News Archives - Actus Digital https://actusdigital.com/category/news/ Media Inteligence Platform Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:20:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://actusdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-favicon-32x32.png News Archives - Actus Digital https://actusdigital.com/category/news/ 32 32 European Media Firm Selects Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform for Compliance Monitoring https://actusdigital.com/2023/08/22/european-media-firm-selects-actus-intelligent-monitoring-platform-for-compliance-monitoring/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:05:53 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=12140 DPG Media, leading media group in Belgium, Netherlands’ largest media company with a significant presence in Denmark, has transitioned to the AI-based Intelligent Monitoring Platform from Actus Digital for regulatory compliance recording/monitoring and ad verification after nearly a decade with a competitive system.

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Intuitive GUI and Ease of Customization Tilt the Scales in Favor of Actus for DPG Media with Support from Diginet

 BOSTON, MA — August 22, 2023 — DPG Media, leading media group in Belgium, Netherlands’ largest media company with a significant presence in Denmark, has transitioned to the AI-based Intelligent Monitoring Platform from Actus Digital for regulatory compliance recording/monitoring  after nearly a decade with a competitive system.

In addition to compliance recording/monitoring and SCTE-based dynamic ad insertion and verification, DPG Media’s new Actus system includes EPG (Electronic Program Guide) integration, browser-based multiviewer, and loudness monitoring. The sale and implementation were closely supervised by Belgian A/V dealer DigiNet.

When the engineering staff at DPG Media went looking for a new monitoring and compliance system at IBC 2022, UI ease of use and global offices with 24/7 support were top-of-mind considerations. “We did an exhaustive search,” says Stijn Mertens, Team Lead Broadcast Playout, DPG Media. “Many of the monitoring systems were full of features but complicated, which is fine for the engineering team, but not for other employees working with the platform every day. We wanted a system that would not only meet our requirements but provide the best results. With the Actus platform, the user interface is extremely intuitive. We were confident the transition for our staff would be smooth. And even though it’s easy to use, the platform is feature rich. Given Actus’ continuous development on the product, our capabilities will only expand.”

Actus has a dual server set up for redundancy. The two servers represent a significant reduction in hardware for DPG. The software development required and Actus’ willingness to provide necessary updates was another huge factor in the company’s favor.

Actus developed customized SCTE integration for DPG. For their application, DPG needed to search within SCTE-104 and SCTE-35 tables. Actus developed a customized, advanced filtering option on SCTE-104 and SCTE-35 messages for monitoring reporting and analysis. “After talking to Actus about our need for SCTE reporting, they quickly agreed to add our requirements to their system,” says Martens. “We can now search more precisely and filter the data of the SCTE report.”

Previously, DPG had a single sign on (SSO) authentication process based on LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol). Actus implemented SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) authentication which interfaces with DPG’s companywide SSO system. The new system also provides an MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) step, making the current integration much more secure than the previous LDAP-based integration. The DPG team are still able to manage users in the company’s active directory.

“Implementing the SAML authentication was a first for Actus,” explains Karl Imbrechts, Product Manager at Diginet working with Actus as reseller. “And they knocked it out of the park the first time. The support of the Actus development team provided exactly what DPG asked for, with 24/7 support and constant communication throughout the process. It was all very reassuring to the DPG folks.”

“Now, we have highly secure connections, and it doesn’t matter where the person is or what device they’re using,” adds Mertens. “They can immediately be verified as an official DPG user. Adding new users or disabling employees who leave the company is a simple addition to or removal from our Active Directory. The Directory update automatically rolls into the compliance system to either block or add access to the user.”

With the flexibility of the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform, each customer can select only the options they need, while still benefiting from the centralization of monitoring from an all-in-one platform. DPG Media is looking into utilizing the system’s OTT logging and monitoring, browser-based multiviewer, and audio/video loss alarms in the future. Introduced as part of the Intelligent Monitoring Platform’s new Version 9.0, OTT StreamWatch is the first product that makes it economically feasible to monitor FAST, IPTV, and OTT streaming channels throughout the entire workflow. In addition to 24/7 quality assurance, it provides compliance logging, OTT stream monitoring, and aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR streams. Also included within the new Version 9.0 of the Actus compliance logging and Intelligent Monitoring Platform are more AI-enabled options, such as speech-to-text and translation to any language. This is particularly beneficial for news monitoring, allowing searches for specific keywords and quick and accurate audio and video analysis.

The Mosaic multiviewer enables users to view all channels from one large screen, so it’s easy to identify any issues and errors on content in real time. It can be controlled remotely via a network, allowing the user to dynamically manage, adjust and monitor feeds from any location. The multiviewer supports any mix of broadcast and internet input, in any format, at any resolution (including mixture of OTT and broadcast signals). The layout of the feeds on the output display can be customized and saved for future use. 

