The Splash Standardizes on Barix Exstreamer IP Devices for In-Store Radio Station Delivery Platform
Barix devices receive and decode live, custom radio stations delivered over IP to retail store locations
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, April 14, 2008 – Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom and monitoring, announces that The Splash of Yukon, Oklahoma, has standardized on Barix IP audio decoders to deliver its custom in-store audio programming to retailers, restaurants and other consumer-oriented businesses. The complete solution provides a live, point-to-multipoint radio broadcast service over reliable IP connections, minimizing implementation costs and system complexity for both service provider and end user.
The Splash, whose local customers include grocery chain Williams Grocery and restaurant chain Citybites, provides Splash Radio, a live radio station service to its clients, complete with DJ, music and advertising. Splash Radio produces the program feeds at its Yukon studios and delivers them directly to retail outlets, where Barix Exstreamer 100 IP devices receive and decode the audio for immediate playback over the in-store PA system.
According to Brian Alexander, owner of Splash Radio, implementation is as simple as configuring software at the studio side and configuring the studio URL into the Barix devices before sending them to the stores for installation. The Barix Exstreamer 100 plugs into the IP network/router to receive the stream and directly into the stereo amplifier at the store to feed the speakers. The feed to the stores is continuous from open to close, featuring a blend of music and advertising customized for the client, with the ability to send music requests for inclusion into the stream to the company’s studios.
“The simplicity of the installation and reliability of the Barix devices very much minimize time spent on technical support for our clients so we can focus more on creating quality programs for their stores,” said Alexander. “Besides occasionally adjusting treble and bass configurations to suit the store environment, the Barix units maintain a robust stream with great audio quality, requiring no intervention. The Exstreamers communicate with our web server for any adjustments to settings, which makes it a snap to switch a location or group of locations over to an alternative stream for grand openings or live remotes, and they otherwise reliably pick up our broadcasts without problems.”
Jeff Williams, president and owner of Williams Grocery, is using the Splash Radio service at all 14 of his stores. Williams prefers the Splash Radio service to previous audio programs he used, citing a feeling of true ownership of the program due to its customized nature. Outside of the occasional local DSL outage, the program has run consistently and without technical difficulties, with the Exstreamer 100 immediately replacing the lost feed with contingency programming, stored locally and then picking up where the program left off once the DSL connection returns. Williams also likes the whole-store approach of using audio to reach his customers.
“We like the ownership quality of Splash Radio through the ability to play our own music and advertising, and the technology in the mix makes everything sounds great,” said Williams. “The nice thing about having a good in-store audio program is that the experience of audio reaches everything in the store, which you can’t always do with video.”
Alexander added that the Barix devices provide a couple levels of redundancy, including a USB stick in the device at the store that features a mix of music and advertising that is similar to the live program. The USB stick immediately kicks in as a backup source in the event the Internet connection goes down, ensuring a continual feed of quality content within the store.
Alexander also stated he was looking forward to Barix’s release of software to support aacPlus v2 compression, which will introduce new cost-efficiencies into his platform through more efficient use of IP bandwidth. “We’re very excited about the aacPlus option because it will vastly reduce our bandwidth costs while also providing excellent sound quality.”