Streamcase Eyeshape of market
Streamcase - a Belgium-based streaming company, has released a software product, Eyeshape, aimed at allowing content managers to stream video to multiple platforms, as well as a new customer.
The in-house designed and built software is intended to allow the remote publication of video content from a number of inputs, such as MPEG, as well as synchronising encoded video with text, images or power point presentations. The system can apparently be programmed to publish material on specified dates, archiving it when no longer in use.
According to the company, the streaming management platform will enable TV stations, internet service providers and corporates to stream without in-depth technical knowledge.
Streamcase also claims to have signed a new client, Holland Media Group, the largest commercial broadcaster in The Netherlands. Holland Media Group (HMG) has three TV stations, a production House (Holland Media House) and one radio station. Streamcase's Eyeshape platform has been brought in to integrate the companies AV content on their new portal, which was launched in April 2001.
Luc De Clerk, Streamcase MD, said: ‘The platform is intended to be very simple, but flexible for the content producer to use. For example, KBC, a Belgian bank, is using this technology for internal e-learning videos, which can be encoded and put on its internal network with the minimum of technical expertise.’
The component-based product currently allows for distribution by either Real or Windows Media Players, but not Quick time. De Clerk explains: ‘There is not a huge demand for QuickTime files, and we also had some difficulties with the codec. Basically, Real and Microsoft allow you to control more perameters remotely – when providing this platform our main concern was stability, and this lack of remote flexibility was a concern for us.’
The company said that this workflow management solution is phase one of development – next will come an iTV publishing interface, thereby treating streaming video in the same way as any other IP-based channel, such as the web. ‘A lot of companies are looking to get into streaming a variety of content at the moment, but many are put off by the initial investment – this product should provide an entry point for them,’ commented De Clerk.
The companies clients include TV stations such as Holland Media Group, VRT, Channel Z, SBS-VT4, and for corporate customers likeAlcatel, Interbrew, KBC Securities and Ernst & Young.