The Loudness module lets operators maintain continuous measurements, which identify program loudness, loudness range, and average audio level. The loudness measurements, combined with broadcast compliance logging, allow users to quickly review the status and provide continuous, exportable measurements as proof of compliance and coverage against loudness complaints.

“DPG Media is a truly innovative media company that we’re thrilled to support,” says Sima Levy, CEO of Actus Digital. “Their selection of our platform and appreciation of our feature rich platform and yet, ease of use, combined with our ability to provide the customizations DPG has asked for and great support, all makes us proud each time. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with DPG as we continue to expand our capabilities in a way that best meets their needs and benefits our overall customer base.”

To meet with Actus in person during IBC 2023 (Hall 7, booth B44) or to schedule an online demonstration, visit https://actusdigital.com/events/tradeshows/

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ActusDigital to display the latest Compliance and Intelligent Monitoring Platform at IBC 2023  https://actusdigital.com/2023/08/08/ibc-2023-actus-digitals-new-ott-and-remote-video-monitoring-solutions-to-make-european-debut/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:25:15 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=11906 Actus Digital, the premier solutions provider for compliance logging and intelligent broadcast and OTT monitoring, will introduce two new products along with enhancements to its Intelligent Monitoring Platform. As the only global monitoring company, with offices in the US, Europe, UAE and Asia; and hundreds of customers worldwide, IBC 2023 is a key exhibition for the company.

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Introductions are Part of Overall Compliance and Intelligent Monitoring Platform

BOSTON, MA — 8 August 2023 — Actus Digital, the premier solutions provider for compliance logging and intelligent broadcast and OTT monitoring, will introduce two new products along with enhancements to its Intelligent Monitoring Platform. As the only global monitoring company, with offices in the US, Europe, UAE and Asia; and hundreds of customers worldwide, IBC 2023 is a key exhibition for the company. Additions and improvements to the Actus portfolio benefit a broad range of users: broadcasters, OTT providers, cable, satellite, and playout operators, government, and news agencies.

Actus Digital will showcase its entire product range at IBC 2023, which includes: compliance logging, technical monitoring for Quality Assurance, browser-based multiviewer, advanced clip editing and exporting to social and OTT, AI-based workflows such as automatic ad detection for competitive analysis, advanced searching based on speech to text and translation for news monitoring, rating analysis options, and more. Automation is a major part of the Actus system.

Among the biggest news at IBC 2023 is the company’s new OTT Monitoring solution, OTT StreamWatch – a game changer for OTT quality assurance. In addition to 24/7 quality assurance, it provides compliance logging, OTT stream monitoring, and aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR streams. It can be deployed as a stand-alone solution or as part of the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform – providing customers with a central interface. OTT StreamWatch is the first product that makes it economically feasible to monitor FAST, IPTV, and OTT streaming channels throughout the entire workflow.

OTT StreamWatch combines features that have never been in a solitary product before,” said Sima Levy, CEO of Actus Digital. “It clearly displays QoS information and users can easily evaluate bandwidth usage, streaming media download times, missing SCTE, manifest errors and buffering issues within OTT streams. And it summarizes data so operators can recognize and address potential issues before they impact viewer quality.”

Another new product that will be displayed at IBC 2023 is Remote Video Monitoring (RVM) within the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform. Designed as a quality assurance solution for multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), the Actus RVM allows MVPDs to gain real-time insights into their viewers’ quality of service (QoS) and verify local ad insertion and timing. MVPDs can remotely connect to STBs at head ends, and hub sites can examine one channel at a time or the entire channel lineup via multiviewer monitoring and proactive QoS alerts. When Actus RVM is deployed at multiple probe points and/or in multiple locations, it shows how widespread an issue is and pinpoints the exact location it entered the video distribution workflow. This allows operators to rapidly identify, diagnose, and resolve QoS problems without costly truck rolls.

“IBC is a key exhibition for us,” explained Levy. “It’s an opportunity to meet our extensive customer and partner base, hear about requirements we should address, fill our colleagues in on the latest options to our system, and share different use cases, market trends, and industry changes as we see them. As an example, we’ve done significantly more installs lately with ST 2110 and SRT video formats. We see increased demand for OTT monitoring and AI-based workflows to enable faster response time and more efficient workflows that support high-volume systems.”

Actus will announce two major installations of its Intelligent Monitoring Platform to European media firms in the coming weeks. Both organizations have deployed the system for regulatory compliance recording/monitoring, ad verification, loudness monitoring, and other functions.

To meet with Actus in person during the show in Hall 7 booth 7.B44 or to schedule an online demonstration, visit https://actusdigital.com/events/tradeshows/  For more information about Actus Digital’s products, visit https://actusdigital.com.

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Ric Belding joins Actus as Vice President of Solutions Engineering https://actusdigital.com/2023/08/01/ric-belding-joins-actus-as-vice-president-of-solutions-engineering/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:52:01 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=11415 Actus Digital, manufacturers of the worlds’ premiere quality-monitoring, compliance logging, recording, and multiviewer platform, is thrilled to announce that Ric Belding has joined the company as Vice President of Solutions Engineering.

