Streaming Media - April/May 2008 - (Page 25)

• The use of standard media formats (e.g., Windows Media) that are viewable using tools already deployed throughout the environment • A high degree of automation, which reduces the resources needed to manage and support the streaming environment • The end-to-end coverage of the offering (supports/enables content creation, management, and distribution) • Starbak’s experience supporting the global streaming requirements of other large multinational organizations A Four-Pronged Approach To address Dow’s requirements, Starbak deployed four different components: • Starbak Manager—This is a centralized management system deployed as a turnkey appliance that provides the ability to manage the devices, content, and users within the global streaming environment. By integrating Starbak Manager with its internal directory systems (via LDAP), Dow was able to offer its users single sign-on (which eliminates the need to enter usernames and passwords to access content). In addition, Starbak Manager provides a dynamic web-based user portal that makes content available immediately after capture. • Starbak Encoders—These appliance-based capture stations can connect directly to any video source (DVD, VCR, camera, etc.), capture analog video, and digitize the signals to Windows Media format. • Starbak Conference Engine—This rack mounted appliance enables the addition of PC content (e.g., PowerPoint) and videoconferencing content into the streaming environment. This device allows Dow to use its existing base of videoconferencing systems as content sources. • Starbak Delivery Nodes—These devices are installed at the edge of the network, close to where users are located, for the purpose of serving video locally, either live or on-demand, over the highbandwidth LAN at high quality. Managed automatically by the Starbak Manager, these devices optimize content delivery and protect Dow’s production network (LAN and WAN) from the rich media traffic. 2. Creating on-demand/prerecorded sessions—For on-demand sessions, content creators (presenters) either make their presentations in locations equipped with Starbak Encoders or record the content and upload the digital content to the Starbak system. Once digitized, the content is stored on streaming file servers and then automatically distributed to select Starbak Delivery Nodes throughout the world (based on the location of the users authorized to view the content item). 3. Accessing on-demand content—To view rich media content, Dow employees visit the rich media library section (created and dynamically updated by the Starbak Manager based on the user’s credentials) on the company’s intranet. Thanks to the single sign-on feature, the user does not have to log in to the content portal in order to see the content he or she is allowed to view. The Deployment Experience The Starbak solution was officially launched in 3Q 2007. To date, roughly 80 programs (content items) have been created and distributed throughout Dow. As of September, approximately 30 sites had access to DiamondTV, with another 120 scheduled for activation by the end of 1Q 2008. Although no global technology deployment is easy, Dow speaks favorably of Starbak’s performance to date. “Working with a large company, like Dow Chemical, presents unique challenges,” reports Chris Duncan, global leader, communication resources at Dow Chemical. “Throughout this project, Starbak has performed well and worked hard to address our requirements and concerns.” Solution Benefits The primary benefit of the Starbak-powered DiamondTV initiative has been the ability to provide Dow’s global user community with convenient access to the information they need to do their jobs, regardless of their locations or time zones. Other benefits include the following: • Increased reach—Dow estimates that the typical content item will be viewed by 20% more people without an increase in cost. In addition, the system makes rich media content available to employees in smaller offices (and even home offices). • Simplified content creation—The automation of the content creation process has allowed Dow to create more content more easily than ever before. • Improved security—User-based permissioning within the system allows Dow to limit content access on an individual content-item basis to only authorized personnel. • Decreased cost—Dow estimates a savings of 25% per content WWW.STREAMINGMEDIA.COM Using DiamondTV The following steps describe how Dow uses DiamondTV: 1. Creating and broadcasting live sessions—For live sessions, Dow leverages both its existing satellite distribution network and DiamondTV. To broadcast live content, presenters go to one of Dow’s satellite uplink locations, from where the content is broadcast live to approximately 80 Dow offices. In six of those 80 locations, the live content is captured using a Starbak Encoder and distributed via Dow’s wide area network (WAN) to smaller offices and those not equipped to receive the satellite signal. The captured content is also added to the content library for on-demand viewing. 25 http://WWW.STREAMINGMEDIA.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Streaming Media - April/May 2008

Streaming Media - April/May 2008 Table of Contents Beyond the Bottom Line Technology and Business Trends by the Numbers (Not So) Instant Karma MSN Autos Revs Up Video Production Dow Finds the Right Streaming Chemistry Why Video Is Changing the World A Decade of StreamingMedia.com What's Your Digital Media Strategy? Blasts From the Past: A Decade (Almost) of StreamingMedia.com Headlines Analyze That A League of Their Own: Streaming Media All-Stars Where Are They Now? Wanted: Sexy HDTV That Connects to the Internet and Services All DVRs Anystream Agility Inlet Technologies Spinnaker S3000

Streaming Media - April/May 2008

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