Ideal Systems Selected to Build New U.S. Facilities for Globecast

Jonathan Morley, chief technology officer of Globecast Americas, said, “We are excited to be able to bring the proven content preparation efficiencies of our Media Factory — launched last month in Amsterdam — and the cost efficiency of our streamlined playout infrastructure to the heart of the American broadcast market here in Los Angeles. At the same time we are establishing a brand-new facility in Miami to support the Latin American broadcast community based there. We wanted Ideal Systems on board to complete the design and build of the facilities on time and on budget. Ideal Systems offers us a unique blend of broadcast software and hardware architects and engineers, combined with the best broadcast interior design and build team we have seen.”

The Globecast Media Factory goes beyond traditional media management, logistics, and playout services. It replaces multiple, siloed operations, rationalizing them to create a single, efficient process that handles everything from video-on-demand preparation and content formatting through to creative services, quality control, and compliance. Media Factory allows Globecast to pass on economies of scale to customers who also benefit from the greater flexibility and the ability to scale up and down as required.

Key technologies being deployed at the new U.S. facilities include an integrated suite from Evertz consisting of Mediator media asset management (MAM) with Playtime automation, OvertureRT integrated playout devices, VistaLINK PRO facility monitoring system, and MVP multiviewer. Based on the same architecture as that deployed for Globecast’s Singapore and London facilities, the new U.S. facilities will have a secure, fully managed hierarchical storage platform based on EMC Isilon and Quantum technologies. All of these systems are fully integrated to provide a highly optimized and efficient broadcast facility with industry-leading redundancy as well as proactive and predictive fault monitoring. Also included in the new facilities, and making its broadcast debut in the U.S., is the highly flexible and rapid channel launch capacity of Ideal System’s SoftCast. The multichannel SoftCast platform augments the overall system with the ability to play out a wide range of native formats and the capacity to reduce channel launch times dramatically.

Peter Elvidge, head of global media management, Globecast, said, “Our new facilities in Los Angeles and Miami perfectly complement our existing Media Factory facilities in London and Singapore to allow us to further support our customers globally.”

Fintan Mc Kiernan, CEO, Ideal Systems Singapore, added, “This is the first time an Asian-based broadcast systems integrator has been contracted to build cutting edge broadcast systems and state-of-the-art facilities in the U.S. and is indicative of Ideal Systems’ commitment to providing the highest international quality systems, design, and value to our customers.”

Globecast opens up global opportunities in broadcasting by making content distribution and management simple. Part of the Orange group, Globecast delivers tailored content management and delivery solutions to meet the needs of markets all over the world. For channels, Globecast provides media management and playout solutions as well as global content delivery via fibre, satellite, and IP. Through its fleet of SNG vehicles and production partners, the company also provides coverage of news, sports, and special events around the globe. Globecast has capacity on all the world’s major broadcast satellites, a three-continent proprietary fibre network and state-of-the-art facilities in the world’s biggest media hubs. Finally, Globecast has a content aggregation and distribution team that helps secure distribution on leading Pay TV platforms. Present in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia, Globecast offers simplicity, flexibility, and knowledge to the world’s leading broadcasters.

Ideal Systems, Asia’s largest broadcast systems integrator and is a multinational organization providing innovative media and design solutions to sectors, including broadcasting, telecoms, and media. Ideal Systems provides services that range from systems consultancy and design conceptualization to systems deployment and support of broadcast systems, facilities and studios.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Ideal Systems is a private company that has grown from its head office in Hong Kong to a Pan-Asia-Pacific organization with 11 regional offices in nine countries.