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Industry Veteran to Boost Actus Dominance in Broadcast Television Market and Engergize its MVPD and New OTT/Streaming TV Offerings

BOSTON, MA — August 1, 2023 — Actus Digital, manufacturers of the worlds’ premiere quality-monitoring, compliance logging, recording, and multiviewer platform, is thrilled to announce that Ric Belding has joined the company as Vice President of Solutions Engineering.

With a distinguished career spanning over 20 years, Belding brings a great deal of broadcast industry knowledge and experience, having served as a software developer, systems engineer, sales engineer, and technical team manager for prominent technology manufacturers.

Ric is intimately familiar with both over-the-air and OTT workflows, having designed effective quality monitoring, multiviewer, air-check recording, and compliance logging solutions for broadcasters of all sizes and types – from single independent stations to large multi-channel playout facilities.

In his role as Vice President of Solutions Engineering, Ric’s technical expertise and creative designs will be instrumental in further propelling Actus as a worldwide industry leader.

“We are delighted to welcome Ric Belding to the Actus team in a role where he can do what he does best… interface with clients to understand their needs and design effective and easy-to-use Actus solutions that powerfully address them”, said Actus Senior Vice President Ken Rubin. “His technical acumen, superb presentation skills, and remarkable achievements throughout his career make him the perfect fit to take charge of Actus solutions engineering.”

I’m honored to be joining Actus and its talented team of product engineers and other professionals,” said Ric Belding. “I look forward to collaborating on our delivery of exceptional solutions to Actus’ customers and to using my experience to help the company grow.”

Broadcasters are always being asked to do more with less resources and the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform is a system that enables them to do just that – delivering value by satisfying many important and required broadcast engineering requirements… while also fulfilling many additional functional needs for numerous other departments.

You can see Actus technology demonstrated at upcoming tradeshows including the Texas Association of Broadcasters show in August, IBC in September, and NAB-NY in October.  You can also schedule an online demonstration to see Actus anytime by contacting Info@ActusDigital.com.

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Broadcast Asia (BCA) 2023: OTT Monitoring and AI-based Workflows Integrated into Compliance and Intelligent Monitoring Platform https://actusdigital.com/2023/05/24/broadcast-asia-bca-2023-ott-monitoring-and-ai-based-workflows-integrated-into-compliance-and-intelligent-monitoring-platform/ Wed, 24 May 2023 14:22:08 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=10968 OTT StreamWatch, Remote Video Monitoring, and Version 9.0 of the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform Make Broadcast Asia Debut; Benefits of Enhancements Reach Broader Range of Customers

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OTT StreamWatch, Remote Video Monitoring, and Version 9.0 of the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform Make BCA Debut; Benefits of Enhancements Reach Broader Range of Customers

 BOSTON, MA — May 25, 2023 — Actus Digital, the premier solutions provider for compliance logging and Intelligent broadcast and OTT monitoring, will introduce two new products along with significant improvements to the latest version of its AI-based Intelligent Monitoring Platform at the BCA convention. An exhibitor since 2007 with a large customer and partnership base, and an Asian office, BCA is a key tradeshow on the Actus calendar.

“We’re committed to providing top-level support to our customers and partners in Asia,” said Sima Levy, CEO of Actus Digital. “Our significant user base in the region allows us to tailor our solutions to the specific requirements and workflows of this market. We’re proud of the relationships we’ve established and are the only compliance logging vendor exhibiting at BCA. Our office in Asia provides pre-and post-sales support, allowing us to perform better and faster service to our Asian customers. We work closely with our customers and enhance our solution with their specific needs and ideas in mind.”

Among the biggest news at BCA is our new OTT Monitoring, OTT StreamWatcha game changer for OTT quality assurance. In addition to 24/7 quality assurance, it provides compliance logging, OTT stream monitoring, and aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR streams. It can be deployed as a stand-alone solution or as part of the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform – providing customers with a central interface. OTT StreamWatch is the first product that makes it economically feasible to monitor FAST, IPTV, and OTT streaming channels throughout the entire workflow. It is a cost-effective option for OTT content owners, streaming companies, and service providers of all sizes.

OTT StreamWatch combines features that have never been in a solitary product before,” said Sima Levy, CEO of Actus Digital. “It enables aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR (Adaptive Bitrate) streams. It clearly displays QoS information so users can easily evaluate bandwidth usage, streaming media download times, missing SCTE, and buffering issues within OTT streams. And it summarizes data so operators can recognize and address potential issues before they impact viewer quality. It does all this at a price well below what the combination of products required would cost for those same functions.”

