MONTREAL, June 27, 2019 — Pike Media Lab has transitioned to a software only playout solution from Grass Valley. Central to the new playout capability is ICE SDC, which supports uncompressed 2022-6 video streams and enables the Russian media services provider to leverage new commercial and operational models as well as handle content from almost any source and distribute it quickly to any platform.

Pike Media Lab provides playout services to cable and OTT platforms in the Russian Federation along with access to Russian channels for Russian-speaking audiences in North America. Utilizing the business agility that software-defined solutions provide, the media services provider can now easily and quickly roll out new services, supporting the company's plans to add more channels in Russia and North America in the coming years.

Grass Valley's unique ability to deliver a comprehensive playout solution with integrated media asset management (MAM) and automation was a key factor for Pike Media Lab. Along with ICE SDC, which utilizes Morpheus automation technology, the media services provider has deployed Momentum media asset management, iQ Modular interfacing and processing solutions and Vega routing switchers.

"The types of services consumers demand is constantly changing, so we need a dynamic playout and media management system that can adapt to new service models and support innovative ways of working," said Andrey Kovalenko, CEO of Pike Media Lab. "We have a long-standing relationship with Grass Valley and theirs was the only solution that allowed us to deploy the system in a way that we wanted. Grass Valley also gave us complete freedom to implement the commodity off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware of our choice, supplying a software-only solution that delivers the capability we need within our budget. The Grass Valley team also worked in close collaboration with us to ensure we had a playout facility that was right for our business. We now have an operation that can enable our customers to respond very quickly to what consumers want — today and tomorrow."

The scalable, flexible nature of its playout operation enables Pike Media Lab to maximize return on investment, without compromising on its ability to tell compelling stories. The Momentum MAM and workflow engine provides added flexibility, allowing the production team to build workflows that meet their specific requirements.

Tim Banks, vice president of sales, EMEA, Grass Valley added: "As broadcasters and media companies have to adapt rapidly to shifting consumer demands, software-based solutions become increasingly relevant to operations of all sizes, delivering a dynamic and agile infrastructure that can be expanded fast — without incurring large costs. This project with Pike Media Lab perfectly illustrates how this approach has a place in a range of applications and demonstrates how Grass Valley works closely with customers to deliver solutions tailored to their specific requirements. We are delighted that Pike Media Lab once again turned to Grass Valley as it takes this important step in its evolution, ensuring a future-ready operation that will underpin its growth in the years ahead."

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For information about Grass Valley solutions and services, please visit grassvalley.com.

About Grass Valley

Grass Valley's end-to-end ecosystem of reliable, open standards-based solutions helps content creators, broadcasters and media organizations to produce brilliant content and build successful media businesses. Our award-winning technology and trusted industry expertise empower our customers to create captivating experiences that connect people anywhere, on any device, through the magic of media.

As the industry's R&D powerhouse, with the most comprehensive suite of solutions for compelling live content, we are the trusted partner to many of the biggest and most creative names in the media and entertainment business. We help our customers transition to IP and cloud-based infrastructures to enable flexible, scalable and smart workflows. Our advanced solutions enable the production of rich, high quality content that brings the viewer closer to the action; engages them with the story and connects them with each other. Headquartered in Montreal, Grass Valley has been in the broadcast business for 60 years and is part of St. Louis-based Belden Inc. For more information, visit www.belden.com.

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