Video Networks Limited Achieves A World First by Initiating Broadcast of Turner Broadcasting's Toonami Channel Using MPEG-4/AVC.LONDON -- VNL VNL Via Net Loss VNL Virtual National Laboratory VNL Video Networks Limited to Commence MPEG-4 Migration Immediately Using Harmonic's High-Performance DiviCom(R) MV 100 Encoding Platform Video Networks Limited (VNL), the provider of the HomeChoice entertainment and communications service, today announced that it has expanded its line-up with Turner Broadcasting's Toonami, a leading children's animation channel, using MPEG-4 / AVC (1) (Advanced Video Coding) The video compression techniques used in the H.264 standard, jointly developed by ISO and the ITU-T. See H.264. (2) (Audio Visual C format, making it the world's first television channel to be encoded with advanced compression technology. VNL worked in partnership with Harmonic to launch an initial video-over-xDSL service in 2004 using DiviCom MV 100 encoders configured with MPEG-2. Since that time, VNL has leveraged the superior MPEG-2 compression efficiency and picture-quality of the MV 100 to continually enrich the channel line-up of its HomeChoice service. The MV 100's architecture enables the progressive migration of HomeChoice's existing broadcast channels to MPEG-4. In addition, it will allow further compression improvements that will extend HomeChoice's picture quality and reach and range of service, with the field installable software codec A compression/decompression routine that is implemented in software only without requiring specialized DSP hardware. See codec. module. VNL's migration to MPEG-4 for its remaining broadcast channels, including Turner-owned Cartoon Network For Cartoon Network outside of the United States, see . Cartoon Network is a cable television network created by Turner Broadcasting which primarily shows animated programming. and Boomerang, is expected to be completed within the next two months. Roger Lynch, Chairman & CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Video Networks Ltd said: "Video Networks is delighted to announce this key enhancement to its platform. We are not simply adding yet another quality channel from the Turner stable but are creating a world first with the first ever broadcast channel to switch to MPEG-4 / AVC encoding. The move to MPEG-4 allows us to provide superior picture quality, while reducing the bandwidth required to transmit our broadcast channels." "While much of the industry is still in a planning, evaluation or trial phase, Video Networks Limited is forging ahead with an advanced technology and pay-TV service platform," said Dr. Yaron Simler, President of the Convergent Systems Division of Harmonic Inc. "The first commercially available encoding platform to support MPEG-2, MPEG-4/AVC and SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, White Plains, NY, www.smpte.org) A professional society for motion picture and TV engineers with more than 9,000 members worldwide. It prepares standards and documentation for TV production. VC-1, Harmonic's DiviCom MV 100 enabled VNL to provision a compelling video-over-DSL service while in parallel developing the elements of an MPEG-4 environment. It is rewarding to see that we are moving toward the world's first broadcast TV service based entirely on an advanced codec (1) (enCOder/DECoder) A hardware circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) and digital-to-analog (DAC) conversion. When analog signals are entered into a computer, cellphone or other device via a microphone or video source such as VHS tape or analog TV, . This has established both VNL and the DiviCom MV 100 as significant forces in shaping the future of the television market." Paul Cackett, Toonami Channel Manager said: "As the first channel in the world to be broadcast live using this technology, Toonami is at the cutting edge. The superior quality of Toonami's programming will now be matched by the high spec picture." Toonami, which boasts successful shows such as Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z “DBZ” redirects here. For the meteorological term, see dBZ (meteorology). Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボールZ and Teen Titans has been automatically added to HomeChoice's kid's TV package with immediate effect. Toonami is broadcast on channel 326. Notes to editors EDITOR'S NOTE Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. - Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. About Video Networks Limited Video Networks is a leading provider of broadband entertainment and communications through its digital TV, video-on-demand (VOD See video-on-demand. VoD - video on demand ), home phone and Internet services under the brand name HomeChoice. The company's service is currently available to 1.4 million homes across London and Stevenage and by June 2005, 2.4 million homes will have access to the very best in interactive entertainment. The HomeChoice entertainment service is the best all round digital TV, video-on-demand and broadband Internet See broadband. package on the market, with over 80 of the best broadcast and on-demand entertainment channels including BAFTA Baf´ta n. 1. A coarse stuff, usually of cotton, originally made in India. Also, an imitation of this fabric made for export. award-winning interactive music channels and more than 5000 on-demand movies, music videos and TV programmes. Sky Sports and Sky Movies channels are available on the HomeChoice platform under a retail distribution agreement with BSkyB. HomeChoice offers customers always-on broadband Internet connections with speeds ranging from 1Mb to 4Mb. In addition, included in the monthly charge for TV & broadband services is a home phone service, offering free evening and weekend calls to local and national numbers, and low rates to UK mobiles and abroad. There is also the option to upgrade to the HomeChoice Anytime talk plan from as little as GBP GBP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the British Pound. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 5 per month. With Internet access that is up to eight times the speed of normal broadband and up to eighty times faster than conventional dial-up - using HomeChoice's 4Mb package - everlasting downloads are a thing of the past. With the HomeChoice service, web pages appear instantly delivering Internet access just as it should be. About Harmonic Inc. Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite, telecom and broadcast network operators. Harmonic's open standards-based solutions for the headend through the last mile enable customers to develop new revenue sources and a competitive advantage by offering powerful interactive video, voice and data services such as video-on-demand, high definition digital television, telephony and Internet access. Harmonic (Nasdaq:HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company's customers, including many of the world's largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information. Turner TOONAMI is the action animation channel for boys. With exclusive rights to top shows including Pokemon, Teen Titans, Justice League, Star Wars: Clone Wars, One Piece, Rave Master and the Dragon Ball sagas, Toonami offers viewers the chance to view shows unavailable on any other channel in the UK. Toonami is operated by Turner Broadcasting System Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (often abbreviated TBS Networks or TBS, inc.) is the company managing the collection of cable networks and properties started by Robert Edward "Ted" Turner from the mid-1970s to the late-1990s. (TBS) Europe which delivers some of the world's most successful and well-known news and entertainment brands - Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TCM (1) (Trellis-Coded Modulation/Viterbi Decoding) A technique that adds forward error correction to a modulation scheme by adding an additional bit to each baud. TCM is used with QAM modulation, for example. (Turner Classic Movies) and CNN International - across almost 100 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Turner Broadcasting Systems Europe Limited is a Time Warner Company. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion