CABSAT SHOWCASE

IPTVPortal debuts cloud platform at CABSAT

Grass Valley returns in full force to CABSAT

Grass Valley will be at CABSAT this year to demonstrate how its solutions enable seamless, IP-first workflows for live and remote production, including its highest performing live broadcast camera, the LDX 150.

The LDX 150 is the latest addition to its portfolio and is a highspeed, native IP camera that captures UHD HDR images at 3x high speed. Its new Xenios imagers and global shutter provide a wide dynamic range in HDR mode, an improved signal-to-noise ratio and greater depth of field.

Besides the LDX 150, Grass Valley will also showcase its LDX86 camera. A key focus of the stand will be the GV Media Universe, the company’s vision for the softwarebased media future. This comprehensive ecosystem of cloud-based tools and services, interconnected with existing solutions, partner offerings and a community of marketplaces, will revolutionise the way people think about making media, according to a statement from the company.

Tim Banks, Grass Valley VP of Sales, EMEA, who will be at the show, has emphasised that “the Middle East is an increasingly important market for Grass Valley, which has built up strong long-term relationships in the region over 20 years”.

“We will emphasise our unique position to support our customers with complete solutions that help them meet the challenges, and leverage the opportunities, of today's fast-changing media landscape. We see tremendous opportunity for growth as the industry embarks on the next phase of technology transitions – whether migrating to new formats, adopting agile, futureproof infrastructures or embracing remote/ distributed production,” he stated.

Stand D2-10

Bebob all charged up for CABSAT 2021 with new B-Mount product range

German battery manufacturer Bebob Factory GmbH will showcase its newly available B-Mount product range for the first time at CABSAT. This includes its B-Mount batteries, hot-swap adapters and chargers, along with customised V-Mount and Gold Mount adapter plates.

The B-Mount is a new battery mount system aimed at fulfilling the power demands of today’s equipment while providing maximum flexibility at the same time. It has been developed in close consultation with ARRI – the camera manufacturer will be using the B-Mount for all its future cameras. Crosscompatible with on-set camera and lighting equipment from manufacturers worldwide, the B-Mount makes it possible to supply all devices on set using one single battery system.

This newly developed interface has several decisive advantages compared to its predecessors, including being future-proof; providing a dedicated mobile power supply for high-performance 24V devices; having a sturdy connection; featuring the seamless interlocking of individual components; including a universal 24 Volt industry standard for cameras and lights; and providing users with accurate information on run time and charge time, even with stackable batteries, thereby increasing efficiency on set.

Stand G2-13

A new level of performance with Volucam 245D60 from IO Industries

IO Industries will showcase its new Volucam 245D60 model, which promises a new level of performance, significantly increasing content realism in VFX and animation.

A fast, high-resolution image sensor with low noise and superb dynamic range was chosen for it: Sony’s Pregius S IMX530 24.5MP global shutter, featuring backside illumination and a close-to-square image format (5312H x 4608V). The result is greater shape and texture details for framing faces and full-body poses for 4D face/body scanning.

The 245D60’s recording engine was upgraded with a lossless compression algorithm, boosting recording rates to 60fps, 12-bit fullres from the IMX530 sensor, and significantly increasing record time to approximately 24 minutes using the camera’s internal SSD. This allows multi-viewpoint, directionally illuminated image sequences to be generated quickly, with minimal hold time required of the subject being scanned.

The 245D60’s 10GB Ethernet port provides high-bandwidth copper or fibre optic connectivity to fast network switches, for highspeed file transfer to the postprocessing system. Cameras are precisely synchronised to within a few microseconds using PTP (Precision Time Protocol).

Stand 104

Pebble Control to make IP connectivity "as simple as SDI"

Pebble, which has a large customer base and significant market share in MENA, will be at the show once again to reconnect with customers and showcase its new product range. The company’s solutions control more than 400 channels across 17 countries at around 70 sites in the Middle East.

Pebble’s main showcase at CABSAT will be Pebble Control, which it claims makes IP connectivity as simple as SDI. It is a new self-contained, scalable, IP-native, connection management solution that is easy to configure, deploy and operate using web-based UIs. Delivering immediate benefits to even the smallest IP facility, it leverages open standards and interfaces with NMOS-enabled devices, and is easily reconfigurable: one can change, add or remove devices. It also dictates the type of workflows that sit on top of that control system, and Nevion’s VideoIPath integration enables customers to easily control software-defined networks.

The company will also demonstrate its Pebble Automation enterprise-level automation for powerful multi-channel delivery. This platform delivers robust functionality at a scale that suits one’s operations, and can flex and adapt as needs change. A powerful centralised ingest, content management and multi-channel solution, it controls mission-critical operations at scores of broadcasters and service providers around the world, and is scalable from one to hundreds of channels.

