Pinnacle Systems Expands Offering Of Centralcast Solutions - Company Business and Marketing

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, May 7, 2001

Pinnacle Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCLE) has unveiled its extended line of solutions for CentralCasting, Content Distribution, and Network Localization. Building on the Mediastream product line where multi-channel servers provide solutions for Networks and Groups interested in consolidation, Pinnacle Systems has acquired network management and Edge Server technology from Limt, a technology company based in Sundsvall, Sweden. The name "Distributed Broadcast Solutions" has been given to the trio of offerings that now provide broadcasters with end-to-end solutions for multi-cast content distribution as well as remote control and remote monitoring of the entire content delivery and playback process.

A key component of the solution is the VBase Network Software. VBase manages the distribution to, and playout of content from, remotely installed Edge Servers that can be used to customize a network feed to a local market. A new family of servers optimized for remote operation and management is also being introduced. Utilizing terrestrial or satellite delivery systems, these solutions can provide broadcasters new revenue opportunities, cost savings through consolidation in a central facility and flexibility of operations.

"Our broadcast customers have been looking for ways to simplify their operations through central casting and content distribution," said Bob Wilson, president of the Broadcast Solutions Division at Pinnacle Systems. "Additionally, broadcast network customers have been looking for ways they can regionalize their content and our cable network clients have been asking us for streamlined systems to deliver content for video on demand (VOD). With these new products, Pinnacle Systems' technology really provides the end-to-end solutions our customers have been looking for."