Avid Unveils New Play-To-Air Server: MediaStream 9000

"Avid has unveiled the MediaStream 9000 system, the newest addition to the company’s comprehensive line of MediaStream HD and SD play-to-air-servers.

The new system extends the broad playout functionality of the MediaStream family with version 3.31 software that supports Sony XDCAM HD and Long-GOP HD and SD media formats. In addition, the MediaStream 9000 system offers improved playout performance via the new Palladium Store 2000 storage array, a next-generation storage architecture that offers scalable capacity of 3 to 48 terabytes (TB), and higher throughput with bandwidth of 680 Megabits-per-second, per array. MediaStream 8000 customers will be able to upgrade to MediaStream 3.31 software to take advantage of the new XDCAM HD and Long-GOP playout capabilities.

Utilising a 2 Gigabit (Gb) Fibre Channel interface, the MediaStream 9000 server is optimised for delivering superior HD playout performance. In addition to supporting XDCAM HD and Long-GOP HD media, the MediaStream 9000 system is built around the new Palladium Store 2000 storage architecture, providing customers with the option to choose either 250 GB or 500 GB storage drives, with capacity of 15 drives per array. Furthermore, customers can link together a total of eight Palladium Store 2000 arrays, providing up to 48 TB of storage per MediaStream 9000 chassis. Using the MediaStream 9000 server, customers will experience approximately 50 percent greater drive capacity and media throughput – whether they rely on dedicated storage to deliver content to a few channels, or deploy a comprehensive network of MediaStream 9000 systems to play out content to 100 channels simultaneously.

MediaStream 9000 is expected to be available in Q3 2007 and is priced starting at Euro €62,800, UKP £43,600, USD $69,700. Avid expects version 3.31 of MediaStream software to be available for MediaStream 8000 customers in Q2. The 3.31 software upgrade will be available at no additional cost to MediaStream 8000 customers under warranty or a support contract."

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