Thomson Video Networks releases MediaFlex update

Thomson Video Networks has released the latest update to its MediaFlex video operating system that includes support for virtual machines and cloud-based video processing resources.

MediaFlex OS is the video operating system powering Thomson Video Networks’ award-winning ViBE family of encoding, transcoding, and contribution solutions, including the ViBE VS7000 multi-screen and HEVC encoder and the new ViBE XT1000 high-density transcoder.

MediaFlex OS provides a software layer that enables live transcoding, branding, and other A/V processing functions in the cloud and on virtualised platforms, in addition to physical, on-premises resources.

MediaFlex can be used to operate multiple platforms at once. Thomson cites the example of an operation involving a group of dedicated on-premises Thomson Video Networks products acting as a typical compression headend, with a separate group of virtual machines provisioned in a private generic data centre to enable fast deployment of broadcast services when needed, such as when adding video channels during a special sporting event. Additional compression services can be deployed in a public cloud infrastructure.

At IBC, Thomson will feature initial components of its “Behind Every Screen” strategy. In the second half of 2014, it will begin a phased release of the cloud-enabled version of MediaFlex OS.

“Previously, video operators had a choice between dedicated hardware solutions that offered the necessary computing performance but required time-consuming provisioning, or non-optimised virtual or cloud solutions with poor redundancy, underperforming compression, and complex management,” said Christophe Delahousse, president, Thomson Video Networks.

“This release of MediaFlex OS gives video operators the best of both worlds. All they need to do is take care of the service creation and characteristics. MediaFlex OS is able to use a combination of on-premises resources and, if necessary, a cloud infrastructure to meet the operation’s requirements. In this manner, the operator can find the ideal balance of lowered operational costs and optimised, broadcast-grade performance.”

Thomson Video Networks will exhibit at IBC on stand 14.A10