Pioneering HDTV Station Uses Industry-Leading DiviCom(R) Encoders
for High Quality MPEG-2 Video Delivery
LAS VEGAS--(Business Wire)--
Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIT) today announced that WRAL TV in
Raleigh, North Carolina, the first commercially licensed high
definition (HD) TV broadcast station in the United States, deployed
Harmonic's market-leading digital video solutions for a unique
broadcast application. Using Harmonic's DiviCom(R) MPEG-2 HD encoders,
WRAL was able to provide real-time broadcast delivery of four
simultaneous basketball games in 1080i HD format to the regional cable
operator during the recent NCAA National Collegiate Basketball
Tournament. The simultaneous HD broadcast--the first of its kind--was
made possible by leveraging the ultra-high compression efficiency of
the MV 500 MPEG-2 encoder.
The best-in-class technology of the MV 500 allowed WRAL to provide
the delivery of the four simultaneous NCAA basketball games without
sacrificing any of the video quality of WRAL's over-the-air HD and
standard definition (SD) TV broadcasts. Harmonic's latest generation
IP-based MPEG-2 solutions, including the Electra(R) 5000 multi-channel
MPEG-2 SD encoders and the ProStream(TM) stream processing platform
with DiviTrackIP(TM) distributed statistical multiplexing
capabilities, are also being deployed by WRAL for its broadcast ATSC
service.
"Harmonic's superior compression efficiencies and flexible
architecture allow WRAL to advance broadcast services without
compromising our ability to deliver the highest quality HD experience
to our viewers," said Pete Sockett, Director of Engineering and
Operations for WRAL. "Harmonic's DiviCom encoders and DiviTrack
statistical multiplexing solutions have consistently kept us ahead of
the competition since our first deployment in 1999, and now we are
excited to be the first TV station to deploy the new Electra 5000
platform in an ATSC broadcast environment."
"Harmonic is proud to work with innovators like WRAL and its
parent company, Capitol Broadcasting Company, to deliver new and
improved broadcast services," said Michael Guthrie, Director of Sales
for the North America Digital Media Group at Harmonic Inc. "Over the
years, Harmonic has set the benchmark in MPEG compression and
delivered the highest quality solutions for a wide range of customers
around the world. Our market leadership in MPEG-2 HD continues to be
strengthened with a focus on ongoing performance improvements, which
we recognize as important for the numerous customers still using
MPEG-2 compression."
Harmonic's market-leading family of DiviCom encoders includes both
MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) systems for standard or high definition.
For MPEG-2 applications, the MV 500 HD encoder and Electra 5000 SD
encoder offer unmatched performance and leverage Harmonic's
longstanding record of compression leadership. DiviTrackIP distributed
statistical multiplexing further enhances bandwidth efficiency by
adjusting bit-rates of channels in the pool according to the
complexity of the video. The entire video infrastructure is managed by
Harmonic's NMX Digital Service Manager(TM), a powerful set of tools
for monitoring and managing compressed digital video and audio
services.
About WRAL TV
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications
company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL Digital, WRAL-FM,
WRAL-HD2, WCMC-FM, Microspace, the North Carolina News Network, CBC
New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV
and WMYT-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and
The Durham Bulls in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including
the American Tobacco Project and Diamond View office building in
Durham, NC.
About Harmonic Inc.
Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of versatile and high
performance video solutions that enable service providers to
efficiently deliver the next generation of broadcast and on-demand
services including high definition, video-on-demand, network personal
video recording and time-shifted TV. Cable, satellite, broadcast and
telecom service providers can increase revenues and lower operational
expenditures by using Harmonic's digital video, broadband optical
access and software solutions to offer consumers the compelling and
personalized viewing experience that is driving the business models of
the future.
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California
with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The
Company's customers, including many of the world's largest
communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country.
Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements
related to: strengthening market leadership and ongoing performance
improvements.
Our expectations and beliefs regarding the capabilities of
Harmonic's MPEG-2 HD encoders and the anticipated benefits to WRAL TV
may not materialize, and actual results could differ materially from
those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this
press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties,
including those more fully described in Harmonic's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission including its recent Reports filed
on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Harmonic does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements.
EDITOR'S NOTE - Product and company names used herein are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Harmonic
Sarah Lum, +1-408-543-2392 (Media Relations)
sarah.lum@harmonicinc.com
or
StreetConnect
Michael Newman, +1-408-542-2760 (Investor Relations)
hlit@stct.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