“The events of the last 18 months have obviously meant that we could only engage with our customers digitally. While that has worked well for us, nothing beats meeting new and existing customers face to face, and attending CABSAT this October provides a brilliant opportunity to reconnect with customers and industry peers alike. We will also show how we have implemented one of the first pure IP-native SMPTE ST 2110 NMOScompliant solutions in the region. As more broadcasters navigate the routes to an all-IP infrastructure, we can demonstrate the efficiency of our system deployment and outline our proven expertise to support successful IP migrations. "We have a highly valued customer base and significant market share in MENA, which is important for us as a business. We are committed to delivering excellent solutions to this market as this region forms part of our global expansion plans over the next year. We will share more on this at CABSAT,” commented Samir Isbaih, VP Sales – Middle East & South Asia.

Stand G2-23

TSL Products to debut new products at CABSAT 2021

MENA visitors will witness a number of regional debuts at the TSL Products stand this year, within the areas of audio monitoring and control solutions.

Making its Middle East debut is TSL’s TallyMan Redundancy Package, which adds protection from unforeseen events with auto-failover during operation and manual failover for system maintenance. The system update aligns with standard redundancy best practices, providing primary and backup TallyMan controllers, and offers synchronisation across configurations with live updates through the primary and back-up system controllers.

The latest software also introduces users to virtual reentries, which allow broadcasters to change source definitions on the fly, share resources, delegate management and re-assign joystick control. This feature is particularly beneficial for sports and OB productions, as it streamlines the operation of switching signal routes during fast-paced, high-stress productions.

On the audio monitoring side, TSL has added to the SAM-Q platform in response to the demand for cost-effective, networked audio monitoring. Also available to the MENA market for the first time is TSL’s new SAM-Q-EDIT, an offline editing tool that allows systems designers and engineers to build configurations, apply modes, map sources and loudness probes, enter source names and control front panel interface settings on the move.

In addition to the latest SAM-Q models, the most recent updates to TSL’s MPA1 audio monitoring solutions will also be on display for the first time in MENA at CABSAT 2021.

Stand G2-21

Diversified focuses on ‘as a service’ offerings

With the push for digitisation across all sectors and the rise of OTT within the media and entertainment segment, US company Diversified says it is perfectly placed to be part of CABSAT this year, with the aim of networking with existing clients and opening up conversations with new customers on how to support their current and future challenges. The company will be at CABSAT along with its UAE team, which operates under One Diversified FZ LLC.

In a statement to BroadcastPro ME, Diversified pointed out that CABSAT serves as the perfect platform for “customer engineers to engage with manufacturers and to get hands-on with their technologies and have discussions with systems integrators, with the aim of resolving complex challenges that they may be facing”.

At the show, Diversified will debut a global ecosystem of technology-managed services tailored to meet the evolving needs of organisations worldwide. With a diverse team of subject matter experts, Diversified’s professional services methodology is backed by follow-the-sun operations support for remote service and dispatch via the company’s 24/7 Global Service Center and five regional network operation centres around the world.

“Investing in and expanding our managed, connected services and ‘as a service’ offerings has been a key initiative for Diversified,” commented Chief Operating Officer Johan Claassen. “Our Global Services team is the cornerstone of this focus, staying one step ahead with an innovative approach and next-gen solutions for servicing tomorrow’s technology.” The company will demonstrate a new suite of solutions that offer four strategic offerings: Adopt, a dedicated technology specialist; the assurance of equipment warranty, service and support; pulse, which includes remote management and diagnostics; and refresh, which reflects the use of technology as a service.

“This new ecosystem provides organisations with strategic tools customised to meet their unique business drivers, enabling our clients to focus on fulfilling their core business objectives – not the technology behind it,” added Claassen.

Suhail Ahmed, who leads Dubai operations as CEO of OneDiversified FZ LLC, added: “We look forward to welcoming all our customers and guests to CABSAT 2021 and hope to discuss solutions to the various challenges that business will have to gear up for in the digital realm.”

Stand 110

Sparkup to introduce platform for virtual events at CABSAT

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced business leaders and event organisers around the world to rethink their events, Sparkup, a French startup with offices in Tokyo, Mexico and Madrid, looked at how to maintain an authentic sense of cohesion, interactivity and spontaneity with remote participants, and make virtual events memorable.

The company specialises in audience interaction for events and meetings and will introduce Sparkup Now, a platform that enables the display of a real-time video mosaic of all the participants, with the ability to enable audiences to engage with each other through interaction tools. With no attendance capacity restriction, the mosaic can be displayed on any screen size.

In a single desktop browser, attendees can watch the event, engage with audience interaction tools and share their emotions. Sparkup Now includes ultra-low latency streaming so the attendee experience is reportedly smooth and dynamic. Ultra-low latency guarantees a delay of only two to four seconds between the video stream and live interactions (votes, quizzes, etc). Speakers can also decide at any time to enlarge the face of a participant for a two-way exchange.

“At Sparkup, our main objective has always been to connect speakers with their audiences and to create meaningful interactions, whether online or in-person,” commented Vincent Bruneau, founder and CEO of Sparkup.

To make the event more interactive, Sparkup Now includes quiz and game creation tools. Buzzer, live quizzes, interactive challenges and speed races are available.

