News

Capital Networks launches 4.0 version of Audience content software

December 1, 2010

Capital Networks Ltd., a global provider of broadcasting and digital signage content creation and management software, has launched a new version of its Audience information delivery platform.

Audience 4.0 provides both broadcasters and organizations operating digital signage networks with a powerful, flexible HD solution for high-quality broadcast content and digital signage displays, the company says. The new Audience platform also comes packaged with an enhanced graphic interface and more video and animation support than ever before.

Growing awareness of HD programming can be attributed to major sporting events, as well as the expanding HDTV home market, Capital Networks says. According to Informa Telecoms and Media, by 2014 the number of homes worldwide watching HDTV will surge to 276 million. As a result, more and more digital signage and digital out-of-home DOOH broadcasters want to ensure the images people see out of their homes—in sporting stadiums, shops, restaurants, airport lounges and other public places—match the quality that people are exposed to in their homes.

"Like it or not, increasingly digital signage messaging will be judged by the public against what they see in their homes," Jim Vair, vice president of business development at Capital Networks, said in the announcement. "Digital signage content producers who lag behind the growing public appetite for media rich, high-definition presentations run the risk of being left behind. The same is perhaps more true of broadcasters. As they approach the out-of-home world, they must ensure that their digital signage efforts are of the highest quality because they have their professional brand to uphold."

Audience 4.0 also features new scheduling developments. These enable smart, enterprise-level scheduling, so that users can target specific playbacks by demographic locations. A large restaurant, for example, might want to promote certain dishes in certain cities or towns—or even an individual restaurant—where they are most popular. With Audience's advanced scheduling, they can now run these offers automatically, without the need to spend time on separate programming. This ensures that the business can display relevant local information, but retain consistent national branding.

Audience 4.0 also includes other key new features:

• Support for Windows 7
• Enhanced video file support—including SD and HD, MPEG4 and MPEG2
• Broadcast quality MNG animations builder—ideal for companies that don't have animators on staff but want animation within a show
• Full alpha channel flash support
• 3D effects and transitions