IBC 2016: Riedel reveals two acquisitions, highlights partnership with Cisco

There was no chainsaw involved in his presentation this time — the power tool having made a memorable contribution to a press call at NAB 2016 — but Riedel Communications founder Thomas Riedel’s IBC Day 1 media briefing was highly eventful nonetheless, with news of multiple acquisitions and a significant corporate partnership.

In recent months, Riedel has moved to acquire two intercom manufacturers, ASL Intercom BV and DELEC, with confirmation of both deals taking place at IBC 2016.

Based in The Netherlands, with a heritage stretching back more than 30 years, ASL Intercom’s flagship ASL FLEXUS system is notable for allowing multiple standards — Dante/AES67/AVB and RAVENNA — to coexist in a single system. Riedel Communications will maintain the ASL Intercom brand identity going forward, while founder and MD Eric de Bruyn will stay on in his current role.

DELEC Audio- und Videotechnik GmbH’s track record is similarly extensive, and today the company has a notable presence in stage management and live-entertainment intercom, thanks to products including the oratis intercom systems, unito Dante audio-networking interfaces, and digital PA systems.

“It’s all about ensuring interoperability and our products talking to each other,” proclaimed Riedel of another significant development: the company’s new agreement with Cisco, whereby they can explore new ways to use the Cisco Media Blueprint platform to enhance their respective businesses. The agreement creates a framework by which Riedel and Cisco can explore collaborative opportunities.

“At Riedel, we have been embracing broadcast and IP standards across our product lines for many years now,” said Jake Dodson, director, product management, Riedel Communications. “So, when it came time to look at how we were going to continue our innovation across an evolving synchronized IP fabric, Cisco was the obvious choice of a great company to partner with.”

Said John Dorval, area VP, service provider sales, Cisco, “The Cisco Media Blueprint leverages the mainstream Cisco product portfolio and applies industry-specific expertise and partnerships. The application-aware network infrastructure, built specifically for broadcasters, orchestrates the critical interface between applications, storage, distribution channels, and consumers. We welcome Riedel as an industry partner and look forward to the innovation we can create together.”

There was also a significant new product announcement in the form of the MediorNet Control App for the RSP-2318 SmartPanel multifunctional user interface. In addition to linking the SmartPanel directly into the Riedel MediorNet media network as a dedicated control panel, the new MediorNet Control App — in combination with the existing Intercom Apps — gives users simultaneous intercom functionality, enabling them to route, control, and communicate all at once using a single 1-RU system.

It was announced that Sky Deutschland AG (Sky Germany) has already outfitted a new fleet of seven satellite newsgathering (SNG) units and two OB tender vehicles with Riedel Communications’ MediorNet real-time media network and SmartPanels equipped with the new MediorNet Control App. The SmartPanel App enables Sky Germany to route and control signals across the MediorNet network according to the requirements of different live sports and news event.