Harmonic Introduces the Electra 9000 Integrated Broadcast and Multiscreen Encoder
New Video Processing Solution Enables Operators to Seamlessly Expand Services to Web and Mobile Devices
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 8, 2011 — Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced the Electra® 9000, the world’s first multicodec, multiformat video encoder for broadcast, satellite, telco, and cable operators that simultaneously supports broadcast, mobile, and Web formats in a 1-RU chassis. This integrated broadcast and multiscreen compression platform continues Electra’s leadership in video quality and multifunction collapse to provide a flexible, open, scalable architecture that integrates easily with existing broadcast infrastructure and enables new multiscreen services, while lowering capital and operating expenses.
Multiscreen services have become a priority for operators as consumer expectation for affordable, convenient, high-quality video everywhere becomes the norm. A priority for Harmonic was to incorporate Web and mobile support into the Electra platform without compromising quality or reducing the Electra’s broadcast feature set. Operators benefit from a streamlined headend operation, with several critical functions for broadcast, mobile and Web video brought together in a single platform.
“The business benefits are substantial,” said Neil Brydon, senior group manager, compression products at Harmonic Inc. “With mobile and Web delivery, operators can reach a wider audience and increase the value proposition for subscribers by offering maximum video quality on a wide range of devices. The Electra 9000 also reduces expenses through its multifunction, high-density, power-efficient design, which supports multiple services on one platform.”
The Electra 9000 encoder delivers HD and SD video services using Harmonic’s proven MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and MPEG-2 compression algorithms, and combines the company’s market-leading broadcast capabilities with the ability to support emerging multiscreen applications. The Electra 9000 maximizes bandwidth efficiency and channel density by providing up to four audio/video processing modules per chassis. Each module supports flexible combinations of up to four SD/HD inputs, with up to eight broadcast output profiles and 32 multiscreen aligned output profiles.
The Electra 9000 supports both baseband and IP workflows, as well as three-pass encoding with hierarchical LookAhead™ technology, comprehensive pre-processing, and a high-performance up/downconverter and de-interlacer. The Electra platform also includes integrated statistical multiplexing with Harmonic’s DiviTrackMX™ and support for DiviTrackIP™ in LAN or distributed WAN environments. The new platform supports main and secondary outputs for SD or HD, and a rich suite of audio processing options such as Jünger Level Magic™ automatic audio leveling adjustment.
The Electra 9000 enhances serviceability and reliability through a dual power supply support option and field replaceable modules. Scalability is improved through a pay-as-you-grow architecture that allows for the upgrade of compression blades, I/O modules, and formats with firmware licenses as business needs evolve.
The Electra 9000 is the latest element in Harmonic’s end-to-end multiscreen solution. It can be combined with the company’s ProMedia Package carrier-grade adaptive streaming preparation system, and ProMedia Origin HTTP and RTMP streaming video server to encapsulate and deliver video to a variety of target ecosystems, with support for Apple® HTTP Live Streaming, Microsoft® Smooth Streaming, Adobe® RTMP and Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming.
The Electra 9000 will be featured at Harmonic’s stand 1.B20 during IBC2011 in Amsterdam, Sept. 9-13. First customer shipments are expected in the first quarter of 2012.
About Harmonic Inc.
Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) provides infrastructure that powers the video economy. The company enables content and service providers to efficiently create, prepare, and deliver differentiated video services for television and new media platforms. More information is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
