Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:00:35 -0400
NAB Show has announced the winners of its prestigious 2024 Product of the Year Awards during a ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The awards recognize and celebrate the most significant and promising new products being exhibited at the Show.
Winners were selected by a panel of industry experts in 19 categories. To be eligible, nominated products must be from companies exhibiting at the 2024 NAB Show and available for delivery within the 2024 calendar year.
“These winners represent the most cutting-edge advancements and technologies shaping the future of content creation, distribution and monetization,” said Eric Trabb, senior vice president and chief customer success o]cer at NAB. “They are driving the industry forward, and we are excited to recognize them as they break through with a remarkable range of solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry. We’re excited to see how these advancements will empower storytellers and connect audiences in entirely new ways.”
CLICK HERE for the full list of this year’s winners.
Thu, 04 Apr 2024 10:28:44 -0400
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced the Commission will vote during its April Open Meeting to restore Net Neutrality, which would bring back a national standard for broadband reliability, security, and consumer protection. If adopted, the Chairwoman’s proposal would ensure that broadband services are treated as an essential resource deserving of FCC oversight under Title II authority.
“The pandemic proved once and for all that broadband is essential,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “After the prior administration abdicated authority over broadband services, the FCC has been handcuffed from acting to fully secure broadband networks, protect consumer data, and ensure the internet remains fast, open, and fair. A return to the FCC’s overwhelmingly popular and court-approved standard of net neutrality will allow the agency to serve once again as a strong consumer advocate of an open internet.”
If adopted, the proposal would:
• RETURN POPULAR NET NEUTRALITY PROTECTIONS – The FCC would
once again play a key role in preventing at the federal level broadband providers from blocking, slowing down, or creating pay-to-play internet fast lanes.
• PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF BROADBAND OUTAGES – When households and businesses lose internet service, consumers often expect that the FCC might either be
able to help the restoration or at least have information about the outage. By restoring the FCC’s Title II authority over internet service providers, the FCC will bolster its ability to require these companies to address internet outages. Without such authority, the FCC cannot require companies to report broadband outages, cannot collect outage data, and lacks the authority to even consider ways that it can help protect against and recover from internet service outages.
• BOOST SECURITY OF BROADBAND NETWORKS – In this digital age, there are new and emerging digital threats. Without broadband oversight, the FCC is unable to fully monitor and respond to such national security concerns. For example, without reclassification, the FCC is limited in its authority to direct foreign-owned companies deemed to be national security threats to discontinue any domestic or international broadband services under Sec. 214 – as the agency has done with telephone services. In addition, without reclassification, the FCC has limited authority to incorporate updated cybersecurity standards into network policies.
• INCREASE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS – Net Neutrality protections would increase the tools the FCC has available to protect consumer data and respond to evolving consumer threats. Updated rules could mean broadband providers could not sell your location data, among other sensitive information. This would empower the agency to protect consumers from other harmful practices.
• RESTORE A WIDELY ACCEPTED NATIONAL STANDARD – When the previous FCC stepped back from Net Neutrality protections, the court said states could step in. Despite these efforts by individual states to provide robust oversight in response to the prior administration’s retreat from authority, we need a national standard to keep internet access fast, open, and fair. A national standard is also broadly popular: eighty percent of Americans support open internet policies.
The Chairwoman will circulate her proposal to her fellow Commissioners for their review. As is the general practice, a public draft of the proposal – officially a Declaratory Ruling, Order, Report and Order, and Order on Reconsideration – will be made public on Thursday on FCC.gov. At the Commission’s April 25 Open Meeting, the Commissioners will consider and vote on the proposal. The meeting will be open to the public and streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live. If adopted, the reclassification and rules would largely go into effect 60 days after Federal Register publication.
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:19:00 -0400
Marshall Electronics will introduce its VMV-402-3GSH Switcher at NAB 2024 (Booth C5912). The Marshall VMV-402-3GSH is a four-input, auto-scaling, seamless switch.
