TEKTRONIX: Tektronix ships new profile PDR300
M2 PRESSWIRE-20 July 1998-TEKTRONIX: Tektronix ships new profile PDR300 (C)1994-98 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
* Redefines price/performance using MPEG-2 4:2:2 technology
-- PDR300 doubles capacity, lowers storage costs, guarantees quality
Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE:TEK), the global video server market leader with more than 12,000 digital channels shipped, today announced the availability of the latest addition to the Profile family, the PDR300. The new PDR300's high-quality 4:2:2 MPEG-2 implementation increases storage capacity while at the same time lowering its cost, doubles the number of replay channels, and introduces important new fibre channel "streaming" technology that enables customers to begin using material rapidly -- before it has completely transferred over the network.
Profile installations span the globe. Key installations include CNN, Paxson Communications, NBC, and CBS in the United States, BSkyB and TV4 in Europe.
"The quality of support we are receiving from Tektronix is amazing and much appreciated by me and Paxson," said Mark Rapson, television director of engineering for the Paxson (Pax Net) Network. "Our recent MPEG upgrade turned our PDR200 into a PDR300 with no disruption of services. The installation proceeded without a hitch and allowed us to place our Profiles on air almost immediately."
The PDR300 is ideally suited for broadcast applications including commercial spot insertion, program playout, spot caching for video cart machines, near video-on-demand, and time delay. It offers customers a flexible and highly configurable video server that can be configured for up to 8 video playout channels and 32 audio channels, the only server on the market to offer these capabilities. All Profile servers now offer a unique feature called Scrub Audio which provides the same familiar sound VTR editors are used to hearing when marking in and out points for an edit or while trimming a spot.
The broadcast-quality PDR300 and the new high performance PRS250 RAID system, an optional feature, redefines the Profile price/performance value by doubling the number of channels and slashing the cost/hour of storage, reducing the cost of on-air operation. Offering hundreds of hours of storage and redundancy protection, the PRS250 ensures repairs can be made without taking the server off-air.
The PDR300 incorporates MPEG-2 4:2:2 Profile @ Main Level, the defacto choice for broadcast playout applications and a standard which Tektronix played a key role in defining. MPEG-2 4:2:2 offers users excellent multi-generation capabilities and has the required performance for upconversion to high definition television.
"The market has voted the Profile system the most preferred video server by purchasing and installing more Profile channels than any other video server in the world. We're proud of that track record. But we want to do even more for our customers," said Tim Thorsteinson, president, Video and Networking Division, Tektronix. "The new Tektronix PDR300 is a formidable product. It delivers the functionality that leads to saving customers more time and money than ever. We back every Profile system 100% and have put into place an aggressive quality program that ensures our customers' satisfaction. At Tektronix, we believe the only thing better than the quality of our products is our service."
The Emmy award-winning Profile server is a key element in the Tektronix Digital Media Foundation (DMF) initiative for the transition to digital broadcasting. The DMF initiative provides broadcasters with a server-based foundation for applications ranging from post and live production to on-air replay.
Tektronix is a portfolio of measurement, color printing and video and networking businesses dedicated to applying technology excellence to customer challenges. Tektronix is headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon and has operations in 25 countries outside the United States. Founded in 1946, the company had revenues of $2.1 billion in fiscal 1998.
Tektronix and Profile are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT: Laura Barber, Tektronix, Inc. Tel: +1 503 627-6240 e-mail: laura.barber@tek.com WWW: tek.com Elke Heiss, GlobalCom PR Network Tel: +1 415 439-5305 e-mail: elke.heiss@globalcom-city.com
*M2 COMMUNICATIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED WITHIN M2 PRESSWIRE. DATA SUPPLIED BY NAMED PARTY/PARTIES.* |