A critical component of Imagine Communications’ long-term IP transition strategy and vision is leveraging the economies-of-scale and price/performance advantages of the IT industry, which is several times larger than the overall media industry. Building bridges between the IT and media and entertainment domains is a surefire way to ensure a smooth, risk- and disruption-free transition of operations to an IP environment. That’s why we’ve expended considerable effort over the past 18 months to cultivate strong relationships with the major movers and shakers in the IT, IP, cloud and datacenter disciplines. In just the past few months we’ve worked with Microsoft to launch a preview of its Azure Media Services Premium Encoder, an on-demand service that enables broadcast-quality multiscreen streaming deployments; demonstrated compatibility of Imagine Communications software with Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS) platform and Nexus IP switches; announced the approval of use of our encoding and decoding solutions with Ericsson’s Mediaroom IPTV platform; and, just this April, unveiled a proof of concept showcasing the deployment of Imagine Communications’ VersioCloud on the HP Helion Managed Virtual Private Cloud solution. Earlier this month, Imagine Communications CEO Charlie Vogt addressed more than 10,000 attendees of the HP Discover 2015 event in Las Vegas, the company’s annual technology showcase and information-sharing conference. Taking the stage shortly after opening remarks from HP President and CEO Meg Whitman, Vogt offered his insights on the intersection of the media and IT industries and the velocity of change sweeping through all portions of the media industry ecosystem. “There’s been more change, I think, in the last five years than we’ve seen in the last 50,” said Vogt, adding that broadcasters, content creators and distributors are currently navigating a major evolutionary shift. “We think disruption is really an understatement.” Vogt emphasized that a symbiotic relationship between broadcasters, content creators, content distributors and other members of the media industry ecosystem with key suppliers of IT and datacenter infrastructure was critical to the future success of both industries. Echoing the major theme of the event — Infrastructure matters more than ever — Vogt said harnessing the power and flexibility of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) IT equipment would be instrumental to the success of the baseband-to-IP transition, as well as efforts to abstract operational functions, such as encoding and decoding, into software capable of executing in virtualized environments, including private and public clouds. He also identified the ability to cost-effectively store massive amounts of video content as a key catalyst for the delivery of unique and personalized television services, including cloud DVR (cDVR). A recording of Vogt’s remarks is available on the Imagine Communications' YouTube Channel Citing evidence of the transformational impact of IT and cloud technologies, Vogt referenced the April 13 unveiling of a collaboration with Disney/ABC Television Group to transition the entertainment and broadcast giant’s global programming playout, delivery and network operations to an IP cloud architecture. Announced at the opening of NAB 2015, the landmark deployment was one of the most talked about events of the four-day conference and exhibition. Vogt’s recent Las Vegas speaking engagements also include the NAB 2015 Super Session Television’s Transition to an All-IP — Why It’s a Big Deal. Joining fellow panelists and industry visionaries from Disney, Fox and TVU Networks, Vogt foreshadowed his remarks at the HP Discover event, citing unity and relationship building as being critical to the successful transformation of the media industry. “You’ve got to have a collaborative environment from suppliers to producers to broadcasters to distributors of content,” said Vogt.