Another new product on display at BCA will be Remote Video Monitoring (RVM) within the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform. Designed as a quality assurance solution for multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), the Actus RVM allows MVPDs to gain real-time insights into their viewers’ quality of service (QoS) and verify local ad insertion and timing. It enables MVPDs to remotely connect to STBs at head ends and hub sites to examine one channel at a time or the entire channel lineup via multiviewer monitoring and proactive QoS alerts. When Actus RVM is deployed at multiple probe points and/or in multiple locations, it shows how widespread an issue is and pinpoints the exact location it entered the video distribution workflow. This allows operators to rapidly identify, diagnose, and resolve QoS problems without costly truck rolls.

Also included within the new Version 9.0 of the Actus compliance logging and Intelligent Monitoring Platform are more AI-enabled options, such as speech-to-text and translation to any language. This is particularly beneficial for news monitoring purposes, allowing searches for specific keywords and quick and accurate audio and video analysis. Moreover, Actus will present improvements to its compliance logging, advanced editing and clipping workflow for social/OTT, browser-based multiviewer, automatic ad detection, and more.

The additions and improvements to the Actus portfolio benefit a broad range of users: broadcasters, OTT providers, cable, satellite, and playout operators, government, and news agencies.

Current applications of the latest Actus technology in the Asia Pacific region, as some examples, include broadcast playout provider, MediaHub Australia, and broadcast media conglomerate MediaCorp in Singapore. MediaHub utilizes the Actus monitoring platform as part of a mux-based DTT broadcast headend, recording 18 proxy channels for 132 services. And MediaCorp is currently using the Actus platform for both compliance logging and clipping for its OTT streaming service.

To meet with Actus in person during the show or to schedule an online demonstration, visit https://actusdigital.com/events/tradeshows/  For more information about Actus Digital’s products, visit https://actusdigital.com.

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CABSAT 2023: Actus Digital to Showcase Latest Version of AI-Based Intelligent Monitoring Platform and new OTT Monitoring Solution – OTT StreamWatch https://actusdigital.com/2023/05/04/cabsat-2023-actus-digital-to-showcase-latest-version-of-ai-based-intelligent-monitoring-platform-and-new-ott-monitoring-solution-ott-streamwatch/ Thu, 04 May 2023 12:44:01 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=10810 Actus Digital will showcase version 9.0 of its Intelligent Monitoring Platform, including OTT StreamWatch, at CABSAT 2023. The solution is affordable and addresses OTT quality issues with new features.

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Improved Workflow and Efficiency, New Automation Options Among Upgrade Highlights

BOSTON, MA — May 04, 2023 — Actus Digital, the premier solutions provider for Intelligent broadcast and OTT monitoring will present the latest version of the platform at CABSAT 2023.

Actus will demonstrate version 9.0 of its Intelligent Monitoring Platform in Booth #106.

The latest Intelligent Monitoring Platform includes improvements and new solutions required by a range of customers: broadcast engineers searching for a compliance logging, Multiviewer and technical monitoring, digital media producers that need an advanced, cost-effective and simple to use clipping workflow for social/OTT/VOD clips; governments and news agencies who need advanced AI options to search and receive alerts when relevant topics are mentioned on news channels; and media regulators that need to make sure broadcasters comply with the regulatory requirements.

A part of the new Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform version 9.0 is OTT StreamWatch for OTT monitoring. It can be deployed as a stand-alone solution or part of the monitoring platform, which provides customers with one central interface.

“OTT StreamWatch is a game changer in the OTT Quality Assurance market,” said Raphael Renous, Actus CTO. “It addresses OTT quality issues that lead to viewer churn and loss of revenue with a unique combination of features and benefits that have never been combined in a solitary product before.  – The price is well below that of the combination of products it would take to deliver similar benefits.”

OTT StreamWatch provides 24/7 quality assurance, compliance logging, OTT stream monitoring, and aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR streams. It is the first product that makes it economically feasible to monitor FAST, IPTV, and OTT streaming channels throughout the entire workflow. The solution is affordable to OTT content owners, streaming companies, and service providers of all sizes.

It analyzes OTT content at the manifest level, at the encryption level, and at the HTTP level. OTT StreamWatch displays QoS information clearly so users can evaluate bandwidth usage, streaming media download times, missing SCTE, buffering issues within OTT streams, and it summarizes data so operators can recognize and address potential issues before they impact viewer quality.

“The Actus Digital monitoring platform is appreciated by our many global and specifically by our UAE regional customers not only for its reliability and feature-rich platform, but also for our company’s commitment to the UAE market, said Mark Barkey, Sales Director, Actus Digital, UAE. “We’re the only company specializing in broadcast monitoring that has local presence and support. A few examples of customers we work with in the region are Sky News Arabia, MBC, the Dubai Government, Al Aan TV, Al Araby, QTV, and many more. Our platform serves broadcasters, media operators, governments, news agencies, and more. The flexibility of the platform allows each customer to select only the options needed yet have all monitoring capability centralized within an all-in-one platform.“

To meet with Actus in person during the show or to schedule an online demonstration, visit https://actusdigital.com/events/tradeshows/. For more information about Actus Digital’s products, visit https://actusdigital.com.

