LAS VEGAS, April 23, 2001 — At the National Association of Broadcasters’ convention, NAB2001, Microsoft Corp. and Tektronix Inc. unveiled a new Tektronix prototype software tool that provides professional-broadcast-quality test and measurement for streaming digital video production. The prototype software tool is being demonstrated for the first time in the Microsoft Internet Theatre at NAB2001, booth i5921 at the Sands Convention Center.
New technology breakthroughs like Microsoft® Windows Media™
Video 8 are helping to redefine the video quality that can be achieved via broadband connections and help advance the deployment of new broadband video-streaming services, from movie previews to full-length movies and live events. As these new services emerge, there is a growing need to ensure that the same tools available to broadcasters for testing and measurement can be adapted for the world of streaming digital video. Tektronix has selected Windows Media as the digital video technology for this prototype.
“Streaming media is rapidly becoming commonplace. But along with the need for streaming media comes the need to manage bandwidth requirements while ensuring a high-quality end-user experience,”
said Bob Agnes, vice president of the Video Business Unit at Tektronix.
“Tektronix has been providing solutions to evaluate picture quality and manage bandwidth since the beginning of the transition to digital video, enabling industry leaders to deploy the technology necessary for transmission of quality video over broadband communication networking, including the Internet. Windows Media Video’s rapid emergence as the streaming-video quality leader made it a natural choice to work with for developing Web-based video test and measurement tools.”
“For more than 50 years, Tektronix has helped define the standard for video test and management tools for the broadcast industry,”
said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“Its selection of Windows Media for its pioneering efforts with Web-based digital video testing and measurement demonstrates how rapidly video delivery over the Internet is emerging as a professional medium.”
About the Tektronix Prototype Test and Measurement Tool
The new software prototype from Tektronix is being demonstrated at NAB2001 and incorporates Microsoft Windows Media-formatted streams encoded at various compression rates in a side-by-side display with the original, uncompressed video content. Included in the demonstration are Tektronix human vision difference maps that illustrate variations between the source content and resultant content most perceptible by the human eye. Quality scores for each encoding rate are also provided by the Tektronix prototype software. These results allow streaming media providers to select the amount of bandwidth required to provide a specific level of quality. The software tool will be available for evaluation by prequalified customers within the next quarter.
About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations. Windows Media offers the industry’s only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit (SDK) for software developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .
About Tektronix
Tektronix Inc. (NYSE
“TEK”
) is a test, measurement and monitoring company providing measurement solutions to the telecommunications, computer and semiconductor industries worldwide. With more than 50 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build, deploy and manage next-generation global communications networks and Internet technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., Tektronix has operations in 26 countries worldwide. Tektronix’ Web address is http://www.tektronix.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix Inc.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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