SkyStream, which is now a newly-acquired division of TANDBERG Television, announced several enhancements to its platforms that will be shown at next week's NAB2006 tradeshow in Las Vegas. These include:
- zBand 6.0: zBand updates SkyStream's PUSH VOD platform to enable content delivery through both unicast and multicast networks, now letting subscribers access and manage their VOD services around the home through a broadband Internet connection. ReelTime Media Ltd. of Australia is using the new version of zBand to deliver VOD over broadband Internet to subscribers' television set-top boxes.
- PiP: SkyStream adds integrated PiP capability to its Mediaplex and iPlex video headends, enabling consumers to simultaneously watch multiple MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 AVC standard-definition video channels on a single screen.
- All-IP MPEG-4 AVC Video Headend: SkyStream's solution features integrated MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 transcoding. The NEBS-compliant Mediaplex and iPlex video headends can receive MPEG-2 video streams over IP IRDs, transcode MPEG-2 video streams from any source into MPEG-4 in one all-digital step, and then route the MPEG-4 content to any last mile network without purchasing costly video conversion devices.
- MovieBeam: SkyStream will showcase a full retail display of MovieBeam, the largest PUSH VOD service in the U.S., which delivers the latest Hollywood movies to customers in 29 major metropolitan areas.
