Grass Valley Intros Automated Playout

Grass Valley announced an extension of its K2 media server family with K2 Edge, the centerpiece of the company's overall integrated playout solution. Housed in a 1 RU chassis, K2 Edge is a Linux-based system with a purpose-built architecture for 24/7 playout applications.The K2 Edge range is available in three levels of capability: K2 Edge Express, for entry level channels with minimal graphics needs; K2 Edge Pro, for main-line channels with more sophisticated graphics such as picture-in-picture; and K2 Edge Elite systems, which offer switching for up to four HD sources and multichannel 2D and 3D graphics with DVE moves including credit squeeze. Customers can migrate, via a software license, to any of the levels of capability within the K2 Edge range.Each K2 Edge system includes two features originally developed by PubliTronic: the K2 TX/MAM asset management system, with a central database, and Cobalt playout automation software. The K2 TX/MAM server uses a web-based GUI to control all assets including video clips, audio clips, captioning, metadata and graphic elements. The Cobalt playout automation system manages all on-air events and runs independent from the database.