Zixi Teams with Elemental, RED, and BrightSign on OTT 4K Broadcasting
Zixi announced its collaboration with broadcast industry leaders to deliver proof-of-concept for Over-the-Top (OTT) distribution of live events broadcast in 4K. Elemental Technologies (booth SU2724), RED Digital Cinema (booth SL1517), and BrightSign partnered with Zixi (booth SU10802) to enable end-to-end 4K distribution over IP to deliver 4K content from any live venue to virtually any destination.
OTT is utilized by a growing number of low-cost service providers to deliver video content directly to viewers, creating the direct relationship with viewers that’s becoming commonplace as on-demand viewing continues to displace traditional broadcast distribution.
The solution demonstrated at the NAB Show highlights the power of OTT – including acquisition, transcode, distribution over IP, decode and display of a 4K live stream. Source input is captured in 4K using an EPIC RED DRAGON and the RED 4K Broadcast Module, which then feeds an Elemental 1RU encoder capable of real-time 4Kp60 HEVC video processing. The resulting content is wrapped in the Zixi Transport Protocol by the Zixi Feeder running on the same Elemental system. Zixi then transports the content over a standard Internet connection, protecting the stream and managing packet loss and jitter, delivering the file to the Zixi Broadcaster. The stream is then distributed to multiple destinations, each equipped with a BrightSign 4K media player with the embedded Zixi Receiver that accepts the 4K content. BrightSign 4K then decodes and sends the content to a 4K display via HDMI 2.0 preserving native 4K resolution and 60 frames-per-second playback.
The workflow described above constitutes an end-to-end 4K distribution solution over IP capable of delivering live 4K content to multiple endpoints simultaneously. The security and reliability of such a solution offers a proven OTT distribution model to broadcasters and program providers, as well as commercial establishments such as bars, hotels, restaurants and other venues.
This end to end 4K offering will be featured in several booths at NAB. In particular, RED Digital Cinema will feature striking 4K footage from capture to endpoint, starting with the EPIC DRAGON camera and delivered via Zixi to BrightSign’s 4K players displaying the content on the booth’s 4K screens. Elemental will also feature BrightSign’s 4K players in its booth. Zixi will be featuring BrightSign’s 4K and HD players at the Zixi booth.
Zixi also announced that Adtec Digital is embedding Zixi Feeder, and Zixi Receiver into their EN series encoders and decoders enabling broadcast quality video delivery over IP using Zixi-LinkTM.
“Broadcasters are looking for ways to streamline costs while extending their reach and delivery of broadcast quality video for contribution, distribution, and backup over IP securely. Using Zixi is key to helping our customers achieve those goals,” stated Michele Niec, marketing and PR manager for Adtec Digital. “Embedding Zixi Feeder and Zixi Receiver into our encoders and decoders allows our customers to realize the benefits of sending high quality video securely, over any distance, using Zixi and Zixi-Link over managed and unmanaged internet connections.”
“Adtec Digital has been recognized by the broadcast market as the premier provider of encoders and decoders added Ray Thompson, vice president Product Marketing at Zixi. “ Zixi is happy to be adding Adtec Digital to the Zixi EcoZystem of partners who have embedded Zixi Feeder and Zixi Receiver enabling broadcasters and media companies to deliver content contribution and distribution at satellite and fiber operating metrics with internet based economics and availability.”
Adtec Digital will be using the Zixi SDK to embed Zixi Feeder into their EN series encoders and will be embedding Zixi Receiver into their RD series decoders. Customers can now leverage this integration to form a Zixi-Link, a point–to-point or multi-point to multi-point connection to send broadcast quality video over any distance between Zixi enabled Adtec devices. Zixi-Link can be used for contribution, distribution, satellite backup, disaster recovery, live event production, and linear channel delivery over a standard internet connection.