Tightrope Media Systems has a new software version for its Cablecast Community Media broadcast automation, playout and content publishing platform.

Cablecast 7.1 adds expanded IP input and closed captioning functionality plus SSL support for securing customers’ web content portals, while also bringing many features of Cablecast’s seventh-generation software – previously available only on new Cablecast VIO video servers – to users of earlier Cablecast Flex servers for the first time.

“Users of version 7.0 on our Cablecast VIO servers love the improved flexibility and efficiency it brings to their operations, from expanded format support and remote content uploads, to its ability to ingest live IP streams on an automated schedule,” said Steve Israelsky, President, Cablecast Community Media. “We’re excited to deliver the same advantages to Cablecast Flex users with version 7.1, while adding valuable captioning and web security enhancements for all users.”

Cablecast 7.1’s new support for sidecar caption files enables addition of closed captions to individual programs or complete libraries of existing file-based content. A producer or station can send media files out for captioning, with the results returned as editable sidecar files in MCC or SCC formats. These caption files can then be applied to the corresponding media in Cablecast.

Support for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology through Let's Encrypt – the free open certificate authority from non-profit Internet Security Research Group (ISRG) – helps Cablecast customers conform to today’s web security standards.  Implementing SSL enables content portals powered by Cablecast’s turnkey ‘public site’ web publishing templates to be securely browsed, improving visitors’ user experience while helping boost SEO rankings. It also bolsters customers’ ability to share and syndicate their content by enabling them to promote and propagate secure embed codes and streaming links for distribution through their own or third-party content destinations and social media channels.

Cablecast 7.1 now offers expanded IP input and file format support for both Cablecast VIO and Cablecast Flex owners. Live, H.264-encoded RTP, RTMP or HLS streams from remote locations or social media outlets such as YouTube Live can be brought directly into the system for recording or broadcast without requiring an external decoder. Programs can be recorded with H.264 compression for greater storage efficiency, while broader codec compatibility including VP8 and Theora enables media files in almost any broadcast or internet-oriented format to be played out without transcoding.

While Cablecast Flex customers previously used the Carousel digital signage software to manage their community bulletin boards, Cablecast 7.1 incorporates the new, broadcast-optimized Cablecast CG bulletin board software – still based on the Carousel engine – directly within the Cablecast user interface. Existing customers utilizing Carousel-powered bulletin boards that are on current Software Assurance agreements will receive Cablecast CG automatically with Cablecast 7.1. “Stations’ graphical needs for on-air bulletin boards often differ from those for digital signage,” said Israelsky. “Cablecast CG delivers an even more seamless operational experience, while providing a foundation for future broadcast-specific CG capabilities.”