AmberFin launches new iCR Format Convertor

AmberFin today announces the launch of the new iCR Format Convertor as part of its award-winning iCR software range. The launch comes with initial sales of five Format Convertors to major European broadcasters.

The Format Convertor is designed to support the increasing need for broadcast file based workflows which require up-converting existing content from 576i to 720p or 1080i for HD transmission. The iCR Format Convertor is also specifically relevant for companies looking to take advantage of HD web delivery, which uses primarily 720p but has recently started to require 1080p. A range of other up, down and cross conversion modes also appeal to post-production houses in need of all-round high quality file format conversion.
The iCR Format Convertor is ideal for use in a file-based workflow. Old fashioned hardware format convertors can need a device to turn the incoming files into video and then another device to convert video back into files. The result is three purchases of three separate devices. By contrast, the iCR Format Convertor completes all process in one software application and also includes a fully featured transcoding toolset. This allows users to work with a much bigger range of input and output file formats than those available with a hardware format convertor.
The iCR Format Convertor also includes motion compensated SD standards conversion at no extra cost.
Independent research by Contentinople has show that viewer perception of quality is a key business driver, especially in web and mobile. Previous research by User Analytics also confirms the importance of quality. Key determining factors include the ability to see detail: skin tones, hair, texture and movement are all psychological cues to content quality.

Bruce Devlin, CTO of AmberFin, says: “Our customers have been crying out for a software product that delivers the picture quality of a top-end hardware format convertor. With iCR they can now get both and we have delivered it for no additional charge. Broadcasters must be able to provide high quality if they are to make the most of the new revenue streams offered by new formats. We can deliver that quality, in a cost effective open architecture approach, that fits seamlessly into file based workflows”.
The iCR Format Convertor is available now.
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About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximise the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues. AmberFin iCR, with award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want. As an open standard, future proof platform that digitises and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices. AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitisation and repurposing of their content.

AmberFin is privately held by Advent Venture Partners and headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.amberfin.com

Editorial contacts

Annette Leach UK)
Hotwire for AmberFin
amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500

London, 17th, November, 2009 – AmberFin today announces the addition of Quinto, Australia’s leading supplier of professional equipment for the television and post production industry to its Asia Pacific network of resellers. The announcement comes as part of AmberFin’s Partner Program created to develop and forge new channel and OEM partnerships internationally.

Under the agreement, Quinto Communications will resell AmberFin’s iCR ingest, video conversion, automated/assisted QC and transcoding software tools in Australia and New Zealand.

“Quinto Communications is a well regarded company in the broadcasting industry,” said David Abel, Worldwide Director of Partner Management at AmberFin. “Quinto has a strong heritage and reputation in the region, and its market expertise will help us increase our presence in the Asia Pacific region.”

Quinto is one of Australia and New Zealand’s leading suppliers of high technology broadcasting equipment. Established in the 1960’s, the company has been synonymous with the Australian television and radio industries for over 30 years.

Further information about AmberFin’s Worldwide Partner Program and its technology and channel partners is available at: http://www.amberfin.com/about/partners/

About AmberFin iCR

AmberFin’s iCR software delivers superior image quality for HD/SD ingest, video conversion and transcoding through its multiple Emmy award-winning image processing techniques. AmberFin’s leading integrated quality control (QC), automation, asset management and tight integration with industry standard storage also offers a unique path for content owners and partners looking to reduce the costs associated with managing and distributing media for multiple revenue-generating platforms.

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximize the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues. AmberFin iCR, with four-time Emmy-award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want. As an open standard, future proof platform that digitizes and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices. AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitization and repurposing of their content.

Privately held by Advent Venture Partners, AmberFin is, headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.amberfin.com

Editorial contacts

Annette Leach (UK)
Hotwire for AmberFin
amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500

Matthew Lloyd (US)
Hotwire for AmberFin
matthew.lloyd@hotwirepr.com
617-834-3146

AmberFin Expands Globally,
Establishing North American Headquarters in Burbank, CA
New Presence Helps AmberFin Extend Support and Gain Access to Top Industry Talent
BURBANK, Calif. October 26, 2009 — AmberFin today announces the establishment of its new North American headquarters in Burbank, California, expanding its operations to meet the demand for best-in-class image quality for HD/SD ingest, video conversion and transcoding worldwide. Following on the heels of a newly announced deal with Warner Bros, the opening of the Burbank office is the latest step in AmberFin’s North American market strategy and provides the company with ready access to the $68 billion entertainment industry while also extending customer support coverage to 20 hours a day.

