 Delivering Innovative MPEG Solutions |
| News From Adtec Digital |
| Contact: Mary Anna Brown Public Relations Coordinator (615) 256-6619 ext. 120 maryannab@adtecinc.com |
| September 10, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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| NASHVILLE, TN – Adtec Digital's edje-PDP MPEG 2 playback expansion card, coupled with Pioneer's PDP-433MXE Industrial Plasma screens and an existing LAN infrastructure, is providing a low-cost, IPTV solution to London's South Bank Centre. The SBC, comprised of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hayward Gallery and Purcell Room, houses an eclectic mix of traditional to highly contemporary productions encompassing dance, literature, theatre, poetry, music and visual art. "The strategy behind the point of information system was to complement traditional promotional tools with engaging multimedia content, motivating casual visitors to find out about future events and purchase tickets," SBC Head of Marketing Development, Owen Valentine Pringle, said. "As soon as we heard about Pioneer's expansion solution and Adtec's expansion card, it sounded like the system we needed." In response to SBC's desire for digital signage, Trimedia Broadcast Ltd. installed a wireless IPTV system throughout SBC, creating a fully programmable media system capable of displaying discreet, real time information on separate screens throughout the complex. "Pioneer's Industrial Plasma screens are modified to include network connections and Adtec's edje-PDP 20 gigabyte hard drives, holding up to five hours of broadcast-quality MPEG 2 video and graphics files, and enabling store and forward programming for each screen, from one central source," Trimedia Managing Director, John Donovan, said. "It's unnecessary to hang a computer off each plasma, meaning massive savings, no wiring, minimal installation costs and minimal installation disruption. There's also no power-up/power-down routine or unreliable, proprietary operating systems to worry about." SBC required that each screen could be easily updated and show different content on each display when needed, allowing information to be tailored to each area of the facility. "The solution is controlled from a software interface on one PC, managing the creation and remote updating of content and playback schedules across every screen, in contrast to traditional installations that require each display to be connected to its own PCS and complex proprietary software to manage the creation and distribution of its own content," Donovan said. "Time and location specific information is being displayed on each screen. The Hayward Gallery can include specific information about exhibitions while the Royal Festival Hall can preview its own programming." "Running costs were key demands of this project, but we did not want to compromise on overall quality," Pringle said. "This installation provides an innovative, cost-effective, scalable and aesthetic point of information system. We used to rely entirely upon customers being proactive by picking up literature for immediate information, much of which could be easily missed. Now we can communicate with our customers with greater depth, in real time with relevant information. The Pioneer Expansion Solution and Adtec's edje-PDP is a powerful marketing communication tool and exactly what we envisioned when we started this project." "This installation has revolutionized customer communications at SBC," Donovan said. "The days of cluttered leaflet displays are firmly in the past." The South Bank Centre is Europe's largest arts complex, presenting nearly 1,000 paid performances each year and more than 300 free foyer events in the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell room. Up to six major art exhibitions are presented at the Hayward Gallery as well as exhibitions in more than 100 venues around the country. For more information about the South Bank Centre, visit www.sbc.org.uk. Trimedia Broadcast Ltd. is one of the UK's leading Digital Broadcast and Corporate communication consultancies, with over 50 years of combined experience working with leading Broadcast and MPEG 2 technology. For more information about Trimedia Broadcast, visit www.trimedia.co.uk/index.asp. Pioneer Corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of consumer and business electronics products such as audio, video and car electronics on a global scale. Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol PIO), Euronext Amsterdam, Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange. For more information about Pioneer, visit www.pioneer-eur.com. Adtec Digital is the world's leading manufacturer of MPEG2-based digital video players, single channel commercial insertion controllers and automated video control systems. For more information about Adtec and their products, visit www.adtecinc.com. |