Article Overview

Snell Launches Version 2 of Morpheus Automation Family

Morpheus

Snell today announced the release of Version 2 of its Morpheus automation system and Morpheus ICE, Snell's cost-effective channel delivery platform. Highlights include a significant expansion of the industry-leading Morpheus feature set and full ratification for running in a virtual machine environment. At the 2010 NAB Show, Snell will feature a playout solution that runs on Morpheus and Morpheus ICE, demonstrating the solutions' unmatched system density and fully resilient architecture.

Significant New Functionality for Morpheus and Morpheus ICE, Including Support for Virtual Machine Environments, to be Featured at 2010 NAB Show

"Since its inception, Morpheus has provided the most powerful, flexible, and scalable broadcast automation solution on the market, with the ability to seamlessly evolve from a single channel to a multi-channel, multi-customer playout solution in line with business requirements and investment plans," said Neil Maycock, chief marketing officer for Snell. "Morpheus ICE is an integral part of the Morpheus suite, supporting both SD and HD and bringing together a video server, graphics, switchers, channel branding, captioning, and subtitling, in a convenient 3RU package, all managed by Morpheus Automation. ICE offers a low-cost, entry-level solution for start-up channels as well as a cost-effective building block for distributed operations supporting activities such as regional program management and remote disaster recovery."

Morpheus' new capability to run in a virtual machine environment will deliver significant benefits to broadcasting operations such as improving Morpheus' application density and reducing the physical footprint of the system while maintaining system resilience. Running complex, real-time broadcast automation and media management using shared and distributed processing makes it easier for broadcasters to manage system upgrades, add new devices and channels, as well as use additional Morpheus capabilities. Capitalizing on the benefits from regular improvements in IT technology areas such as OS, middleware, and hardware, the overall cost of ownership is reduced. Finally, a virtual machine environment requires less hardware and delivers the benefits of lower equipment costs and associated power savings.

In addition, Version 2 of Morpheus automation includes an enhanced join-in-progress feature designed to help broadcasters manage overruns in live events through emulation of server "dead rolling." There is also a new configuration tool for the industry-leading Media Ball™ enabling broadcasters to take new channels to air quickly and easily. Media Ball allows multiple hierarchically linked events to be grouped together and managed as a single entity.

Version 2 of Morpheus ICE adds support for 720p to its existing 1080i support, further rounding out the solution's HD capabilities. Also, Morpheus ICE now includes support for main industry-standard closed-captioning formats.

About Snell

Snell is a leading innovator in the digital media market. The company provides customers with a comprehensive range of solutions for the creation, management, and distribution of content, as well as the tools necessary to transition seamlessly and cost-effectively to digital, HDTV, and 3Gbp/s operations. Snell's Emmy® Award-winning image processing, live production, automation, and infrastructure technologies provide customers with the ultimate flexibility, operational efficiency, and ROI required in today's multi-screen world. Headquartered in the U.K., Snell serves more than 2,000 active customers in more than 100 countries through a worldwide team of sales and support personnel.

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