By establishing itself in Burbank, AmberFin joins the ranks of some of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies who are also headquartered or have significant production facilities in this area. These include several prominent AmberFin clients such as Ascent Media Networks, Sony Pictures, Disney Studios, Technicolor, and the most recent addition Warner Brothers., which was announced at IBC in September.

“AmberFin iCR has a significant role to play in today’s fast growing and evolving market for TV, film and video content,” said Jay Batista, President of the Americas for AmberFin. “The aggressive moves we have made into the US market this year will pay off not only for our company, but also for content owners who are struggling to prepare content for delivery across multiple platforms and who need to increase their profitability margins.”

AmberFin’s Burbank headquarters will house the company’s pre- and post-sales support teams and labs, and will feature a fully equipped demonstration room.  The company is expanding its pre-sales support engineering group to assist both clients and partners with configurations, project designs and unique customizations/integrations of its iCR systems.

AmberFin recently announced the availability of iCR version 5.0 at NAB 2009; the product embodies a “new media factory” approach and now features JPEG 2000 HD encoding and transcoding support, closed caption workflows, an MXF AS02 implementation and AVID Interplay support. 

The North American headquarters in Burbank, CA will be officially opened on October 27, 2009, located less than one mile from Burbank Airport at 7590 North Glenoaks Blvd, Suite 101, Burbank, CA 91504. You can reach the office direct at (818) 768-8948.

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximise the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues. AmberFin iCR, with award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want. As an open standard, future proof platform that digitises and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices. AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Bros, managing the digitisation and repurposing of their content.

AmberFin is privately held by Advent Venture Partners and headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.amberfin.com

Editorial contacts

Matthew Lloyd (US)
Hotwire for AmberFin
matthew.lloyd@hotwirepr.com
617-834-3146

Annette Leach (UK)
Hotwire for AmberFin
amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500

Blue Order partners with AmberFin to integrate iCR into its Media Archive offering

London, 15th, October, 2009 – AmberFin today announces that Blue Order Solutions AG has signed an OEM agreement to incorporate and resell AmberFin’s industry-leading iCR ingest functionality as part of its Media Archive offering.  As a result of this agreement, Blue Order customers will benefit from best-in-class multi-format SD/HD ingest, QC and transcoding, ultra-reliability, easy integration and third party interoperability though AmberFin’s web service APIs.
“We chose to partner with AmberFin and fully integrate its ingest functionality with our Workflow and Media Asset Management solution Media Archive to enhance digital archiving and the distribution of productions for our customers,” says Ulf Genzel, Chief Sales Officer, Blue Order. “With the addition of AmberFin iCR, we can offer our customers best-in-class ingest capabilities with improved content-related workflows, allowing them to better manage a myriad of rich media content and meet the ever-changing demands of the broadcast industry.”
“We are very pleased that Blue Order is joining our OEM partnership programme,” says Jeremy Deaner, CEO of AmberFin. “Blue Order shares AmberFin’s passion for producing the highest quality media content for its customers, who make up some of the world’s largest broadcasters. This partnership continues our goal to build AmberFin’s presence in the broadcast & new media market as well as helping to address the needs of our OEM partners as they look to better meet the requirements of their customers.”

About AmberFin iCR

AmberFin’s iCR software delivers superior image quality for HD/SD ingest, video conversion and transcoding through its multiple Emmy award-winning image processing techniques. AmberFin’s leading integrated quality control (QC), automation, asset management and tight integration with industry standard storage also offers a unique path for content owners and partners looking to reduce the costs associated with managing and distributing media for multiple revenue-generating platforms.

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximise the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues.  AmberFin iCR, with four-time Emmy-award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want.  As an open standard, future proof platform that digitises and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices.  AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitization and repurposing of their content.

Privately held by Advent Venture Partners, AmberFin is, headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.amberfin.com

About Blue Order

Blue Order is a global provider of turnkey Media Asset Management (MAM) solutions. Media and entertainment companies, corporations and public institutions use Blue Order products to collect, index, catalog, retrieve and distribute audio-visual and multi-format content. Blue Order’s ‘Media Archive®’ provides a comprehensive MAM framework to support new digital content services, optimize workflows and increase efficiencies along the content value chain.

Blue Order is headquartered in Germany with subsidiaries in the UK and US. The company has been deploying its products since 1995 for a broad range of customer applications, with a special emphasis on broadcast, library and media production applications. Blue Order has well-established partnerships with technology providers and system integrators to ensure industry-specific solutions and professional services.  References encompass many well-known companies, including Al Jazeera, Astra Platform Services, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Caracol TV, ESPN Brazil, NBC Olympics, PLAZAMEDIA, ProSiebenSat.1, RTM, Technicolor Network Services, VMMa, YLE and ZDF.

