CINCINNATI, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, is bringing a unique, new approach to the upcoming National Association of Broadcasters show taking place April 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (North Hall, Booth N2502). Harris will present a full-scale program of solutions-based demonstrations, tips and techniques, and the latest technology advances that enable any broadcast operation to cost-effectively implement an advanced media workflow. In addition, to support broadcasters as they face challenging economic conditions, the company will for the first time deliver a "Virtual NAB" experience for broadcasters unable to make the costly trip to this year's convention.
"Facing unprecedented economic challenges, broadcasters will head to NAB2009 seeking concrete business solutions to help them compete for viewer attention and shrinking advertising dollars in an industry moving toward total media convergence," said Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris Broadcast Communications. "At NAB, Harris will demonstrate how it bridges the gap between the traditional broadcast and IT worlds with tight software controls, enabling an advanced media workflow that manages every stage of the content lifecycle and allows broadcasters to profit from new revenue streams in both traditional and emerging business models."
From products to platforms to managed services, Harris offers a singular set of end-to-end capabilities that any broadcast operation can leverage to implement an advanced media workflow. With a Harris-powered advanced media workflow, broadcasters can manage complex advertising campaigns and program traffic and scheduling across multiple delivery services (broadcast, mobile, online, digital signage), with playlists passed off to a content delivery system that handles the appropriate format and aspect ratio conversion with a minimization of operating expense. The result is a highly automated content management environment that heightens creative and operational capabilities, reduces operating costs, and enables swift deployment of world-class media services.
New Approach on Show Floor
Taking its NAB approach beyond the traditional laundry-list of product introductions, Harris will provide visitors with access to a team of workflow technology experts who will be on hand to discuss and offer solutions to broadcasters' most pressing real-world business challenges, including:
-- How can broadcasters compete with Web-enabled and other nonlinear content providers?
-- What are the latest technology innovations that enable broadcasters to reach viewers on the go?
-- What is the most cost-effective way to transition traditional TV transmission to SD, HD, mobile?
-- What are the basics for creating 21st century master control for multichannel, revenue-enhancing broadcast?
NAB attendees are invited to visit the Harris theater, where live presenters will offer tips and demonstrations on topics ranging from how to drive new content management schemes and improve overall operational quality, to how to get live content to air faster. The theater will feature a revolving program schedule that will enable visitors to add presentations of interest into their convention agendas.
In another first, the Harris booth will also feature a groundbreaking master control center that will demonstrate how an interoperable Harris solution enables broadcasters to reduce operating costs per channel, stem the loss of advertising revenue due to technical failures, and promote rich image branding and viewer loyalty.
During the 63rd Broadcast Engineering Conference taking place at NAB2009, Harris will present an unprecedented 12 technical papers addressing the most recent developments in broadcast technology. Presentation subjects include "Designing and Testing AFD-Enabled Systems," "Metadata Challenges for Today's TV Broadcast Systems" and "BXF: How's it Working in the Real World?"
New Approach Online
"NAB is viewed as the prime opportunity for the industry to converge and converse on the significant issues of the day, but it also represents a considerable expense for both the manufacturers and the broadcasters who make the annual trek," said Thorsteinson. "Harris has a long-standing commitment to the broadcast industry and the financial stability to not only weather a difficult economy ourselves, but also to support our customers through this market downturn. So for the broadcasters unable to make it to this year's event, we will do our best to bring the show to them."
The Harris "Virtual NAB" will provide broadcasters who cannot attend this year's Las Vegas event with an informative, near real-time NAB experience without the hefty price tag. During the show, visitors to the Harris Web site will have access to live video feeds from the show floor, online demonstrations, a schedule of live presentations by workflow experts, and selected excerpts from the Harris presenters at the 63rd Broadcast Engineering Conference.
Preview
At NAB2009, Harris will announce new products and technology advances within every stage of an advanced media workflow, including compression and networking solutions, video servers, multiviewers, digital asset management, test and measurement, transmission platforms for both traditional and emerging delivery methods, and business-building software for digital signage networks.
Harris Broadcast Communications offers products, systems and services that provide interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire media delivery chain. The Harris ONE(TM) solution brings together highly integrated and cost- effective products that are ideal for emerging media business models and for customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-definition services.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has annual revenue of $5.4 billion and 16,000 employees - including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications(R) products, systems, and services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.
