SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Sept. 23, 2008 — Omneon, Inc., a leading provider of media servers and active storage systems for the global media market, today announced that the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) has installed the company’s Spectrum™ media servers to provide the foundation for an efficient file-based workflow. The Spectrum systems will be used for both ingest and playout of content on KBS’ terrestrial television channel KBS1. KBS is South Korea’s government broadcaster and largest television network, reaching an estimated 92 percent of the country.
“In order to achieve the maximum benefit of a file-based workflow, we performed extensive research and searched the marketplace for tested solutions,” said Mr. Moon Seok Song, chief manager of the KBS transmission team. “We selected the Spectrum system because of its overall reliability and specific features, such as the ability to simultaneously play out SD and HD on a single timeline, simultaneously encode and transfer clips, and seamlessly interface and share data with the media asset management system. Equally important was its modular design, which makes expansion with additional I/O channels cost-effective and easy.”
Located in Seoul, KBS maintains its own engineering research center for test and review of technology. Only products proven in the marketplace and put to the test in the research center are adopted at KBS. The implementation of the Spectrum system represents recognition by the principal South Korean broadcaster of the equipment’s quality, performance, and reliability.
At KBS the Spectrum system ingests six SD and six HD channels under the direction of a KONAN Ingest Manager. Clips are then moved by CIS automation to a Spectrum server with two channels each of SD and HD playout, affording real-time preview as well as transmission.
“The high standard that KBS sets for the broadcast industry in the region is demonstrated by the rigorous planning, testing, and evaluation that it performs on every new technology project,” said Geoff Stedman, Omneon senior vice president for products and markets. “We welcome this kind of intense evaluation, as it once again validates the leading position in the market that our servers hold. With the Spectrum system at the heart of a new tapeless workflow, KBS is enjoying a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable operation.”
# # #
About KBS
The Korean Broadcasting System is Korea’s leading public service broadcaster and the most influential media organization in the country. KBS regards it as a core duty to reflect the diverse voices of Korea through the distinctiveness of its programs. KBS is run by both license fees and income from advertising to operate its three television, seven radio, and four DMB channels. KBS headquarters are located at Yoido in Seoul. There are 18 regional stations and 11 overseas bureaus as well as eight subsidiary companies such as KBS Media, which manages the local and global marketing of KBS content.
About Omneon
Omneon, Inc., is a leading provider of scalable media server and active storage systems that optimize workflow productivity and on-air reliability for the production, distribution, and management of digital media. Omneon is a pioneer in the use of advanced IT technologies and open systems for broadcast applications, producing a modular and expandable video server architecture in the Omneon Spectrum. The company’s MediaGrid active storage system delivers centralized content storage that is scalable in capacity, bandwidth, and media-processing power. The company has an extensive global presence with customers in more than 50 countries on six continents. Omneon is on the Web at www.omneon.com.
