Thomson Video Networks Expands Multi-Screen/OTT Video Delivery With New HEVC Enhancements to ViBE™ VS7000 and A/V Codec Analyzer
RENNES, France — Aug. 26, 2013 — Thomson Video Networks today announced that its award-winning ViBE™ VS7000 encoding/transcoding platform and Audio/Video (A/V) Codec analyzer have been enhanced with support for the emerging High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) compression standard. Facilitated by Thomson Video Networks’ exclusive MediaFlex™ video operating system, the ViBE VS7000 is one of the first worldwide implementations of HEVC, and it is designed to lower operators’ OPEX for delivery of a wide range of convergent TV services including WebTV and OTT, as well as traditional IPTV and cable applications. Likewise, the A/V Codec analyzer is one of the world’s first test and measurement tools to offer in-depth analysis of HEVC-encoded video and its associated elementary audio streams, in addition to MPEG-2 and H.264 video formats. The latest ViBE VS7000 is shipping now, and the HEVC-enabled A/V Codec analyzer will be available from the end of September as stand-alone software or as part of the Thomson Video Networks VTS500 video test system.
“With HEVC support, we are clearing a path for our customers to deliver the most advanced HD and Ultra HD video offerings on any type of device and over any type of network,” said Eric Gallier, vice president of marketing, Thomson Video Networks. “Based on our industry-leading algorithm expertise, the newest VS7000 dramatically increases the options available to operators and offers compelling OPEX reductions through bandwidth efficiencies. And the HEVC-enabled A/V Codec analyzer is the perfect tool to accelerate product innovation for DTV developers, systems integrators, and network operators as they develop next-generation video networks.”
The ViBE VS7000 video system combines Thomson’s renowned compression technology for outstanding picture quality with live, broadcast-quality encoding; innovative video preprocessing; and faster-than-real-time file transcoding. Ideal for live and offline video delivery in every current format including Ultra HD, the HEVC-enabled VS7000 can receive a video stream from a smaller-bandwidth connection, or content with a higher video resolution, than allowable with other compression codecs. Therefore, operators can add video channels without increasing bandwidth, thereby preserving it for other purposes.
In addition to HEVC, the VS7000 supports all major industry codecs and formats including MPEG transport streams, Adobe® Flash®, Apple® HTTP Live Streaming, Microsoft® Smooth Streaming, and MPEG-DASH. Also, the VS7000 adds statistical encoding, WebTV subtitles, and MPEG-DASH content protection (MPEG-CENC) to industry-leading features such as support for progressive and interlaced video up to 1920×1080, multiple output formats per channel, automatic loudness control (EBU R128), and content protection support for Apple HTTP Live Streaming and Microsoft Smooth Streaming.
Thomson Video Networks’ A/V Codec analyzer now supports operators as they develop their knowledge and expertise in the HEVC standard and educate their technical teams on next-generation video and audio codecs. The analyzer’s user-friendly interface enables operators to inspect media files at many levels for the rapid isolation and identification of problems relating to coding, transmission, or multiplexing. The system is designed to analyze compressed digital video in MPEG-2, H.264, VC-1, and HEVC formats and compressed digital audio in MPEG, AAC, AC-3, and E-AC-3, as well as data including DVB subtitles, EBU Teletext, closed captions, or SCTE 35 cue tone for digital program insertion.
At IBC2013, Thomson Video Networks will demonstrate HEVC via MPEG-DASH using VisualOn’s OnStream™ MediaPlayer+ running HEVC decoding on Nexus tablets. OnStream MediaPlayer+ enables high-quality playback across multiple platforms, including iOS®, Android™, Mac OS®, and Windows® Desktop.
About Thomson Video Networks
A global leader in advanced video compression solutions, Thomson Video Networks helps media companies, video service providers, and broadcasters deliver superior video quality at the lowest possible bandwidth for contribution, terrestrial, satellite, cable, IPTV, and OTT services. Through Thomson Video Networks’ ongoing commitment to innovation, customers are able to leverage emerging technologies, such as the new HEVC compression standard, for the efficient delivery of new video services. This includes multi-screen applications supporting every platform from small handheld devices to large TV screens. Picture the Possibilities: visit www.thomson-networks.com.
