NAB 2015 Tech: Grass Valley’s iTX v2.6

Grass Valley | Booth SL206 | Website: grassvalley.com

Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, today announced the latest iTX Integrated Playout Platform version 2.6 with its new broadcast engine. This new broadcast engine, the company said, delivers simulcast for greater scalability; is better adapted for live content with the most complete real-time processing algorithms; and provides enhanced automation of ingest for streamlined workflows, while lowering the cost of running television channels.

“iTX remains the industry-leading solution for broadcast customers that require a high-performance playout system,” said Mike Cronk, SVP of strategic marketing, Grass Valley. “Our commitment to iTX is stronger than ever with the introduction of our new broadcast engine that enables powerful features today and ensures our customers are Future Ready with both IP playout and 4K capabilities.”

This latest version of iTX is tuned for live content, managing highly dynamic schedules and late-arriving media by supporting multiple video format playbacks without the need to transcode. Coupled with the ability to record and turn around live shows in the playout engine without additional ingest servers, iTX enables broadcasters to increase live content on channels without additional operational costs.

iTX version 2.6 introduces a suite of new tools to help media flow. iTX Delivery Manager supports a wider number of asset-delivery partners including SGL, Masstech, Front Porch, Pathfire and Pitch Blue. iTX automates ingest of media and metadata, allowing automated asset renaming and segmentation based on individual station business rules that saves time and improves accuracy, which means operators are focused on tasks that increase revenue instead of repetitive tasks.

Version 2.6 also streamlines playout of simulcast channels with independent graphics insertion using Grass Valley’s industry-leading Vertigo XG inside iTX —controlled from a single interface. This dramatically reduces hardware requirements while allowing channels to have truly independent branded SD/HD channels.

Read TVNewscheck’s other NAB Show technology coverage here. Find our full convention coverage here.