AmberFin Editorial contacts

Annette Leach (UK)
Hotwire for AmberFin
amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500

Blue Order media contacts:

Christina Seemann
+49 (0)631 / 303-5200
press@blue-order.com

Leading end-to-end media and technology services provider uses iCR to deliver higher quality content for film and broadcast giants

London, 7th October, 2009 – AmberFin today announces its collaboration with Ascent Media UK, part of Ascent Media Group – the world’s largest provider of integrated global services for the creation, management and distribution of media content. As part of the relationship Ascent has integrated AmberFin’s iCR software into its existing content management systems, enabling the company to deliver enhanced quality media content via a range of different formats to some of the world’s largest film and broadcast companies.

As one of the early adopters of iCR, Ascent Media UK uses the solution within its own workflow systems for high quality production encoding and repurposing. iCR enables Ascent to cost effectively manage, encode and repurpose both new and archived content across many industry standards, creating superior quality content in the format the customer requires. iCR can convert from any camera format, including both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD), to digital files and tape, giving the best up-, cross- and down-conversion of any software solution today. 

The results are already being demonstrated in Ascent’s ongoing partnership with leading broadcast companies. Thanks to iCR’s diverse capabilities, Ascent is able to repurpose digital file-based content back onto standard definition tape – something that can only be achieved using AmberFin iCR. 

“We assessed a number of different solutions before investing in AmberFin iCR. We are confident that this solution will fit all our needs and gives us the ability to turn the content our clients have into the content they need. iCR is reliable, can handle a wide range of content formats and its output is of the highest quality” says Chris Watson, Technical Manager at Ascent Media UK. 

Jeremy Deaner, CEO at AmberFin, comments: “iCR provides Ascent with an all-round, future proof platform that fits easily into their existing services, providing enhanced quality, significant savings and delivering on Ascent’s customers’ specific requirements. Through our work with Ascent, we can extend the reach of iCR, ensuring that the media industry’s shift from physical to virtual media assets is made easier. The combination of our software with Ascent’s in-depth experience dealing with media workflows creates a powerful solution enabling broadcasters to convert their content into whatever format they require.”

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximise the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues.  AmberFin iCR, with four-time Emmy-award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want.  As an open standard, future proof platform that digitises and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices.  AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitization and repurposing of their content.

Privately held by Advent Venture Partners, AmberFin is, headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.amberfin.com

AmberFin editorial contacts

Annette Leach (UK)
Hotwire for AmberFin
amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500

AmberFin is co-sponsoring a Hollywood AMWA Seminar on Advanced Media Workflows. This event explores how MXF file-based workflows can increase efficiency in post-production processes. The Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) is hosting the Seminar on October 26, 2009 at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Hollywood, California, USA. The seminar is a pre-conference event for the 2009 SMPTE Tech Conference and Expo. There is an industry panel presentation and technical demonstration, followed by a networking event.

AmberFin Contact:
Mark Horton
Product Marketing Manager
Email: mark.horton@amberfin.com

State of the art closed captioning technology integrates with award-winning iCR software

AmberFin is pleased to announce a new partnership with Starfish Technologies, formally agreed at today’s IBC. Under the terms of the partnership, Starfish’s closed captioning technology will be integrated into AmberFin’s iCR software from late 2009, when it launches with first customer Warner Brothers Technical Services.

To incorporate closed captioning AmberFin required a partner who could offer a best of breed service to work alongside iCR’s existing QC, audio and video capabilities. Starfish, recognised internationally for its quality of service and innovative technology, offered the ideal solution. The invisible integration of Starfish’s technology within AmberFin iCR will allow broadcasters to ingest, transcode and output their content in any format, with the closed captioning intact at every stage.

Peter Blatchford, Sales and Marketing Director for Starfish, said of the deal: “The move to a file-based workflow is opening up many questions for broadcasters. One of the foremost is how to address the legal requirements for closed captioning in both the US and UK markets. The combination of our closed captioning technology and AmberFin’s iCR software means broadcasters can effectively and reliably ingest and transcode their content, confident that the original closed captioning will remain intact throughout the process.”

Bruce Devlin, Chief Technology Officer for AmberFin, added: “The partnership will effectively address the challenge of closed captioning for broadcasters. The sophistication of the back end technology ensures that closed captioning remains intact throughout the transcoding process, while the straightforward and easy-to-use front end means that broadcasters don’t have to train staff to handle lengthy and complicated new procedures. The process happens behind the scenes and the result is an easy-to-use software package that addresses what has until now been one of the broadcast industry’s biggest hurdles.”

