Related news:
Wednesday May 19, 12:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: SkyConnect, Inc.
SkyConnect First to
Install Digital Program
Insertion at Cable Labs;
Compaq AlphaServer to Showcase
Technology at Facility
LOUISVILLE, Colo., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyConnect, Inc., the
technology leader in digital video management solutions, announced that
its Digital Program Insertion (DPI) technology is the first of its kind to be
installed at Cable Labs to demonstrate how digital programming insertion
technology works. Using a Compaq AlphaServer with 64-Bit
architecture, SkyConnect's technology is expected to be on exhibit for
approximately one year.
''DPI technology is timely because of the immediate deployment of
digital video signals across cable systems,'' said Bill Warga, Cable Labs
senior electronics technician. ''Going forward with this project, we will
be able to illustrate how digital programming insertion performs for the
cable industry.''
A research and development consortium of cable television companies,
Cable Labs is conducting the DPI project at its facility in Louisville,
Colo. The demonstration includes a fully operational cable headend that
receives digital network content from Headend In the Sky (HITS), a unit
of AT&T Corp.'s National Digital Television Center; the 500 MHz
Compaq AlphaServer 800 system, with 128mb RAM and 4GB hard
drive running the Compaq Tru64 UNIX operating system; and
SkyVision, SkyConnect's user interface, which also provides status
monitoring, file distribution and workflow automation services for
advertising traffic and billing systems.
''Cable operators from around the world who visit Cable Labs will be
able to see how DPI technology holds the key to increased advertising
revenue,'' said Michael J. Pohl, SkyConnect CEO and president. ''It's
clear that given the current rate of digital set-top box penetration, a
significant number of digital households is going to be here sooner, rather
than later, for local advertisers.''
''The DPI Project is an example of how companies can use advanced
technology in growing the cable industry,'' said Tim Yeaton, senior vice
president and general manager of Compaq's UNIX Software Division.
''Tru64 UNIX and AlphaServer technology are great examples of
Compaq's leadership and ability to offer innovative business solutions for
our business partners like SkyConnect.''
The demonstration shows how SkyConnect's DPI inserts commercials
into HITS digital programming at either constant bit rate (CBR) or
variable bit rate (VBR) digital multiplexes. It also shows how
SkyConnect's technology allows a single video server to play video for
analog and digital insertions simultaneously, thereby enabling cable
systems to avoid duplicate video server investments.
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the
second largest computer company in the world and the largest global
supplier of computer systems. Compaq develops and markets hardware,
software, solutions and services including industry-leading enterprise
computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, enterprise
and network storage solutions, commercial desktop and portable
products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in
environmentally friendly programs and business practices.
Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries
through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer
support and information about Compaq and its products are available at
compaq.com.
Cable Labs is a research and development consortium of cable television
system operators representing the continents of North America and
South America. Cable Labs plans and funds research and development
projects that will help cable companies take advantage of future
opportunities and meet future challenges in provision of television, data,
and Internet services to consumers. It also transfers relevant technologies
to member companies and to the industry. In addition, Cable Labs acts
as a clearinghouse to provide information on current and prospective
technological developments that are of interest to the cable industry.
cablelabs.com.
Founded in 1992, SkyConnect provides digital ad insertion solutions and
offers video management applications in the cable ad insertion,
Video-on-Demand and Near-Video-on-Demand industries. SkyConnect's
state-of-the-art technology includes digital ad insertion hardware and
software, traffic and billing software, and Pay-Per-View software. In
March 1999, SkyConnect formally agreed to be acquired by nCUBE, the
leading supplier of interactive multimedia servers. It is expected that a
final agreement will be concluded in May 1999. Headquartered in
Louisville, Colo., SkyConnect is a Business Alliance Partner of Oracle
and a Priority Partner of Enterprise Solutions of Compaq.
ncube.com or skyconnect.com.
SkyConnect's DPI technology will be on display at the company's booth,
#1128, at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, May 25 - 27, at the Orange
County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
SOURCE: SkyConnect, Inc. |
