Wowza and NewTek are releasing an all-in-one streaming appliance that simplifies workflows and enables production and seamless distribution of high-quality live video to various global markets, dubbed the Media Distribution System (MDS). The MDS is an out-of-the-box solution that integrates hardware and software solutions by merging NewTek’s live production technology with Wowza’s streaming software in a 1RU footprint.
Wowza and NewTek are touting the resulting technology as “the industry’s first integrated production system for real-time encoding and live streaming.” The MDS is an end-to-end streaming solution that combines high-quality streaming encoding, production capabilities, packaging, and adaptive bitrate delivery into one device, in order to streamline the live-streaming process and enabling ease of implementation.
The solution features four multiformat SDI inputs supporting up to 3G 1080p resolution, four independent and simultaneous streaming channels, input and output over IP support via NewTek’s Network Device Interface software, which is an open standard to connect video equipment over a network. MDS also integrates Wowza’s streaming media server software as well as NewTek’s real-time video and audio production solutions. MDS also supports LAN, WAN, Wowza CDN, Wowza Streaming Cloud and other streaming platforms, such as Facebook, Microsoft Azure, YouTube, and custom RTMP.
The MDS appliance allows various video productions, presentations, and live events to be streamed by a global audience, in a variety of scenarios, including tablets, mobile phones, televisions, and computers, creating new distribution and content monetization opportunities. Wowza notes that, “with support for multi-bitrate delivery to Wowza Streaming Engine, Wowza Streaming Cloud, Wowza CDN, and all common streaming services and websites, organizations can reach their intended audiences, wherever and however they watch.”
The MDS will be available in Q4 2016 for $11,995 MSRP, though international pricing may vary from region to region.