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Actus Digital Showcases New OTT StreamWatch for 24/7 Quality Assurance Monitoring and Recording of Native HLS Streams at NAB https://actusdigital.com/2023/04/11/actus-digital-showcases-new-ott-streamwatch-for-24-7-quality-assurance-monitoring-and-recording-of-native-hls-streams-at-nab/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 13:51:24 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=10644 At the 2023 NAB show, Actus Digital will introduce OTT StreamWatch, its new SaaS/on-prem product that provides 24/7 quality assurance, compliance logging, OTT stream monitoring, and aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR (Adaptive Bitrate) streams.

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With OTT StreamWatch, Engineers can Monitor the Quality of Linear OTT Streams
at One or Many Stages in the Delivery Workflow
 

BOSTON, MA — April 11, 2023 — At the 2023 NAB show, Actus Digital will introduce OTT StreamWatch, its new SaaS/on-prem product that provides 24/7 quality assurance, compliance logging, OTT stream monitoring, and aircheck recording of native HLS and other OTT ABR (Adaptive Bitrate) streams. It is the first product that makes it economically feasible to monitor FAST, IPTV and OTT streaming channels throughout the entire workflow.

Actus OTT StreamWatch analyzes OTT content at the manifest level, at the encryption level, and at the HTTP level. It displays QoS information clearly so users can evaluate bandwidth usage, streaming media download times, and buffering issues within OTT streams. It also summarizes the data so operators can recognize and address potential issues before they impact viewer quality.

Live OTT video streams can be displayed on multiviewers (of one or many workflow probe-points) highlighting affected renditions/probe-points as issues occur. Email/SMS/SNMP and other notifications can be sent when alert parameters are violated for QoE issues, including missing/frozen video, audio too low/too high/missing, missing captions/subtitles. Log entries are made and notifications can be sent to alert engineers to QoS issues also, including errors with Media HTTP, Media Decryption, Manifest HTTP, Manifest Parsing, SCTE Parsing, and Missing SCTE.

“OTT StreamWatch will disrupt the OTT Quality Assurance market,” said Ken Rubin, Actus Digital Senior Vice President. “It addresses OTT quality issues that lead to viewer churn and loss of revenue with a unique combination of features and benefits that have never been combined within one product before – at a price well below what the combined products would cost to deliver similar benefits.”

SVP Rubin continued, “The market needed a comprehensive OTT quality assurance solution that is affordable to OTT content owners, streaming companies, and service providers of all sizes. We’ve taken the feedback from our customers and incorporated their requests into the design of OTT StreamWatch.”

Key Features

  • Supports native-HLS, MPEG DASH, CMAF
  • Intuitive GUI handles hundreds of OTT channels or probe-points
  • Unlimited, easily-customizable multiviewers for visibility of live streams
  • Define and manage parameters for QoE and QoS alert notifications
  • Single dashboard for identification of QoE, QoS, SCTE, and other issues
  • Zoom from all daily HLS network activity to individual HTTP/network requests
  • Reports with comprehensive insights and link to video recordings from any timecode
  • Integrates with traditional broadcast formats to combine OTT with OTA on one platform
  • Advanced clipping for collaboration, compliance, and repurposing

OTT StreamWatch can be purchased as a turnkey system with perpetual software licenses or as a SaaS solution on AWS, any public cloud, or a customer’s Virtual Machine infrastructure/private cloud.

Adding OTT StreamWatch to a new or existing Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform installation, provides one interface for both professional Transport Stream OTA Quality Assurance (QA) and compliance as well as HLS and other formats of OTT QA and compliance.

Actus OTT StreamWatch has been named a finalist to receive a 2023 IABM BaM Award® and has been nominated for NAB 2023 Product of the Year.

Actus will demonstrate OTT StreamWatch at the 2023 NAB Show in Las Vegas in the West Hall, booth W-1767.

To meet with Actus in person during the show, to schedule an online demonstration, or for more information about Actus Digital’s products visit https://actusdigital.com/events/tradeshows/.

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NAB 2023: Actus Digital Unveils OTT StreamWatch and v9.0 Enhancements to Intelligent Monitoring and Compliance Platform https://actusdigital.com/2023/03/14/nab-2023-actus-digital-unveils-ott-streamwatch-and-v9-0-enhancements-to-intelligent-monitoring-and-compliance-platform/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:04:28 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=10297 Actus Digital, the premier solutions provider for Quality Assurance (QA) alerting, compliance logging, multiviewer monitoring, broadcast analysis, and asset repurposing, will unveil its latest solutions for TV, radio and MVPD (multichannel video programming distributors) at the 2023 NAB Show. Actus v.9.0 expanded offerings address the needs of traditional broadcasters and MVPDs, and the new OTT StreamWatch, extends benefits to those creating and distributing OTT FAST/IPTV streaming channels.

