Thomson Announces New Features for its Grass Valley K2 Media Client and Media Server and Over 1,000 Systems in 24/7 Operation Globally
In step with the strong push toward HD news globally, nearly two-thirds of the tapeless HD news production systems on order from local stations and 80 percent of systems in place among stations that are natively acquiring HD images in the field and distributing news content are based on K2 systems and multi-format and HD-ready Grass Valley Aurora™ Fast-Turn Production System from Thomson.
Those customers now distributing single and multiple channels of SD and/or HD content on a full-time basis with the K2 system include U.S. station groups Tribune and Belo, with K2 systems in multiple stations; Fox owned and operated stations in the U.S. with K2s in multiple stations, the ABC in Australia; TVNZ in New Zealand; Astral Media in Canada; German systems integrator Wellen & Nöthen for a UK broadcaster and TNS in the UK. In addition, other broadcasters, such as HBO, are using K2 for non-distribution purposes.
Leveraging the power and reliability of the Grass Valley K2 media server, leading HD broadcasters are combining the Grass Valley K2 storage area network with the Grass Valley Aurora Edit HD nonlinear editing system so that editors can either immediately use material directly from the K2 SAN or immediately pull material they need directly from within Aurora—in both cases, while the material is still being ingested. Those broadcasters include KABC-DT and KCBS-DT/KCAL-DT in Los Angeles, Calif.; KYW-DT in Philadelphia, Pa.; NHK in Japan; Al Jazeera English in Qatar, London, Washington DC, and Kuala Lumpur (the first global network to go full HD). The BBC in Wales is currently using Aurora SD widescreen and is prepared for HD.
"It's clear that the approaches we've taken with these IT-immersed, flexible, highly reliable, and cost-effective delivery systems is the right one," said Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President, Broadcast and Professional Solutions for the Grass Valley business within Thomson. "The K2 system expands with more channels, more storage and/or more bandwidth easily, elegantly, and cost effectively. It scales from a basic four-channel system to more than 100 channels, so that as a facility grows, K2 can grow with it. By design, the K2 system provides the most linear price-per-channel scaling capability of any server on the market today."
At the 2007 NAB Convention, Grass Valley will show a variety of new features for the K2 Media Server, designed to streamline operations and facilitate the launching of new channels and business models, including new software and a low-cost SD client workstation.
Featuring multiple new software options, the 3.2 release of the K2 system includes:
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K2 standalone option to mirror the 10 internal drives (RAID-0) or order 5 or 10 data drives without RAID-0 protection for increased storage at no extra cost. |
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Support for additional MPEG-2 HD formats in 1440 line resolution, including XDCAM HD |
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Enhanced downconversion video quality for superb SD playout from HD clips. |
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Enhanced MXF compatibility including HD. |
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Enhanced security options on a channel-by-channel basis: adds users/groups media access rights per channel. |
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Direct import of MPEG TS file type to allow direct support for a variety of content distribution formats. |
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Enhanced audio track capability that provides the capability to import up to 32.WAV files (for 32 audio channels) into an existing video clip and at play time can easily select up to 16 channels to play to air. |
Also new at NAB is the Grass Valley K2-SDA-22, low-cost standard-definition K2 client workstation with analog audio and video capability.
The K2-SDA-22 is a new entry-level client that can be configured as a standalone K2 system with up to 550 hours of MPEG 8 Mb/s video or reside on any K2 SAN. This 2-record, 2-play set configuration offers support for DV and MPEG (I-frame and long GOP) up to 50 Mb/s, digital audio, and new for K2 clients, two channels of analog audio with audio monitoring and analog composite video channels in addition to SDI. All standard K2 redundancy features are included such as RAID for storage, dual power supplies, and redundant Gigabit Ethernet connections.
Blending the latest advancements in IT technologies with Grass Valley's extensive experience in video and audio processing, management, and storage, the K2 Media Server and Media Client System are designed specifically for the sharing and reuse of digital media assets. The result is a client/server architecture that supports IT-centric, file-based playout and distribution workflows, simplifies installation and operation, and provides new levels of network control.
Designed for HD bandwidths, the Grass Valley K2 system is available in two standard forms: an SD-only system that supports four bi-directional channels at up to 50 Mb/s, and a two-channel version that can be configured for HD and SD and has the option of adding two more input or output channels. AES and embedded audio is included, and the unit is capable of passing through Dolby E and AC3. These clients can reside on a SAN to build fully redundant systems with over 100 channels of SD and HD ingest/playout.
Pricing and Availability
The K2 v3.2 software is available immediately, while the new K2-SDA-22, low-cost SD client workstation will begin shipping in May 2007. Pricing for the K2-SDA-22 client workstation starts at $20,000 (€15,760).
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About Thomson — World leader in digital video technologies
Media Relations:
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Laura Barber-Miller
Denise Williams |