Pathfire and Warner Bros.
Create First Ever File-Based High Definition
(HD), Long-Form, Syndication Delivery Service
LOS ANGELES, CA and ATLANTA, GA
- April 13, 2007 - Warner Bros. Technical Operations
and Pathfire have teamed up to create a full-service,
end-to-end HD Programming distribution network,
capable of delivering content to over 1,400
broadcast facilities. This partnership enables
Warner Bros. to deliver High Definition (HD)
Syndication via Pathfire's Digital Media Gateway
(DMG) network of servers, and represents a giant
leap forward for the television industry.
The service was launched on April
11, 2007 when Warner Bros. delivered long-form
programming encoded at its Los Angeles-based
Global Digital Media XChange facility (GDMX)
to WSB-TV in Atlanta. The station, an ABC affiliate,
is owned by Cox Television, a subsidiary of
Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises. The delivery
utilized the existing Pathfire infrastructure
to enable the satellite delivery of the programming.
The content arrived on the Pathfire DMG Server
located at WSB, and was transferred to a Grass
Valley Group K2 Media Server via Pathfire's
DMG HD Server Connect for Programming. This
strictly file-based process enables stations
to benefit from a streamlined workflow by cutting
the time and hands required to get a program
ready for air.
"An HD store-and-forward
delivery platform capable of delivering long-form
programming is a first for our industry. This
is a tremendous accomplishment for Pathfire
and our partners," said Mike Eckert, Pathfire's
Chairman and CEO. "We continue to hear
a growing demand for HD programming and ads
from the stations we serve. Today's announcement
demonstrates that we are listening and delivering
a solution that is ready for the ever-increasing
appetite for HD content."
"Global Digital Media XChange
is proud to highlight our ability to distribute
long-form syndicated programming along with
ads via the Pathfire DMG platform," said
Paul Saccone, Senior Vice President and General
Manager of GDMX. "Our customers are looking
for a way to efficiently and affordably deliver
HD programming and our GDMX facility can provide
the required service. We're pleased to be working
with Pathfire in this area. This test served
as a proof of concept and we will continue to
work with Pathfire in order to maximize our
HD/SD work flow processes."
Utilizing the Pathfire DMG HD
delivery network, GDMX delivers file-based HD
content on-demand, virtually without delay.
Pathfire provides end-to-end technology to enable
this delivery all the way to the station's play-to-air
server, providing delivery confirmation to the
providers. Pathfire enables native integration
into play-to-air servers, as well as providing
transcoding to either 1080i or 720p to match
a station's infrastructure.
Pathfire's DMG HD product line
has been shaped, developed, and released with
guidance from the industry's top technology
leaders. The Pathfire-led, HD Conclave - comprised
of senior level experts from Content Providers,
Content Distributors, and Broadcast Groups -
has provided Pathfire with industry validation
in the form of technical guidance for the Pathfire
DMG HD product roadmap. The successes so far
in HD distribution are a direct result of the
industry working together to create a standard
platform for HD distribution. The Conclave's
efforts enabled a superior solution for the
complex challenges associated with HD content
distribution.
Sterling Davis, VP of Engineering
at Cox Television and Cox Radio added, "Warner
Bros. has delivered pristine, broadcast quality
HD content to WSB-TV. File-based delivery of
all content types brings us closer to our group-wide
vision of digital ingest and processing of content
throughout all production areas of our stations."
Pathfire will be demonstrating
the DMG HD end-to-end content delivery suite
at the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) Convention, Booth SU 7405. NAB is April
16-19, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV.
About Pathfire, Inc. (www.pathfire.com)
Pathfire, headquartered in Atlanta, is the leading
provider of Standard and High Definition digital
content distribution and management solutions
for the broadcast, media and entertainment industries,
supplying innovative digital solutions, from
distribution to air, for broadcasters, news
organizations, television networks, Hollywood
studios and other media companies. Pathfire's
Digital Media Gateway (DMG) is an advanced digital
IP store-and-forward platform, delivering news
stories, electronic press kits, syndicated programming,
advertising spots, infomercials, and video news
releases to 1,400 local broadcasters, broadcast
networks, and cable networks throughout North
America.
About Warner Bros.' Global Digital
Media XChange
Global Digital Media Xchange is a valued member
of the Warner Bros. family and delivers a vast
array of digital services, while continuing
to set the pace in the ever-changing technological
landscape. GDMX's four divisions provide world-class
services for Warner Bros. and other clients
in:
About Cox Enterprises (www.coxenterprises.com)
Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises is one of the
nation's leading media companies and providers
of automotive services, with 2006 revenues of
$13 billion and more than 80,000 employees.
Major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications,
Inc. (cable television distribution, telephone,
high-speed Internet access and other advanced
broadband services); Cox Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers,
local and national direct mail advertising and
customized newsletters); Cox Television (television
and television sales rep firms); Cox Radio,
Inc. ([NYSE: CXR] broadcast radio stations and
interactive Web sites); Manheim (vehicle auctions,
repair and certification services and web-based
technology products) and Cox Auto Trader (automotive
publications and a majority stake in AutoTrader.com).
Press Contact for Pathfire
Shea Stanback - Marketing Manager
770-619-0801
sstanback@pathfire.com
Press Contact for Warner Bros.
Craig Hoffman - Director, Corporate Communications
Warner Bros. Technical Operations
818-954-2074
Craig.Hoffman@warnerbros.com