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New Actus OTT StreamWatch Adds Advanced Streaming Quality-Assurance to Award-Winning Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform – for both SaaS and On-Prem Applications

BOSTON, MA — March 14, 2023 — Actus Digital, the premier solutions provider for Quality Assurance (QA) alerting, compliance logging, multiviewer monitoring, broadcast analysis, and asset repurposing, will unveil its latest solutions for TV, radio and MVPD (multichannel video programming distributors) at the 2023 NAB Show. Actus v.9.0 expanded offerings address the needs of traditional broadcasters and MVPDs, and the new OTT StreamWatch, extends benefits to those creating and distributing OTT FAST/IPTV streaming channels.

New OTT StreamWatch
Available via SaaS and on-premises solutions, OTT StreamWatch provides 24×7 OTT stream monitoring and recording of native HLS streams. It makes it easy for engineers to monitor and maintain the quality of linear FAST/IPTV channels through the workflow – from encoding through delivery.  OTT StreamWatch– handles a range of resolutions and speeds returning from various CDNs across unmanaged networks.

Live OTT video streams can be displayed on multiviewers at various probe-points in their workflow and combined with traditional TV station/broadcast content. This approach highlights affected probe-points as issues occur, demonstrating how widespread those issues are, and immediately identifying where they began so engineers can quickly remedy them.

In addition to the issues being identified on the multiviewer, the Actus platform sends real-time alerts on critical audio-video Quality-of-Experience issues like missing/frozen content, and compliance violations such as Loudness and missing closed captions/subtitles.

With the addition of OTT StreamWatch to a traditional Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform, detailed OTT Quality-of-Service (QoS) information is added to transport stream analysis. The same professional OTA Quality Assurance (QA) and compliance from the Actus monitoring platform is extended to OTT QA. Among other OTT QA analysis, OTT StreamWatch evaluates bandwidth usage, streaming media download times, and buffering issues for each rendition included within an HLS stream. It also includes SCTE insertion information, ensuring digital ads are played accurately and indicating when QoE/QoS issues occurred while commercials were playing.

The Actus platform provides a single interface that is intuitive and searchable for content based on channel/date/time, issues, closed captions, advertiser, program names and more. Taking advantage of the content and metadata captured within the Actus platform, optional AI-based workflows make it easy to create and edit clips together, manually or using automation for effortless creation and monetization of VoD content and publishing to social media to optimize viewer engagement.

 Version 9.0 Enhancements to Digital Monitoring Platform

 Version 9.0 of the Actus Digital Intelligent Monitoring Platform adds significant enhancements. Among these are support for additional standards which now include ingest of every popular format, including ATSC 3.0, SMPTE 2110/2022-6/7, and most streaming standards.

Specific improvements were also achieved in the Actus Remote Video Monitoring (RVM) tools for MVPD engineering and operations, and in Actus AdWatch that makes it easier for TV station sales teams to produce AI-generated Zero-Run and Delta-Report lead lists.

“While many customers deploy Actus systems solely for locally ingested or OTT streaming content, those that are responsible for delivering content for both OTA and OTT can deploy a hybrid approach on Actus Digital’s traditional Intelligent Monitoring Platform using OTT StreamWatch for multiviewer monitoring, compliance logging, QA alerting, and many other use cases and advanced workflows,” said Ken Rubin, Actus Digital Senior Vice President. “For companies that deliver only FAST/IPTV channels, as well as those starting to include OTT, Actus is proud to offer SaaS, on-premises, and hybrid solutions for professional media monitoring and quality assurance.

 Actus will demonstrate its new OTT StreamWatch and version 9.0 of its Intelligent Monitoring Platform including Clip Factory Pro, AdWatch, and RVM (Remote Video Monitoring), in Booth W-1767 at the 2023 NAB Show, running April 15-19 in Las Vegas.

To meet with Actus in person during the show or to schedule an online demonstration, visit https://actusdigital.com/events/tradeshows/. For more information about Actus Digital’s products, visit https://actusdigital.com.

 

About Actus Digital (www.actusdigital.com)

 Actus Digital is the world’s leading supplier of compliance logging and intelligent QA monitoring solutions addressing many requirements for media companies and business enterprises. Since 2005, over 700 customers have deployed the Actus solution to help them affordably improve quality, comply with regulations, and automate the analysis and repurposing of content.  
 
The Actus Digital on-prem platform or SaaS subscription allow its users to address needs for both traditional linear broadcast television and OTT/FAST/IPTV channels as it reliably records content 24×7 from any combination of a variety of inputs, including: baseband (SDI, HDMI, etc.), transport stream (ATSC-1 and ATSC-3 via antenna, IP, ASI, and QAM), IP (including SMPTE 2110), and streaming (HLS, MPEG-DASH, RTMP/RTSP, etc.).

