Companies line-up at pre-IBC innovation event

Twelve broadcast technology companies lined-up to unveil their latest developments ahead of IBC next week, at an event held at the Digital TV Group’s (DTG’s) London headquarters. 

The innovation in broadcast event was arranged by the ICT Knowledge Transfer Network (ICTKTN), in association with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the DTG, and was designed to showcase a dozen innovative small and medium enterprises working in the space – all of which will are due to present at IBC in Amsterdam.

The companies presenting included the four winners from DTG’s July-announced IBC SME Competition – 51Degrees.mobi, Easel TV, Sub10 Systems and VidCheck – which will exhibit at the DTG stand in Hall 4 at IBC.

Taking the floor alongside them at the event this morning was Cambridge Imaging, iMedia, Oasys, Object Matrix, Open Broadcast, Red Embedded Consulting, Starfish Technologies and Vision247.

Among the products due to be showcased at IBC, Easel TV COO Bill Scott revealed that the multi-screen video software specialists will launch the next release of its ‘Best of British TV’ OTT TV service for production company All3Media. Originally released last year on Samsung TVs in the US and UK, the new version is going live on iPads and iPhones, with a version for the Xbox 360 to follow in the coming months.

James Rosewell, the founder and CEO of 51Degrees.mobi – a firm that lets customers detect which devices are accessing their servers and offer optimised content – said that it was adding more than 120 new smart devices to its mobile phone, tablet, console and eReader database. These include LG, Sony, Sharp and Toshiba Smart TVs.

Cambridge Imaging Systems will demo its media asset management solutions Imagen and ImagenCloud at IBC and announce new pricing plans, according to company director Ian Mottashed. Prices are due to start at £595 (€707) per month.

Similarly, Cardiff-based software company Object Matrix said it was cutting prices to celebrate its 10th birthday at the show. Co-founder Nick Pearce said 10 customers will be able to sign up for  1 petabyte of 10GigE connected MatrixStore nearline storage for just £250,000 including support – roughly half price.

Meanwhile, Oasys Automated Playout marketing manager Sophie Wilson said that it will showcase Chameleon, a new product line that consolidates Oasys software into a single configuration for a variety of channel playout requirements.

“IBC is always a very busy time for the industry, particularly for the DTG, but this year we’re very excited that we’re going to be exhibiting the winners of our innovation competition,” said DTG technology director Simon Gauntlett.