Omneon Video Networks today announced that the Cologne Broadcasting Center (CBC) has installed an Omneon Spectrum™ media server system in its new Munich broadcast facility for playout of RTL II programming, which includes youth-oriented, German-language movies; lifestyle and infotainment magazines; series; music programs; and cartoons for children and young adults. The new RTL II building and Omneon server system went live on July 1.

“In building our new playout facility, we sought a flexible and scalable server system that would integrate easily with other advanced broadcast technologies and provide native MXF support,” said Mido Fayad, Head of Broadcast Operations and Engineering at CBC. “It was critical that we could work with an IT-based archive using the MXF format, and the Omneon Spectrum™ server gave us this capability while also providing a good foundation on which we can continue to build our operations.”

A fully redundant ingest and playout server, the Omneon Spectrum™ server at CBC is configured to provide three input channels, six output channels, and 120 hours of storage in 50-Mbit/s IMX format. The Omneon Spectrum™ system will operate with Abit Present it automation using VDCP and exchange material with an IT-based archive in MXF format.

German Netorium GmbH assisted CBC in the planning, integration, and configuration of the Omneon system with other systems in the state-of-the-art facility. As a service provider for RTL II, CBC is responsible for the entire system, from planning and installation through operation.

An exceptionally cost-effective and flexible media server designed for the professional television industry, the Omneon Spectrum™ provides a reliable and scalable infrastructure for broadcast playout and storage applications. Omneon’s server system is built on an open architecture that allows it to support a broad variety of third-party applications for control and transmission, media management, archiving, and collaborative production. As a result, stored media can be shared among many users and applications.

The scalable, distributed architecture of the modular Omneon Spectrum™ server system also offers users maximum flexibility in scaling system components and capacity in small or large increments as desired. The system is available in a broad range of configurations to meet the specific needs of each installation.

Learn more about Omneon’s server solutions at www.omneon.com.

About Omneon
Omneon is a leading provider of flexible media server and active storage systems that optimize workflow productivity and on-air reliability for the production, distribution, and management of digital media. Omneon is a pioneer in the use of advanced IT technologies and open systems for broadcast applications, producing a modular and expandable video server architecture in the Omneon Spectrum. The company's MediaGrid active storage system delivers centralized content storage that is scalable in capacity, bandwidth, and media-processing power. The company has an extensive global presence with customers in 45 countries on six continents. Omneon is on the Web at www.Omneon.com.

About CBC
Cologne Broadcasting Center (CBC), founded in 1994, is one of the leading TV broadcasting and production companies in Germany. The diversified company's portfolio strategy with its One-Hand-Solution-Approach comprising broadcasting processing, teleport, production, post production, systems integration and implementation, media services, and facility management enables CBC to meet customer needs and market requirements. Clients include TV channels such as RTL II, VOX, Super RTL, tv.nrw, TV Travel Shop, Studio Universal, and Multithématiques.

About RTL II
RTL II was founded in 1992; its reputation as the German broadcaster dedicated to young audiences has grown ever since over the years. Unconventional concepts, groundbreaking ideas, and competency in all program areas such as movies, cartoons, music, and docu-soaps highlight RTL II's role as one of the leading channels in its target segment of 14-29 year olds. Hand in hand with the success of RTL II are hit programs like Big Brother and The Dome, both milestones in recent German TV history.

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