Offering the most comprehensive yet affordable set of tools in the market, the core Actus license provide unlimited simultaneous users with browser-based multiviewers with aircheck recording and compliance logging (for things such as missing closed captions/DVB subtitles and loudness violations), QoE quality assurance alerting, and deeper inspection of things like SCTE 35/104, NAVE, TS Analysis, HLS QoS, and much more. Other advanced features are offered, including graphical display of ratings data next to video for competitive news analysis, integrated playlist to as-run log discrepancy reporting, advanced clips creation for content repurposing and social media, and AI-enabled content detection and speech-to-text.

Actus Digital headquarters is in the US with superior 24×7 support provided from four support offices, including in the US, Europe, UAE, and Asia.

The post <strong>NAB 2023: Actus Digital Unveils OTT StreamWatch and v9.0 Enhancements to Intelligent Monitoring and Compliance Platform </strong> appeared first on Actus Digital.

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How top broadcasters expand compliance logging to embrace OTT monitoring https://actusdigital.com/2023/03/09/how-top-broadcasters-expand-compliance-logging-to-embrace-ott-monitoring/ Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:21:58 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=10265 Compliance logging, multiviewer and quality assurance — for both over-the-air and OTT — can be accomplished on the same affordable platform. Media companies are expanding their monitoring systems to handle both OTA and OTT to ensure the quality and compliance of content, protect the broadcaster’s brand reputation, and to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly changing media landscape.

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By NewsCheckStudio Staff | March 6, 2023 | 5:00 a.m. ET.

Over-The-Top (OTT) content delivery significantly impacts the way broadcasters distribute live linear content and ensuring the quality and compliance of that OTT delivery is essential for them to protect their brand, maintain their reputation, and stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly changing media landscape. 

To ensure the quality of their streaming services without investing in additional OTT-only monitoring tools, successful broadcasters and streaming media providers are adding OTT Quality Assurance (QA) monitoring to their existing compliance logging workflow.

Broadcast engineers beginning to distribute OTT had no way to know about the quality of the video streams received by their OTT viewers unless they received complaints and they’d have to wait for their Content Delivery Networks (CDN) to provide statistics before they could ensure service level agreements had been met.

Typically, OTT streams follow several distribution paths and stream multiple renditions  (consisting of several resolutions and bitrates) to multiple CDNs and content owners have minimal insight into the viewers’ quality of experience.

The Weather Channel (and dozens of others) have combined OTA and OTT Quality Assurance and Compliance Monitoring on the same Actus Platform for years.

Comprehensive One-Stop Platform Now Includes OTT

Actus Digital’s solution brings the entire monitoring process from both OTA and OTT, into a single user interface where engineers can see all related data from encoding to distribution, with simplicity and clarity.

The platform monitors traditional OTA broadcast returns alongside OTT streams at multiple probe-points. The one-stop interface displays the overall status for each OTT stream, SCTE information, stream-quality as advertisements were streamed, and overall Quality-of-Service (QoS) statistics, including transport, download, and playback speed.

The recently enhanced Actus OTT tools monitor native HLS streams at all key places within the delivery workflow, including the media source, encoders, decoders, and return streams from CDNs at one or several geographic locations.

Operators monitor the technical performance and can see the HLS streams live from the dashboard and receive alerts of problems that genuinely impact the viewers’ experience, without overloading them with issues that have not affected viewer quality.

Through a rich dashboard, operators can watch in real-time as Actus inspects and provides data about HLS delivery at the HTTP level, the manifest level, and the content level, including all renditions in Adaptive Bit Rate streams.

Not only is the analysis and data available for review, but because Actus records the native HLS streams, the content from any time can be played back to inspect and verify the quality of any and all renditions, from any probe-point.

The Actus platform includes a comprehensive set of tools including customizable multiviewers, transport stream analysis, SCTE analysis (for DAI trouble shooting), loudness (for CALM Act Compliance), and more.

Broadcast Compliance, Quality Assurance, and Multiviewer Monitoring

These OTT monitoring benefits are added to Actus Digital’s comprehensive features for quality alerting, compliance logging, multiviewer, and aircheck recording. They enable engineers to easily perform their jobs better by using the same platform for all formats, including not just OTA and OTT but also baseband (SDI, HDMI, etc.) and Transport Streams from IP, ASI, 2110, etc.

Compliance logging and monitoring is a must-have solution in most parts of the world and keeps evolving because of new regulatory requirements, and new video protocols, formats, and metadata standards.

Customers expect their compliance logging solution to stay current with regulatory requirements and alert them when they are in violation of those requirements. This includes recording and archiving all aired content so they can clip and send proof of airing for things such as EAS (Emergency Alert System) messages and reply to inquiries about missing closed caption/subtitles/teletext or violations of loudness regulations.

Beyond compliance logging, these solutions are not whole without the ability to provide quality assurance monitoring and deeper analysis of things like SCTE, NAVE, and multiple audio languages. Multiviewers are another vital component of a complete Compliance Logging and QA Monitoring solution, providing a comprehensive view of all content in real-time.

Most-Advanced and Easy-to-Use Multiviewers in the Market

Some of the key advantages of the Actus Digital multiviewer are that it is very low latency, extremely user-friendly, and accessible from any web browser.

