feature automation & asset management
Pundits may be labeling 2009 the year of recession, but
UK-based broadcast automation specialist Pebble Beach
Feature sponsored
by Harris
Systems is happy to be bucking the trend. Managing
director Peter Hajittofi said: “It’s true that the broadcast
landscape is changing, but despite difficult market
conditions in 2009, Pebble Beach Systems was able to
consolidate its position as a world-class automation
provider with the launch of a major new product, several
large high profile contracts, the opening of new offices in
the US and Asia Pacific markets, and a 30% increase in
staff numbers. We’ve had an excellent year and the signs
are good for 2010.”
Alison Pavitt, Pebble Beach Systems, reports.
Marina broadens
automation offering
P
eter Hajittofi has a long throughout the broadcast workflow. company’s confidence in the broadcast
history in broadcast Core to the range is each product’s technology sector. Designed to address
automation, having ability to control and interface with a the evolving operational and business
previously worked for Louth huge variety of third party devices, requirements in the broadcast and
as European managing
Pebble
depending on the requirements of electronic media industry, Marina is
director, and before then at each individual installation. compatible with Neptune, adding a
Logica, who pioneered one of the very
Beach’s
Hajittofi said: “As an independent wealth of enhanced capabilities to the
first broadcast automation systems. products are company, we are able to be genuinely Pebble Beach portfolio. While many
Together with experienced industry
dedicated to
agnostic with respect to third party automation vendors have focused on
professionals Ian Cockett and Julian
the
devices, supporting the widest low-end ‘channel-in-a-box’ systems in
Hepworth, he founded Pebble Beach
simplification
possible range of products, and recent years, Pebble Beach recognises
Systems 10 years ago and the Surrey- offering the optimum solution for the strong demand for enterprise-level
based company now stands out as one
of channel
broadcasters of all sizes and needs. automation to address the business
of a few truly independent players in
management
Our main focus is to provide the needs of broadcasters who have a
broadcast automation. The company and to customer with an over-arching control varied and ever-changing set of
now boasts over 100 installations in
maximising
layer, where a single system can content delivery requirements. This
over 40 countries.
efficiency
manage a whole range of functions approach enables the company to
The flagship Neptune automation
and
from ingest, to browse and edit, tackle today’s complex changing
system controls over 500 channels in archiving, media delivery and playout. workflows whilst retaining the ability
broadcast installations around the
reliability
The same system can be used for to mix basic ‘pass-through’ style
world, and Pebble Beach has throughout news and sports, as well as classic channels with difficult ‘labour
continued to develop and expand its
the broadcast
entertainment channels. We manage intensive’ channels within a single
product portfolio to provide
workflow.
file based workflows and integrate system.
automation for all levels - not just in with many partnering technologies, Marina is powerful, flexible and
terms of size but also complexity. constantly enhancing our products to elegantly scalable up to hundreds of
From the entry level Deckchair, which ensure compatibility. The company channels, and gives its users an
can control up to three channels, to has an ambitious development almost infinite variety of configuration
the enterprise level multiple channel roadmap and we plan to build on our options, using a single central
capabilities of the newly launched market-leading status by expanding database allowing coordinated
Marina, Pebble Beach’s products are our services as the industry moves applications and resources to operate
dedicated to the simplification of forward.” in a distributed architecture across
channel management and to The unveiling of Marina at IBC in multiple servers. It offers an array of
maximising efficiency and reliability 2009 was a strong expression of the original features:
30 l ibe l january/february 2010 l www.ibeweb.com
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