Livewire Digital, the broadcast technology specialist, has harnessed the power of the H.264 AVC codec and integrated this leading digital video standard into their new range of cutting edge products. Livewire Digital’s M-Link range of products, M-Link Voyager H.264 and M-Link IP-Reporter H.264, provide broadcast quality video for comprehensive news gathering via satellite, mobile and IP networks.

Tristan Wood, Managing Director, Livewire Digital, commented: "M-Link H.264 AVC based products offer a major increase in video quality, higher compression rates and faster delivery. As broadcasters adopt High Definition, M-Link H.264 solutions can also meet this demand both in the field with HD video and in the News Room with HD SDI playout."

M-Link Voyager H.264 complements the high quality ‘store and forward’ with a low latency live facility aimed at use over the new Inmarsat BGAN terminals. Using the Inmarsat BGAN 256Kbps streaming class service, M-Link Voyager H.264 offers PAL and NTSC video at the native frame rates (25/29.97fps). Live playout is via SDI from the M-Link Exchange receiver.

The M-Link H.264 products can be used with a range of Inmarsat satellite terminals (BGAN, GAN, Fleet), as well as over the Internet. M-Link Voyager H.264 and M-Link IP-Reporter H.264 can also operate over a wide variety of networks including VSAT, ISDN, DSL, Wi-Fi, GPRS, 3G as well as other IP based services. This gives reporters in the field huge flexibility and allows them to choose the most appropriate delivery method available.

Livewire Digital’s software based solutions, M-Link Voyager H.264 and M-Link IP-Reporter H.264, can be used on any notebook PC with Firewire support. The integral, easy-to-use acquisition tools allow users to import video from a wide range of video equipment and video editing applications.

M-Link IP-Reporter H.264. is a cost-effective software solution for mass deployment across an organisation, as it enables staff to send video from the field or bureau to the newsroom quickly and efficiently.

M-Link Voyager H.264 is the professional solution aimed at frontline remote newsgathering. It offers greater flexibility and enhanced functionality, including live video over IP or ISDN, optimised file transfer over IP based satellite networks, optional optimised transfer over ISDN and optional HD support.

Both products support advanced features, such as automatic appending of files, which speeds delivery and avoids unnecessary re-transmission when using intermittent or unreliable communications links. Support and diagnostic tools are an integral feature of the M-Link H.264 products.

Wood concludes: "We have designed our solutions to make it easy for journalists in the field to film and file news stories whatever the conditions. H.264 AVC brings with it even greater benefits for broadcasters in terms of both data compression and providing more flexibility for applications to a wide variety of network environments. Both M-Link Voyager H.264 and IP-Reporter H.264 support professional non-linear editing packages such as Avid News Cutter, making it easy for reporters to concentrate on getting the news story and it provides a hassle free way for them to send the story back to the news room."

Ref: LD153

PRESS CONTACT:

Drennan Du Plooy, Livewire Public Relations, 32 Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6HX, UK.

T: +44 (0)20 8339 7440 F: +44 (0)20 8339 7441 E: Drennan.duPlooy@livewirepr.com

About Livewire Digital

Livewire Digital is the leading provider of integrated data, voice and video services, delivering premium content and value-added services for broadcasters, shipping companies, oil and exploration enterprises, production facilities and government services.

Livewire Digital solutions currently deliver the majority of media footage over the Inmarsat services.