Thomson enables live streaming to Warner Mycal
Published: ASIA
JAPAN: Thomson Video Networks, through its local partner Village Island, is supplying technology to Warner Mycal to enable streaming of live events to multi-screen cinema complexes.
The concept was first piloted in May 2011 to distribute a concert series in Tokyo, and is now being rolled out to more than 30 of the company’s complexes. Warner Mycal’s installation includes both Thomson’s NetProcessor 9030 and ViBE VS7000. Warner Mycal has chosen Thomson's NetProcessor 9030 for multi-IP unicast streaming to multiple receivers, with FEC (forward error correction) insertion for reliable packet transmission over the IP network.
‘The technology from Thomson Video Networks offers standout reliability and very good interoperability with third-party equipment and systems,’ said Sadanori Sato, general manager of business development for Warner Mycal. ‘The technical and commercial success of the pilot event earlier this year proved the concept, and now that we have completed this phase of expansion, more than half of our complexes are able to receive high-quality transmissions.’
To power backup streaming of live events from one site to more than 30 complexes, Warner Mycal is deploying Thomson’s ViBE VS7000 convergent video system with Mustang video compression technology. The streams are transmitted from HD-SDI input using Apple HLS.
‘This has proved a really good solution to enable Warner Mycal to bring digital transmission into the mainstream for its cinema operations,’ said Michael Van Dorpe, president and general manager for project integrators at Village Island. ‘We’re excited about the potential in this area, and very pleased to have such a blossoming relationship with Thomson Video Networks, which is providing a strong technology lead.’
Warner Mycal operates 60 cinema complexes and nearly 500 screens throughout the country, showing a mix of cinematic releases and additional screenings that include live sports, entertainment, and digital 3D content.