Digital Rapids Advances Digital Content Distribution
Digital Rapids today raised the bar for ease and efficiency in the digital distribution of media content, unveiling two new solutions for the delivery of media and data files between content owners, creators, collaborators, and distribution partners. New features in the Digital Rapids C2 data delivery software include support for unicast, multicast and hybrid distribution models, and a flexible architecture supporting dynamic deployments with exceptional cost-effectiveness. The new MediaMesh RX appliance, introduced today as a technology preview, receives and repurposes media and associated data from centralized distribution sources, forming the ideal endpoint for syndicated delivery of ad spots through long-form content to broadcast affiliates and distribution partners.
The rapidly expanding scope of content distribution opportunities brings with it the need for easier and more efficient mechanisms to deliver content to distribution points. Traditional physical methods for delivering content between production facilities, networks, affiliates and distributors -- such as shipping video tapes by courier -- are no longer efficient. Fully digital distribution via IP-based networks or satellite offers reduced manual effort, greater immediacy and tremendous cost savings over tape-and-truck transport.
Digital Rapids C2 overcomes the performance limitations typical in IP-based networks, which limit the speed, reliability and efficiency of these transfers to a fraction of their potential. C2 streamlines the transfer of media files between contribution, collaboration and distribution points, transferring media and data files to multiple destinations securely, reliably, and with a tremendous speed advantage over standard file transfer technologies like FTP.
C2's flexible network topology allows transfers to be performed simultaneously between multiple points in parallel, maximizing efficiency when transferring files to multiple recipients. Transparent recovery enables transfers to resume automatically from intentional or unexpected connectivity interruptions. Transfers can be initiated from an easy desktop client, watch folders or a new Web Services API, with delivery confirmation receipts providing proof of successful transfer. C2 supports multiple distribution models to take advantage of available network capabilities, from unicast Internet delivery to multicast-enabled networks, satellite-based transmission and hybrid architectures.
C2 is ideal for media distribution -- where content files usually are large, have high value, and can be time-sensitive -- but equally well-suited for non-media applications. C2 brings the same benefits of speed, reliability, security and efficiency to the transfer any type of data file, from medical imaging and scientific data sets to financial databases.
MediaMesh RX, the new media receiving appliance, provides robust functionality at the endpoint of the digital distribution chain. Comprehensive features including verified receipt, visual Quality Control verification, inventory management, transfer to broadcast servers, print-to-tape and play-to-air are tightly integrated in an intuitive graphical interface. Transcoding and re-packaging capabilities allow received media to be repurposed and conformed to local requirements "at the edge" of the content distribution pipeline, eliminating the need for distributing numerous variants. The combination of C2 and MediaMesh RX enables ad spots, promos, paid programming, syndicated shows, long-form and digital cinema content to be distributed to affiliates and distribution partners efficiently, automatically and at substantial cost savings.
MediaMesh RX works seamlessly alongside Digital Rapids' ingest, encoding and transcoding solutions to form complete workflows from ingest through delivery. It can also be easily incorporated with third-party systems through open standards, workflow features such as watch folders and Web Services APIs for custom development.
Source: StreamingMedia
