IBC2011 takes place at the Amsterdam RAI, 8 - 13 September.

RGB Networks
Jef Graham
CEO

v2m: What will the most critical industry issues be that are discussed at this year’s IBC?

Jef: The video landscape has been changing rapidly over the past year – we’re seeing a significant shift from the traditional set-top-only delivery model towards the delivery of IP video to a growing number of internet-connected devices. With consumer demand on the rise for video delivered anywhere, on any device, multiscreen TV Everywhere services are no longer a novelty, but a necessity for pay TV providers to survive.

With this change, the industry now faces a big challenge – the move to IP – a requirement for large-scale multiscreen video delivery. Currently, most video delivery infrastructure is developed around individual “siloed” headends, delivering to a single type of device. To transition this to a single headend which can deliver IP video to multiple screens can be a very costly and cumbersome process. I believe this transition to all-IP, and how to make it happen smoothly and cost-effectively, will be a major point of discussion at this year’s IBC.

v2m: What will you specifically be talking about at IBC this year, in terms of themes?

Jef: The theme at RGB’s stand will be multiscreen. We will be showcasing our solutions for the delivery and monetization of IP video on any device—and will even be highlighting a live multiscreen deployment with a European operator. We will also be revealing some leading edge new technology to take multiscreen video to the next level, making it easier for operators to generate revenue in this evolving ecosystem. You can learn more here.

v2m: When it comes to how you fit into the content and entertainment business, where do you see your biggest differentiator or highlight?

Jef: As we get deeper into multiscreen trials and deployments with customers, the team at RGB is working closely with them to address the challenges of delivering IP video to a rapidly growing number of devices. As deployments expand, the sheer number of streams in and profiles out creates a complex delivery system that puts a great deal of stress on network equipment. RGB’s high-density, integrated solutions are designed to make these complexities more manageable. Our VMG offers the only solution with the capacity and scalability to support the demands of multiscreen video deployments—large and small. Its carrier-class reliability and manageability, combined with integrated transcoding and ad insertion capabilities, provide an ideal solution for the seamless delivery and monetization of premium quality video services to any device.

v2m: What service or product or bit of news is most notable for your company at this year’s show?

Jef: In response to customer needs, we continue to expand and enhance our multiscreen solutions. We have just added a new member to our VMG product family to keep up with demand for increased capacity and scalability. Prior to the show, we will be announcing more enhancements that will help operators to easily and cost-effectively deliver the most comprehensive multiscreen solutions to their subscribers.

v2m: What is your favorite Amsterdam experience?

Jef: It may be cliché, but I always enjoy a ride in a canal boat—it’s a great way to see the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

v2m: Other thoughts?

Jef: With 13 halls and over 1,300 exhibitors, five days may not be enough to squeeze in everything you want to see and learn about at IBC. I recommend taking time before the show to plan your visits and set up meetings with the companies you want to talk with—this will give you more time to fit in a boat ride and see the sights.

Learn more about RGB Networks and its products and services by visiting www.rgbnetworks.com.

SecureMedia®, a Motorola Mobility Inc. Company
Fred Ellis
Director of Operations and General Manager

v2m: What will the most critical industry issues be that are discussed at this year’s IBC?

Fred: A critical issue that is currently facing service providers is how to rapidly and in a cost effective manner address their subscriber’s desires for additional premium digital entertainment in and beyond the home across a multitude of devices.

v2m: What will you specifically be talking about at IBC this year, in terms of themes?

Fred: For cable/IPTV providers, the question is no longer whether, but how, to advantageously extend the reach of their branded services beyond the traditional set-top box/TV combination. The increasing penetration of smartphones, tablets, connected TVs, and other IP-enabled devices has established a new universe of highly-attractive, revenue-generating, video viewing platforms to help satisfy subscriber’s escalating demand for entertainment everywhere. To address this opportunity we will be demonstrating our SecureMedia Encryptonite ONE™ HLS+ Solution, a complete end-to-end, secure adaptive streaming platform.

v2m:When it comes to how you fit into the content and entertainment business, where do you see your biggest differentiator or highlight?

Fred: SecureMedia has been the pioneer in open platform digital content security, authorization and authentication for constrained client environments. In 1999, our content protection implementation in RealNetworks RealSystem 7 & 8 enabled over 1.5 million users to enjoy secure video content on the PC. Today utilizing open standards, we have extended our award-winning digital security to adaptive streaming to these new mobile video playback devices. Our SecureMedia Encryptonite ONE HLS+ , is a complete end-to-end, secure adaptive streaming platform that utilizes best of breed manufacturers in encoding, storage and content delivery to today’s most popular smartphones and tablets, game consoles and hybrid set-top boxes.

v2m:What service or product or bit of news is most notable for your company at this year’s show?

Fred: Our latest innovation, SecureMedia Encryptonite ONE™ HLS+ solution, leverages the rapid adoption of Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol to help service providers rapidly and effectively extend secure linear and on-demand content delivery to connected devices beyond the operator’s managed network and the subscriber’s home. Critically, SecureMedia has added layers of its award-winning Encryptonite ONE™ DRM protection to the specified HLS encryption method and it now meets the stringent security requirements of the studios and major broadcasters for licensing and distribution of their premium content. SecureMedia has also developed customized clients for smartphones and tablets, game consoles and hybrid set-top boxes that leverage native HLS players where possible or provide HLS playback capability where none previously existed— all with Encryptonite ONE System DRM protection.

v2m:What is your favorite Amsterdam experience?

Fred: Enjoying time visiting with our partners and meeting new prospects and introducing them to our favorite Italian restaurant (which will remain nameless as it is always crowded)

Learn more about SecureMedia®, a Motorola Mobility Inc. Company, and its products and services by visiting www.securemedia.com.

Northpoint Horizons
Rick South
Vice President of Sales and Marketing

As a supplemental educational publisher, Chicago-based Northpoint Horizons specializes in Tier 2 and Tier 3 RtI programs. The company is committed to developing research-based, multisensory programs for struggling learners and, along with Learning Resources and ETA Cuisenaire, is part of a group of established companies that has provided innovation to classrooms for more than 40 years. The company was among those that exhibited during the National Charter Schools Conference in Atlanta.

Charter Schools Insider recently caught up with Rick South, vice president of sales and marketing, after the conference to get his impressions of the 2011 NCSC and the charter school business outlook for the 2011-12 school year.

CSI: What were your impressions of the 2011 National Charter Schools Conference? How did your company benefit the most?
Rick South: I was impressed with the enthusiasm and professionalism of the attendees. As a first-time exhibitor with unique instructional programs, I was very pleased with the positive feedback and quality of leads we received. I was disappointed at the majority of time in the exhibit hall when there was very little traffic, outside of food service times when people were focused primarily on the food and not the exhibits.

CSI: Based on conversations you had with customers and potential clients during the show, how would you characterize the current, business frame of mind of charter school operators? What were some of their operational pain points that you helped address?
RS: Similar to the public schools, funding seems to be the biggest concern most face. Generally, both teachers and administrators are very focused on making a difference and looking for instructional materials like those developed by Northpoint Horizons. Our Math Elevations intervention program was enthusiastically received and our CAVS Content Academic Vocabulary programs were recognized for their unique approach to meeting a growing need and for the ELL population.

CSI: Based on discussions you had with attendees at your booth during the conference, what is your outlook for business in the charter school sector for the coming school year?
RS: Northpoint Horizons expects to realize significant growth in the charter school sector of the educational market due to the very good fit for the students and philosophy of so many of the charter schools.

Learn more about Northpoint Horizons and its products by visiting www.northpointhorizons.com.