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximise the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues.  AmberFin iCR, with four-time Emmy-award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want.  As an open standard, future proof platform that digitises and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices.  AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitization and repurposing of their content.

Privately held by Advent Venture Partners, AmberFin is, headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.amberfin.com.

About Starfish Technologies

Starfish offer a range of innovative and cost-effective technologies for Regional Insertion Systems, Audio Description, Closed Captioning and Subtitling, Scheduling, and Teletext.
Starfish has developed a complete task-management system for Audio Description and Subtitle workflow and has a successful track record of media management project design and implementation. Starfish Technologies is an ISO 9001 registered company.
Further product and press information can be obtained at http://www.starfish.tv.

Editorial contacts

Annette Leach (UK)
Hotwire for AmberFin
amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500

AmberFin iCR ingest and transcode solution to deliver highest quality masters on the market

AmberFin today announces it will deliver a state of the art JPEG2000 ingest and transcode solution for Warner Bros. Technical Operations’ DETE workflow and distribution system. The new solution will deliver high-quality servicing masters, while enabling Warner Bros. Technical Operations to significantly improve workflow compatibility and interoperability.

Set to be released later this year, the new tool will be incorporated into the DETE platform.  Working with a leading systems integrator, AmberFin will incorporate the new tool into the existing DETE platform to enable the creation of High Definition and high resolution eMasters in an automated fashion. HD eMasters will be created from both new and library materials and from multiple sources – both physical and digital.  Also as part of the implementation, master files will be quality checked using AmberFin iCR’s industry leading automated Quality Control and Assisted Review Station.

“We chose to work with AmberFin for its technology leadership. AmberFin has played a major role in making this transition to JPEG2000 possible,” says Darcy Antonellis, President, Warner Bros. Technical Operations. “We are implementing AmberFin’s iCR to automate a number of our file-based workflow processes.  iCR provides our Studio with the platform needed to support the changing dynamics and relevancy of time-to-market associated with the host of new digital businesses being launched. The level of automation developed directly and positively impacts our cost incurred to deliver high quality content to partners and consumers.”

AmberFin iCR software’s added capabilities will also enable Warner Bros. Technical Operations to provide partners with a wider range of format support and format customisation catering to their service’s specific needs. HD eMasters will be easily stored with file transformations done in an automated fashion, eliminating the need to store multiple format versions.

“Our iCR solution does the heavy lifting of video, audio and data manipulation by streamlining the migration to file-based operations, which results in dramatically enhanced operational efficiencies,” states Bruce Devlin CTO of AmberFin. “Enabling customers to transition successfully to file-based and HD workflows requires a variety of complex technical challenges to be solved. At AmberFin, we are focused on solving these issues so that customers, like Warner Bros. Technical Operations can focus on getting the most out of their content without worrying about the low level detail of the ingest and transcode operations. They can therefore benefit from the highest quality HD imagery in the industry at the lowest overall cost per deliverable.”

About AmberFin

AmberFin enables content owners to maximize the value of their TV, film and video content, from capture through to distribution, while increasing revenues, reducing costs, saving time and eliminating incompatibility issues. AmberFin iCR, with four-time Emmy-award winning technology, plays a key role in turning the content that owners have into the content their customers want. As an open standard, future proof platform that digitizes and transforms new and archived content, AmberFin iCR delivers the best quality pictures at smaller file sizes across multiple delivery platforms, including the Internet, VoD, TV, mobile and other small screen devices. AmberFin already has 100s of iCR systems in the field, and is trusted by some of the world’s most prestigious companies including Sony, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, BT, Channel 4, RTM and Warner Brothers, managing the digitization and repurposing of their content.

Privately held by Advent Venture Partners, AmberFin is, headquartered in Basingstoke, UK. More information is available at: http://www.AmberFin.com

About Warner Bros. Technical Operations

Warner Bros. Technical Operations handles the administration and management of the worldwide physical distribution of Warner Bros. Entertainment’s films and television shows and is responsible for the company’s conversion to digital distribution.  The division also provides technological and operational support for new and existing ventures, while managing the implementation of product and distribution-related systems across its parent company. WBTO is further responsible for identifying and developing technologies that facilitate business development and growth for all of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Additionally, WBTO oversees Motion Picture Imaging, a department providing state-of- the-art post-production facilities for both in-house projects and outside clients.  MPI is an industry leader in the preservation and restoration of film and television properties and is charged with maintenance of the vast Warner Bros. film and TV library.

Media Contacts

Annette Leach
Hotwire for AmberFin
Amberfin@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 207 608 2500