Cambridge 09-May-2022
Chicago’s Weigel upgrades Capability with 19 StreamMasters from Pixel Power
Cambridge, UK, May 09, 2022 — Pixel Power, a Rohde & Schwarz company and global leader in master control playout, automation, graphics & branding, has been chosen by Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting Company (Weigel) to deliver 19 StreamMaster software defined graphics, playout and channel branding platforms. The new StreamMasters replace Weigel’s existing Pixel Power Clarity and LogoVision systems.
Weigel, which currently owns 34 television stations and six digital over-the-air television networks, including MeTV, will deploy 19 virtualizable, software defined StreamMaster BRAND units for playout branding along with a single CREATE device - a virtualizable software application for creating graphics templates. Although it was the legacy technology partner, Pixel Power was chosen after a rigorous review of all the leading solutions available on the market.
“We needed updated graphics capabilities that allowed us to tie into our asset management system to create dynamic and fully automated graphic overlays for our national networks. After testing against two other Tier 1 graphics vendors, StreamMaster was the only platform that gave us a complete workflow, including master control for channel branding, within one platform,” said Kyle Walker, VP, Technology - Weigel Broadcasting Company. “We know first-hand just how robust and reliable Pixel Power’s technology is and with these StreamMaster BRAND devices we now have the capability to take our branding to a new level of sophistication. Being a software defined solution also gives us future-proof flexibility to add new features as they come along or move to the cloud.”
Simple to deploy for single or multi-channel broadcast playout environments, StreamMaster BRAND is built from the ground up to support a wide range of automated graphics playout and channel branding needs, delivering live lower thirds, bugs, promos and other branding. This efficient, highly cost-effective solution is flexible, scalable and delivers high-end graphics reliably and without operator intervention. A set of defined rules determines its content and insertion is triggered by the station automation, and the new StreamMasters integrate seamlessly with Weigel’s proprietary automation system, which was re-worked to control them.
Mike O’Connell, Exec VP at Pixel Power Inc., a Rohde & Schwarz Company, added “we are delighted that Weigel has once again chosen to rely on our solution for its entire channel branding workflow. Our flexible, software licensing model means customers can tailor the level of functionality to suit their specific requirements, only paying for features they actually need (real-time 3D graphics, multichannel DVE, etc.) without compromising on the quality of their signature look and feel. StreamMaster BRAND is virtualizable on-premise, in a datacentre or in the public cloud for the ultimate in future-proofing.”
Rohde & Schwarz Broadcast & Media
For decades, Rohde & Schwarz has been a leading technology innovator in broadcast distribution and a trusted partner in media production. Broadcast solutions from Rohde & Schwarz deliver the latest generation of energy-efficient, software-defined transmitters and enable network operators to leverage new broadcast technologies. Providing solutions for live and studio production, post-production, multiviewing and playout, Rohde & Schwarz helps media professionals produce and deliver great content.
