Barix and StreamGuys, Inc. Announce Availability of PC-Free Streaming for Radio Broadcasters
Collaboration yields first sales of flexible, inexpensive joint solution to two public broadcasters.
Zürich/Amsterdam, September 8, 2006 – Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom and control/monitoring, today announced the sale and delivery of its Instreamer and Exstreamer IP audio encoding and decoding devices to Vermont Public Radio and WMHT, a public broadcaster based in the Capital District of New York. The deliveries are the first through Barix’s alliance with StreamGuys, Inc., a Northern California-based content delivery network. The agreement, signed earlier this year, allows Streamguys, Inc. to offer its customers PC-free hardware solutions for broadcasting and receiving streaming media over the Internet, using Barix products at the core of the solution.
Jonathan Speaker, COO, is enthusiastic about the partnership between the two companies, with Barix acting as the stream converter and StreamGuys, Inc. as the stream distributor. He notes that broadcasters and program syndication services who use satellites to distribute program content may realize significant savings by switching to an Internet-based solution using Barix appliances and his company’s delivery infrastructure.
“There are tremendous opportunities for broadcasters to reduce costs and create new revenue streams,” said Speaker. “Broadcasters can create new revenue opportunities by developing and streaming content which is different than what is offered to the over-the-air broadcast audience.”
Vermont Public Radio (VPR), based in Colchester, is discovering a variety of potential applications through the Barix/StreamGuys, Inc. alliance. “VPR provides streaming coverage of Vermont state legislative sessions, and we plan to update the PC-based system with the Barix Instreamer to get the signal from the state house to our capital news bureau and on to StreamGuys, Inc. for broadcast over the Internet,” said Rich Parker, Director of Engineering. “Since Instreamer supports eight connections, one will go to StreamGuys, Inc. and the others can be used for reporters in the field or other in-house applications.” The system is scheduled to rollout by January 2007.
Parker cites several advantages to the Barix Instreamer solution when compared to conventional PC-based streaming. “Since Instreamer is a dedicated box, there are no hassles with operating system upgrades, crashes, or viruses. Once they are preconfigured, Instreamers can be installed by novices with no technical experience. The low heat load makes them suitable for cramped locations where a computer might overheat, and the price point makes them more affordable than PCs.”
Parker envisions other applications for the Barix technology, including statewide transmitter confidence monitoring from VPR headquarters; and multi-room broadcasting of its signal in large industrial buildings with poor reception.
Public broadcaster WMHT operates a television station and three radio services in New York's Capital District, including WMHT-FM, WBKK-FM and RISE, a radio reading service for the visually impaired. Chief Technology Officer Anthony Tassarotti uses the Barix Instreamer to send streams of the radio signals to StreamGuys, Inc. for broadcast over the Internet. He cites the simplicity of setup and high quality of customer service from StreamGuys, Inc. as reasons for their decision.
Tassarotti is particularly pleased with the success of the Barix appliance with RISE. “This signal has traditionally been broadcast over an FM subcarrier, which has many problems with noise, multipath and poor reception, in addition to the expense of subcarrier receivers for the visually impaired. The streamed RISE audio has much better sound quality than what is possible with the FM subcarrier system. Many of our visually-impaired subscribers are computer-savvy, so this turns out to be a more cost-effective way to distribute the signal.”
Tassarotti adds that the low cost of the Barix Instreamer, when compared to a PC solution, makes experimentation more feasible. “There may be more creative applications for streaming around the station, and we're free to try new ideas without investing a lot of time and money.” One such application was using Barix appliances to distribute the WBKK off-air signal to the studio location, where reception is poor.
“Barix is pleased to announce that these two important customer wins are a direct result of our relationship with StreamGuys, Inc.,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO of Barix. “Their knowledge and expertise will play a key role in the introduction of Barix technology to U.S. broadcasters. The Vermont Public Radio and WHMT applications are strong examples of the flexibility and professionalism afforded by Barix IP-based audio products, at a very reasonable price.”
StreamGuys, founded in 2000, offers affordable, high-quality streaming solutions to broadcasters. Acting as a “broadcast tower” on the Internet, StreamGuys, Inc. distributes live and on-demand video and audio content, podcasting, subscription systems and protected content. StreamGuys services are scalable as the need dictates, and can benefit both small and large broadcasters.
The Barix Instreamer is a stand-alone network audio encoder that converts source audio to MP3 format, which it streams over the Internet to a target location. The Barix Exstreamer, a real-time network audio decoder, sits at the receiving end and converts streaming audio sources to analog audio.
About Barix AG (www.barix.com)
Barix AG, headquartered in Zurich Switzerland, specializes in research
and development of state of the art IP based communication and control
technology. Barix products are stand-alone and able to remotely connect
worldwide over standard networks / Internet offering new and improved
solutions to the professional audio distribution, communication and
automation industry. Barix products provide solutions in audio over IP
(audio distribution and monitoring, communication, security) and
automation (remote controlling, monitoring and maintenance). They are
used in various applications such as in-store music and advertisements
for supermarkets, church broadcasting, distance learning, audio
distribution for hotels, offices and hospitals, intercom systems and
PAs, solutions for radio and studio broadcasting, M2M machine
communication, automation in lighting and doors, security solutions as
surveillance and access control. The Barix team provides customers with
state of the art technology offering standard and customized products,
private labeling, licensing and OEM development.
Press Contacts:
Barbara Haller-Rietschel, Barix AG, Seefeldstrasse 303, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland Phone: +41 43 43322 11, Fax: +41 44 2742849; e-mail : presse@barix.com
Europe: Beate Lorenzoni, Agentur Lorenzoni GmbH, Public Relations +49(0)8122/55917-0, e-mail: beate@lorenzoni.de
USA: Barix Technology Inc, St. Paul, MN – (866) 815-0866, http://www.barix.com
USA: Robin Hoffman, Pipeline Communications, (973) 746-6970, e-mail: robinh@pipecomm.com