long-form content to broadcast affiliates and distribution partners.
The rapidly expanding scope of content distribution opportunities brings with it the need for easier and more efficient mechanisms to deliver content to distribution points. Traditional physical methods for delivering content between production facilities, networks, affiliates and distributors — such as shipping video tapes by courier — are no longer efficient. Fully digital distribution via IP-based networks or satellite offers reduced manual effort, greater immediacy and tremendous cost savings over tape-and-truck transport.
“Today’s fast-moving media markets and economic pressures require content and rights owners to find new ways to deliver their assets to collaborators, distribution partners and affiliates faster, at lower cost, and with increased automation,” said Brick Eksten, President of Digital Rapids Corporation. “Digital Rapids C2 and MediaMesh RX provide the scalable, robust delivery infrastructure needed to fully realize these benefits with all-digital distribution.”
Digital Rapids C2 overcomes the performance limitations typical in IP-based networks, which limit the speed, reliability and efficiency of these transfers to a fraction of their potential. C2 streamlines the transfer of media files between contribution, collaboration and distribution points, transferring media and data files to multiple destinations securely, reliably, and with a tremendous speed advantage over standard file transfer technologies like FTP.
C2’s flexible network topology allows transfers to be performed simultaneously between multiple points in parallel, maximizing efficiency when transferring files to multiple recipients. Transparent recovery enables transfers to resume automatically from intentional or unexpected connectivity interruptions. Transfers can be initiated from an easy desktop client, watch folders or a new Web Services API, with delivery confirmation receipts providing proof of successful transfer. C2 supports multiple distribution models to take advantage of available network capabilities, from unicast Internet delivery to multicast-enabled networks, satellite-based transmission and hybrid architectures.
C2 is ideal for media distribution — where content files usually are large, have high value, and can be time-sensitive — but equally well-suited for non-media applications. C2 brings the same benefits of speed, reliability, security and efficiency to the transfer any type of data file, from medical imaging and scientific data sets to financial databases.
MediaMesh RX, the new media receiving appliance, provides robust functionality at the endpoint of the digital distribution chain. Comprehensive features including verified receipt, visual Quality Control verification, inventory management, transfer to broadcast servers, print-to-tape and play-to-air are tightly integrated in an intuitive graphical interface. Transcoding and re-packaging capabilities allow received media to be repurposed and conformed to local requirements “at the edge” of the content distribution pipeline, eliminating the need for distributing numerous variants. The combination of C2 and MediaMesh RX enables ad spots, promos, paid programming, syndicated shows, long-form and digital cinema content to be distributed to affiliates and distribution partners efficiently, automatically and at substantial cost savings.
MediaMesh RX works seamlessly alongside Digital Rapids’ ingest, encoding and transcoding solutions to form complete workflows from ingest through delivery. It can also be easily incorporated with third-party systems through open standards, workflow features such as watch folders and Web Services APIs for custom development.
The complete line of Digital Rapids solutions is being showcased in booth number SL6213 at the 2009 NAB Show, April 20-23 in Las Vegas. For more information, please visit www.digital-rapids.com.
About Digital Rapids Corporation — Digital Rapids develops market-leading hardware and software solutions for transforming and delivering media, enabling the multi-platform experiences that are defining the future of digital video. Scaling from individual applications to enterprise and global operations, Digital Rapids systems span the critical points in today’s complex media workflows. Recipient of two prestigious Frost & Sullivan awards in the World Video Encoders and Transcoders market, Digital Rapids combines innovative technology with proven expertise to help our customers maximize their productivity, quality, and the value of their content in the evolving digital media market. Digital Rapids Corporation (www.digital-rapids.com) is headquartered in Ontario, Canada with offices in the United States, the UK, Australia, Argentina and Hong Kong.