The Marshall VMV-402-3GSH can be used in remote news vehicles, edit rooms, AV boardrooms, lecture halls and even as an input expander for existing production switches. Simple command structure allows easy integration with Crestron and other control surfaces and automation systems via Ethernet or RS232. The switcher accepts four 3GSDI sources. Inputs 1 and 2 also accept HDMI.
Switching fast and glitch-free, it accepts all common input formats/frame rates and converts to a single output format. Program out is available simultaneously as SDI and HDMI. A second HDMI output provides a full-time quad view. It is easily set up using convenient on-screen menus or a web GUI, without the need for special apps or cables. The unit is 1RU high and full rack width.
“The new VMV-402-3GSH will be making its NAB preview at this year’s show,” says Robert Ramos, West Coast Regional Sales Manager, Marshall Electronics. “Expanding on our line of switchers is a natural progression at Marshall, as it complements our range of cameras, creating a more comprehensive solution in the field.”
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:18:00 -0400
Nikon has announced entry into an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding membership interests of RED.com, LLC. According to Nikon, RED will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nikon, pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with Mr. James Jannard, its founder, and Mr. Jarred Land, its current President, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions thereunder.
Since its establishment in 2005, RED has been at the forefront of digital cinema cameras, introducing industry-defining products such as the original RED ONE 4K to the cutting-edge V-RAPTOR [X] with its proprietary RAW compression technology. RED's contributions to the film industry have not only earned it an Academy Award but have also made it the camera of choice for numerous Hollywood productions, celebrated by directors and cinematographers worldwide for its commitment to innovation and image quality optimized for the highest levels of filmmaking and video production.
Nikon said this agreement was reached as a result of the mutual desires of Nikon and RED to meet the customers’ needs and offer exceptional user experiences that exceed expectations, merging the strengths of both companies. Nikon's expertise in product development, exceptional reliability, and know-how in image processing, as well as optical technology and user interface along with RED’s knowledge in cinema cameras, including unique image compression technology and color science, will enable the development of distinctive products in the professional digital cinema camera market promising an exciting future of product development that will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in film and video production.
Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:13:00 -0500
SMPTE has joined forces with the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) User Group (UG), a worldwide forum for end-users and implementors of the IMF family of SMPTE Standards.
The IMF User Group was launched in 2016 under the auspices of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA). HPA Executive Director Phil Kubel notes, “HPA is proud to have been the home of the IMF UG and its important work for the past 9 years. As they take this next natural step, we look forward to seeing the exciting work ahead for the group and our colleagues at SMPTE.”
“We are honored to become the home for the IMF User Group and thankful to our colleagues at HPA for all they’ve done to administer the user group to this point,” says SMPTE Executive Director David Grindle. “Community organizations, like IMF UG, are vital to keeping our standards updated with the feedback from those using the systems.”
IMF is a family of SMPTE Standards (SMPTE ST 2067) that simplifies the storage of all the audio-visual content needed to create different versions for distribution to multiple territories and platforms in one package. The IMF package itself can be used for B2B content exchange between content owners, post facilities, and distribution platforms. IMF is a component of content fulfillment and has enabled the building of simplified delivery and processing systems for versioning. IMF played a role in the transition from tape-based to file-based workflows in television and streaming. It is now the preferred UHD media delivery format for multiple content providers.
The IMF UG brings together content owners, service providers, retailers, and equipment/software vendors to promote the use of IMF. The group hosts member meetings, organizes public events including workshops and plugfests, and publishes best practices. Members have the opportunity to contribute to the long-term roadmap of IMF.
“IMF is a true example of how a standard was developed in one organization, deployed into the industry and then gathered a community of users via the HPA and now SMPTE,” says SMPTE President Renard T. Jenkins. “As a longtime member of the UG and SMPTE, I am excited that the user group and the standards community are coming together to continue its growth and further its development.”