DELTACAST and Florical Systems join Alliance for IP Media Solutions

AIMS (Alliance for IP Media Solutions) has announced that DELTACAST and Florical Systems are the latest in a number of key television broadcast technology companies to join the Alliance, and align themselves with an open standards-based approach to transitioning to an IP-based workflow.

Belgium-based DELTACAST develops and manufactures state-of-the-art products for the professional digital video market, primarily OEM PCI Express video cards for SDI SD/HD/3G, DVI, HDMI and ASI interfacing, and dedicated solutions for linear keying & codec applications. The company offers the most comprehensive portfolio to professional video OEMs, to create high performance, high-quality video systems under Windows, Linux and Mac, for a worldwide customer base.

The company’s CEO, Christian Dutilleux, said: “We are very proud to join the AIMS alliance, which counts an impressive list of key market players among its membership. Today we have available ST-2022-6 products and soon we will have TR-03 products. This is in line with our strategy of early adoption of new standards and promoting these to our developer customers at a very early stage.”

Florical Systems is a leader in television automation solutions, providing latest advances such as off-the-shelf station-in-a-box video server technology, remote access of system control, automated reports for traffic and management, unique applications for centralizing operations and centrally managing content. The US company’s extensive customer base includes high profile cable networks, network owned and operated stations, individual network affiliate stations and PBS stations more.

“Florical is pleased to be a member of AIMS,” states VP and general manager Shawn Maynard, “Our industry stands at the critical crossroad of technology that will be the path that future creators will be forced to travel. Only by cooperating together under the AIMS alliance can we guarantee the next generation will look back with gratitude that we had wisely chosen the right road.”

AIMS’ efforts are focused on promoting the adoption, standardization, development and refinement of open protocols for media over IP, with an initial emphasis on VSF TR-03 and TR-04, SMPTE 2022-6 and AES67. Broadcasters and other media companies are seeking to leverage IP to increase the flexibility of their networks, help streamline workflows and improve agility to better compete in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. Open standards are the key to protecting current investments and ensuring long-term interoperability.

Open standards work for the IP transition is already underway by the 77-member Video Services Forum (VSF), with the support of organizations such as SMPTE and the EBU. AIMS endorses the work of the VSF and will continue to lend support in the development of a standard approach to IP; more than 30 broadcast equipment suppliers and broadcasters were involved in the development of VSF TR-03 and companies are actively testing and validating it today.

AIMS provides specific guidance in its bylaws to its members and to the media industry via the AIMS Roadmap. The organization endorses an IP transition plan that includes support for SMPTE 2022-6, AES67 and VSF recommendations TR-03 and TR-04.

A number of solutions are already on the market to help media companies begin the transition by introducing IP components to an SDI workflow. The transition represents a significant investment and will not happen overnight. An open standards approach allows media companies to implement the technology over time and transition at the pace that makes sense for their businesses.

Membership in AIMS is available to all individuals and companies that support open standards and share a commitment to the group’s founding principles.