automation vendors who are developing next generation systems which offer broadcasters the freedom to choose the right channel delivery technology on a per case basis is diminishing, partly due to merger and acquisition activity, and partly because some automation vendors have chosen to focus their attentions elsewhere.
Crowded space At the other end of the scale, there are a vast number of end users who are happy to embrace Channel in a Box technology for the very real cost and space savings it offers for many channel types. However, with upwards of 40 vendors now operating in this space, selecting the best solution for the particular requirements and budget of the individual organisation can be a daunting prospect, and vendors entering this space do so in the knowledge that it is already very crowded. Not all Channel in a Box solutions are created equal. As well as aiming their products at different price points, different vendors have approached the
This means that the Stingray is a scalable, flexible 64-bit, fully Unicode solution
space from their area of expertise, whether that’s graphics, servers, or automation to name but three possibilities. Our Managing Director Peter Hajittofi says, “Pebble Beach Systems clearly would not enter the fray unless we were able to bring something genuinely new to the table, and we had complete confidence that there is a specific need for what we can offer. It’s a fact that many new customers and
projects are asking specifically for Channel in a Box, and we have been able to exploit our experience in delivering best of breed automation and integrated channel technology to offer a powerful new solution. Stingray is a flexible, scalable, modern, 64-bit, fully Unicode solution with the best control layer on the market. With an exceptionally simple user interface and a truly scalable system architecture, it sets
a new standard for Channel in a Box technology.” Thirdly, falling between these
two extremes is the broadcaster (or service provider) who needs automation but wishes to adopt Channel in a Box technology for some of their channels. In this scenario, the most integrated approach is to deploy a Channel in a Box solution, which shares the same control layer as the more complex channels.
broadcaster can choose the optimum technology for the budgetary and technical needs of each channel, even in the same system. Crucially, operators are presented with the same user interface whatever the underlying channel technology across the entire system, and a single system- wide database avoids creating operational silos and simplifies channel control. Pebble Beach Systems’ Dolphin integrated channel device can also act as a component of a hybrid channel, where it is deployed alongside best of breed discrete devices. Vendors such as Pebble Beach Systems who remain committed to the automation market can bring their specialist experience and expertise to bear on new flagship products across the automation and Channel in a Box space. With Marina automation, Stingray Channel in a Box, and Dolphin integrated channel technology in its portfolio, Pebble Beach Systems is one of the few specialist vendors in the market offering a fully featured solution for each use case.
WHATS’On allows me to report on stock values,
predict cash fl ow needs and monitor the cost of a schedule, in real-time.