It is fully customizable, allowing users to tailor the display to meet their specific needs, viewing only the streams relevant to optimize their viewing experience. The Actus multiviewer is so popular because it leads in flexibility and value enabling any number of multiviewer views to be created with unlimited simultaneous users selecting them to display wherever they are needed.

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Actus is the Perfect Test and Measurement Complement https://actusdigital.com/2023/01/17/actus-is-the-perfect-test-and-measurement-complement/ Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:22:00 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=9511 Broadcast engineers from stations
throughout the US and the world have found the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform is an amazing 'Test and Measurement' complement.

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‘Test and Measurement’ (T&M) devices typically include scopes and oscillators that analyze and measure
video signals to help broadcast engineers troubleshoot issues or predict future issues.

Broadcast engineers from stations throughout the US and the world have found the Actus Intelligent Monitoring Platform is an amazing complement that has become essential.

The platform displays live video from multiple probe-points to view faults as they are happening, a history of the many QoE and QoS issues Actus detects, as well as issues detected by traditional third-party T&M tools communicated to Actus via SNMP.

The Actus Alert Center shows patterns of disruptions and the video at those times to see if or how much it affected the viewing experience.

Unlimited easy-to-configure Actus multiviewer screens can be configured for unlimited simultaneous users, and with new Actus Synchro, engineers can drill down from an error message on one channel window or from a penalty box, to that same channel at all nodes throughout the video distribution chain.

This is extremely valuable and allows them to quickly pinpoint exactly where issues are (or were)
introduced and which OTA and OTT linear channels are (or were) affected.

For OTA television, ACTUS provides live Transport Stream Analysis, including bit-rate per program and
P1, P2, P3 errors… and since it records the actual TS, those channels can be played from disk for further analysis using additional T&M tools.

For OTT (Over the Top) and streaming media content, Actus provides extensive HLS analysis and
statistics, and shows QoE (quality  of experience), and QoS (quality of service) quality percentages. By
recording SCTE triggers and comparing to faults, Actus even suggests when ‘make-goods’ are needed.

Ken Rubin, Actus Senior Vice President, says: “Adding Actus to your T&M gear complements your
existing infrastructure, provides tools for both OTA and OTT on the same platform, and empowers engineers to more easily troubleshoot difficult and intermittent problems to improve overall broadcast and streaming quality.

The Actus Intelligent Monitoring platform is available as a SaaS model or software can be
deployed in private/public Cloud, VM, on-premise, and hybrid models.

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Actus Digital Targets Further European Expansion With New Vice President of Sales https://actusdigital.com/2022/12/06/actus-digital-targets-further-european-expansion-with-new-vice-president-of-sales/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 07:34:41 +0000 https://actusdigital.com/?p=9089 Actus Digital announced today the appointment of Janis Jekabsons as vice president of sales in Europe. Jekabsons brings more than a decade of broadcast industry experience to his new role at Actus Digital. Jekabsons’ main focus will be to raise the visibility of Actus Digital’s market-leading monitoring and compliance solutions among European broadcasters and provide outstanding support to the growing number of customers in the region.

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Leveraging a Decade of Experience, Janis Jekabsons Will Address the Growing Demand for Compliance Logging and AI-Based Media Monitoring Solutions in Europe

BOSTON — Dec. 5, 2022 — Actus Digital, the premiere solutions provider for broadcast compliance logging, quality monitoring, alerting, advanced editing, content repurposing, and AI-based workflows, announced today the appointment of Janis Jekabsons as vice president of sales in Europe. Jekabsons brings more than a decade of broadcast industry experience to his new role at Actus Digital. Jekabsons’ main focus will be to raise the visibility of Actus Digital’s market-leading monitoring and compliance solutions among European broadcasters and provide outstanding support to the growing number of customers in the region.

“The European region is key for Actus Digital, and we have strong local sales, support, and post-sales services resources in the territory for our customers,” said Actus Digital CEO Sima Levy. “With Janis as the head of European sales, we are poised for outstanding growth. His strong technical expertise, thorough understanding of broadcast systems, innate knowledge of our customers’ requirements, and vision of where the industry is headed will be instrumental to helping us expand and better serve media companies throughout Europe.”

Prior to joining Actus Digital, Jekabsons served as presales solutions architect for Grass Valley’s networking and IP infrastructure team. During his decade-long tenure at Grass Valley, he held customer-facing roles both in integrated playout custom development projects and in project engineering. Jekabsons holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees: one in computer science, engineering, automation, and control and the second in robotics with AI.

“Media companies are handling a growing amount of content and data, and they need intelligent solutions for improving OTT and broadcast workflow efficiency,” said Jekabsons. “Actus Digital is leading the charge for innovation with its AI-based media monitoring platform. I’m excited to share how Actus Digital’s platform can unleash greater workflow efficiency and cost savings for our European broadcast customers.” 

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