Sparkup has a team of 25 people and has already offered these experiences to the likes of Nissan, L’Oréal, Coca-Cola and Heineken, among others.

Stand F2-35

GB Labs comes with dealer PROLANE to CABSAT

GB Labs will debut Unify Hub, its new storage management platform at CABSAT 2021 and will also showcase its SPACE, FastNAS and Cloak DR solutions. GB Labs is attending this year’s show with its new partner PROLANE, who specialises in offering technology services, AV, and broadcast systems, alongside comprehensive technical support, to customers in the MENA market.

GB Labs Unify Hub is a storage management platform designed for today’s dynamically shifting media market. It manages storage – on site or in the cloud from GB Labs or from other vendors. Providing a flexible and simple way to implement remote and cloud-based workspaces, Unify Hub eliminates the need to provide direct access to cloud resources. Instead, it connects to the cloud, making the data visible to staff on-premise who need access on the local network, like a traditional network share. Unify Hub presents users with an easy-touse way to access data without dealing with the complication of data retrieval – the system takes care of the complicated processes behind-the-scenes.

Unify Hub applies intelligence to combine on-premise and cloud storage, empowering remote production while maintaining data integrity and security to manage storage effectively and efficiently – on site or in the cloud. The system integrates seamlessly with GB Labs’s own storage solutions as well as those from third-party vendors, providing the tools for maximum productivity from production and post-production artists and creating an environment for high-efficiency collaborative and remote working.

GB Labs also has a comprehensive range of storage and archiving products for ingest, archive and everything in between. The range is designed to be easily scalable in both capacity and performance, with minimal downtime.

“CABSAT is arguably the best way to meet up in person with contacts in the MENA region. We’re looking forward to meeting up with prospective and existing customers in the region, along with our channel partners – educating them about what we’ve been doing and discovering what they’ve been up to since we last saw them. We’re keen to show people the new innovations we have been working on to help overcome the challenges inherent to the current trend of mixed home, office and remote working,” commented Harland.

Stand G2-27

Argosy launches Hyperflex for Middle East market

Argosy Middle East LLC will showcase its new Hyperflex at CABSAT for the first time. A new design of SMPTE camera cables and associated products for HD and ultra HD, it is built to withstand heavy treatment such as being pulled over long distances on outside broadcasts or the constant flexing, bending and crushing on studio floors.

As well as the cables – available in any length to suit the application – Argosy has also launched a number of Hyperflex accessories, including compact splice trays for production trucks and wall boxes. It will also showcase its kvm-tec IP-connected KVM solutions and Canare patch panels, along with fibre transport solutions and network switches.

Also in the spotlight will be Canare patch panels, including 12G solutions, which support Argosy customers in their transition to IP production over SMPTE 2110 and to higher resolutions of 4K and beyond. Video and audio patchbays feature Canare’s rotary switches, providing superior isolation.

“The Middle East market appears to be returning to strength, with a number of tenders in progress and a couple of significant projects underway, for which we have already received sizeable orders. The ability to consistently stock high volumes of our expanding product portfolio locally is a point of pride for Argosy, as it means customers can rely on us to deliver for that big last-minute job with very reduced lead times, saving them a lot of stress in the process,” commented Regional Sales Manager Raziullah Baig.

“This is good news for the local market here in the UAE that is growing rapidly, with countries like Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon registering growth in the sports sector. The construction of more stadia and arenas increases the need to produce local video content. Argosy is perfectly positioned to deliver orders quickly to the region and to provide immediate assistance for such projects, through our regional office in Dubai. For the wider MENA region, the Egyptian market is buoyant, with large projects pushing ahead throughout the remainder of the year and across 2022.”

Stand G2-20

Tata Elxsi to exhibit for the first time at CABSAT

New exhibitor Tata Elxsi Limited will showcase TEPlay, a pre-integrated, scalable, secure end-toend OTT video delivery platform, at CABSAT. Built on next-gen, microservices-based architecture, it offers consistent performance and dynamic scaling with a unified backend system and processes for OpEx optimisation and easy maintenance.

TEPlay is an all-in-one platform which consists of pre-integrated OTT backend components (CMS, SMS, OTT middleware, engagement & usage analytics, content discovery, ad tech solutions) combined with UI/UX design & application development. TEPlay services, ranging from technical ops to support and maintenance, can be offered as a complete managed services model to potential customers.

The platform enables operators to target personalised content to subscribers, making content discovery an intuitive experience. The AI/ML engine powers the UI/UX personalising content for users. Through the in-built analytics engine, the operator can prioritise and take informed business decisions such as investing in the right content, bundling services, spot discounts and offers.

“The MENA market has been witnessing rapid growth in OTT subscriptions, with both regional as well as global players seeing a sharp rise in their user base. We see a lot of content aggregation happening and shift in monetisation opportunities. Sports is also gaining popularity, and there is overall growth in content consumption on OTT devices. MENA will be a key market for us. By coming to CABSAT, we hope to acquire new clients, network with existing ones, and explore partnerships and go-to-market opportunities,” commented CEO Nitin Pai, CMO, Tata Elxsi.

Stand 140