Barco Makes Broadcast and Distribution Monitoring Over IP a Reality With Altera Programmable Solutions

Stratix II FPGAs and Nios II Embedded Processors Deliver Video Processing and Network Functions for Networked Broadcast Monitoring System

IBC2005, Amsterdam, Sept. 8, 2005 — Altera Corporation’s (NASDAQ: ALTR) FPGAs and embedded processors are helping Barco extend its leadership in managed broadcast monitoring equipment by delivering unprecedented video processing and networking integration for its Networked Broadcast Monitoring System, Altera announced today. Barco’s choice of Altera’s programmable solutions allows them to integrate more functionality into a single chip and realize lower product costs as a result. Both Altera and Barco will be demonstrating their solutions during the International Broadcast Conference (IBC2005).

“In each Networked Broadcast Monitoring System, a single Stratix® II FPGA performs critical compute-intensive video scaling, high-speed network interfacing, and control functions via a Nios® II embedded processor,” said Peter Bussens, product manager at Barco. “This integration of several components worth of application-specific standard products (ASSPs) and an off-the-shelf processor into one device increases the compactness, cost-effectiveness, and reliability of our offering.”

Barco’s new Networked Broadcast Monitoring System goes beyond the basic multi-viewer system towards facility-wide monitoring. This high-end solution allows high-quality, low latency distribution of video sources and metadata over an IP network towards multiple screens, even in different control rooms, and offers ultimate flexibility for broadcast and distribution monitoring. Barco’s Networked Broadcast Monitoring System enables the operator to monitor the broadcast process and visualize the video content in real-time from anywhere in the facility.

“Barco’s Networked Broadcast Monitoring System is an innovative broadcast solution that meets the demand for end-to-end digital access for networked visual information,” said Todd Scott, senior director of Altera’s digital consumer and broadcast business unit. “Altera’s solutions, including the highest performance FPGAs, Gigabit Ethernet intellectual property from Altera partner MorethanIP, and the versatile Nios II processor, helped Barco address the needs of the broadcast industry by providing flexible and reliable building blocks for high-speed video processing and networking.”

IBC2005 attendees can see Altera’s programmable solutions for the broadcast industry at booth number 10.420, and Barco’s solutions at booths number 1.149 and 8.200.

For more information regarding Stratix II FPGAs, please visit the Altera website at www.altera.com/stratix2.

To see how customers have used Altera products in broadcast applications, visit the Broadcast section of Altera’s Customer Showcase at  www.altera.com/broadcastsuccess.

About Altera

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) is the world’s pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions.  Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property, and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide.  More information is available at www.altera.com.

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