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GE Americom Unveils IP-Enabled DigitalC Offering
CNBC2 and ValueVision to Deliver Programming Through End-to-End MCPC Solution
 Targeting programmers and content delivery providers who require IP distribution to the cable community, GE Americom recently introduced DigitalC/IP". This offering builds upon the foundation of Americom's DigitalC" end-to-end video MCPC solution. By taking advantage of Cable2's cable headend penetration and utilizing the same distribution infrastructure established for DigitalC, Americom customers can offer high-speed file delivery, interactive application downloads, streaming video and high-speed Internet access.
Available on GE-1, DigitalC is designed to facilitate the distribution of rapidly multiplying compressed, digital cable programming services. The offering features a choice of the two most popular digital platforms for cable - Scientific Atlanta PowerVu and the Motorola/GI Digicipher II - as well as customized bandwidth in an MCPC format.
The technical hub for the service is GE Americom's Digital Media Center in Woodbine, Maryland - a facility capable of accepting video content in any format or media, including videotape, analog or digital terrestrial or satellite delivery. DigitalC includes digital encoding and compression, local transport, uplinking and protected space segment in the fastest growing cable neighborhood, Cable2, which currently reaches more than 48 million households.
"DigitalC is a cost-effective turnkey video distribution service utilizing Scientific Atlanta and Motorola compression platforms to service the cable community," explained Steve Osman, Director, New Service Development, GE Americom. "These platforms are equipped with the latest vendor technology and implementations to provide compatibility with both 64 QAM and 256 QAM cable systems. This solution provides comprehensive, one-stop shopping for digital video distribution services."
GE Americom recently welcomed two new DigitalC customers - CNBC2 and Valuevision. CNBC2 is the digital companion channel to CNBC, featuring live market coverage and international financial news carried on CNBC Europe and CNBC Asia - two networks co-owned by NBC and Dow Jones. CNBC currently reaches a global audience of more than 160 million households across 84 countries.
As the nation's third largest and fastest growing home shopping network, Valuevision incorporates television home shopping, vendor programming, fulfillment services and e-commerce. Valuevision television is broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to approximately 36 million viewers - with all programming simulcast live on its Internet site. GE Equity and NBC own approximately 44 percent of ValueVision - providing resources to dramatically improve the company's household penetration and the infrastructure to pursue Internet initiatives.
"We are very pleased to have CNBC2 and Valuevision join our DigitalC platform," noted Osman. "Many programmers are beginning to recognize the importance of having an industry-neutral service provider capable of offering the video quality and service flexibility they're looking for."
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