ViewCast Niagara Selected by Real Broadcast Networks
ViewCast Corporation, a leading global provider of audio and video encoding communication products, announced that Real Broadcast Networks (RBN) is using ViewCast's Niagara PowerStream Pro encoders to deliver state-of-the-art video streaming solutions to RBN customers. In a recent example, Niagara encoders provided high-quality and high-availability online streaming for the "24/7 Live Feed" feature of the popular "Big Brother" reality TV series. The encoders were also in action during the Labor Day weekend's Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethon, establishing a new benchmark for image quality of the production's live streaming video.
A division of RealNetworks, Inc., RBN offers a wide range of online content distribution solutions that enable customers to stream content over the Internet. RBN has installed the Niagara encoders at its network operations center in Seattle, acquires content from the Internet, fiber and satellite, and streams via the Internet to worldwide locations. For example, "Big Brother" came from Los Angeles via fiber and MDA came via satellite from Las Vegas and were available to viewers worldwide over the Internet.
As a joint venture partner for the eighth season of Big Brother, RBN used the Niagara encoders to provide the 24/7 Live Feed service that streams video of the activities in the "Big Brother" house from the program's Web site. During the taping of the series from July 5 to September 16, subscribers were able to log on around the clock and watch continuous, live streams from the cameras installed in the house. Niagara encoders enabled five streaming choices: a quad view that showed four camera views in one screen, or the ability to view each of the screens individually. Now that Big Brother 8 has completed its airing, subscribers can still log onto the site and view archived streams from the production.
"The 'Big Brother' program is a prime example of why the Niagara encoders are such a critical component of our operations," said John Houde, network administrator for RBN Broadcast Technology Operations/Engineering. "During the live streaming, the combined up-time for all of the encoders was 99.9% and two of them experienced 100% up-time - and the improved image meant that we were able to deliver a higher quality viewing experience for our audience. For webcasters that require extreme dependability in intense-use applications, there is simply no better choice for encoding and streaming technology than ViewCast."
"Our Niagara line of encoders is tailor-made for companies such as RBN, whose customers tend to be high-visibility productions that demand top levels of performance and quality in a streaming media application," said Gary J. Klembara, senior vice president of ViewCast. "We look forward to seeing what RBN has in store for future customer engagements using ViewCast Niagara encoders."
"We designed the Niagara Pro to provide professional-grade performance around the clock in demanding streaming applications, and the system is a perfect fit for events such as the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards," said ViewCast Senior Vice President of Sales Gary Klembara. 'MTV always has pushed the boundaries of media and technology to provide viewers with fresh content, delivered in an innovative fashion. With live streaming of this year's show on the Web, the network continues this tradition. We're pleased that our technology played a key role in making the online broadcast a success."
