Tut expands Astria

Tut Systems today is unveiling what could be considered its most significant additions to its flagship Astria content processor platform.

Among the most important enhancements is the addition of three new sized platforms: the Astria CP 100, which is a one RU chassis that supports two channels of analog or digital video encoding or four channels of decoding, or stream processing; the CP 200, which is a two RU chassis that supports up to six channels of encoding, 12 channels of decoding or stream processing; and the CP 400, which is a four RU chassis supporting up to 14 channels of encoding or 28 channels of decoding or stream processing.

"To date the competitors either made a one encoder or a chassis," said Craig Bender, vice president of marketing and corporate development for Tut. Filling the vast space in the middle capacity level allows much more flexibility, he said. "You may want to pick up three to eight local channels or maybe put one of these encoders out at the high school and film the school play. We’ve also gotten requests for surveillance, which fits in nicely with this."

Additionally, Tut is now offering up a new element management system for the Astria line and an automatic protection-switching package

"The customer gets a choice of management," Bender said. "To date, it’s been a GUI. But as you get into these rings, customers want a heavier duty management interface."

Tut also is including a new ad insertion application, QualView, that allows service providers to begin generating some incremental revenue via ad sales. And while telco TV providers are entering that particular market as little fish in a very big pond, their capability to aim at only certain market segments is an asset that has yet to be exploited.

"Dr. Pepper, for example, could go to ESPN and buy an ad, but want to target only a specific market," Bender said.