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24-Jun-2010
by John Moulding
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RGB Networks completes three-screen headend
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Convergence TV
Jef Graham, CEO of RGB Networks, claims his company will soon have the only carrier class IP-based video headend platform that can cover the delivery requirements for television, the PC and mobile. This follows his company’s acquisition of RipCode, Inc., whose mobile video delivery capabilities, including adaptive delivery with Apple Live Streaming and Microsoft Silverlight, will be integrated into RGB’s multiplatform VMG (Video Multiprocessing Gateway) headend product.
Being able to give television service providers a full three-screen capability is viewed as a key differentiator for RGB Networks. Until now the company has been able to provide video delivery solutions for television and online services but according to Graham: “Within three years you will have to have three-screen capability to win headend deployments.”
There is real momentum for multiplatform delivery this year and in the USA the focus among service providers is on adding online video services first. In Europe there is a greater emphasis on delivering mobile TV services quickly. But according to Graham, all service providers are looking to migrate to consolidated headends that can eventually cover all three screens. This naturally leads them towards IP video but also increases the emphasis on the reliability and scalability of the headend products.
Graham believes the VMG, which is an IP-based and chassis-based modular headend solution, is well suited to these requirements. RGB Networks cites high availability and very high density (up to 400 video streams out) among the benefits of this headend product.
RGB Networks clearly believes that the growing number of PC and mobile based multiplatform trials represents a window of opportunity and is keen to convince service provides worldwide that they have a one-stop solution for three screen video. Having identified the need to complete its headend portfolio with an integrated mobile TV solution, the company concluded it would take too long to develop solutions in-house – thus the acquisition of RipCode.
Brendon Mills, CEO of Ripcode, says the acquisition provides a “phenomenal product fit with zero overlap”. The RipCode mobile video packaging capabilities will be integrated into the VMG as a module this year but its software-based transcoding will be replaced by RGB Network’s own real-time hardware-based transcoding. “A by-product of this announcement is that we will bring full advert insertion into the mobile world for the first time,” adds Graham.
ZipCode also provides video optimisation technology that helps mobile carriers manage the video data traffic across 3G and 4G networks, harnessing deep packet inspection to enforce traffic policy. This will also be integrated into the RGB Networks mobile video solutions moving forwards.
According to a statement from RGB Networks: “RipCode’s technology for converting live and on-demand video content to formats required for the mobile environment, complemented by RGB’s field-proven transcoding and ad insertion capabilities for TV and PCs, offers a solution that has never before been available to operators.
“Our chassis-based VMG already delivers industry-leading MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/H.264 stream processing quality and capacity for advanced video processing functions, including transcoding, ad insertion, transrating and grooming, with exceptional scalability and reliability.
“With the addition of mobile video delivery capabilities to this modular chassis, network operators will have the ability to perform any-to-any live and file video transcoding, adaptive delivery with Apple Live Streaming, Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe HTTP Streaming, and seamless multi-device ad insertion – all within a single carrier-class platform. This integration of leading technologies completes a one-of-a-kind solution that simplifies network architectures, streamlines operations and minimises costs.”
RGB Networks and ZipCode are both privately held companies but there are plans for an IPO next year.
About the author
John Moulding joined Videonet as editor at the start of 2010, having spent over 10 years writing about digital TV and the various technologies that have simultaneously disrupted and enriched the television business. With Videonet he is focused on the unstoppable march towards multiplatform, connected and personalized television. John was editor of Cable & Satellite International (now CSI) for six years before helping launch New Video Technology, and helped develop the IPTV World Series conference programmes from 2006-07. At home, he takes a Sky triple-play bundle, watches around one-third of content time-shifted, enjoys BBC iPlayer on television through the Wii, and eagerly awaits the arrival of YouTube on his own TV (the killer TV application for late on a Friday night). He is still loyal to channels - but can also remember when TV shut down after lunch.
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