What is 2nd Screen ?
2nd Screen or Companion Screen synchronization is the cutting edge solution allowing broadcasters, rights holders, media compa-nies and advertisers to engage the end-users to interact with scheduled programs such as reality/talk shows, movies, live sports, commercials. 2nd Screen applications enrich the TV experience and improve the viewer interaction by introducing social and per-sonal dimensions into TV programs. The Civolution audio watermarking technology provides essential features that dramatically increase the value of 2nd Screen applications:

• Automatic content identification
• Accurate synchronization with TV content regardless of transit delay, time-shifting or PVR recording

Integrated within the smart device applications, Civolution’s SyncNow technology is highly versatile, scalable and opens up attractive new revenue opportunities:

• Interactivity (gambling, tele-voting, polls)
• Social network (rating, chatting, sharing)
• Cross sales (VoD, Catch-Up, bonus)

• Live content enrichment, exclusives, bonus
• Engagement measurement
• Viral capabilities

SyncNow™ Live SDI Embedder (Synapse DAW77 & DAW99) —General characteristics
To simplify and easily watermark audio content in any workflow, Axon in collaboration with Civolution designed a professional grade Live Embedder equipment for broadcasters (Synapse DAW77 & DAW99). This robust and standalone hardware-based solution allows for easy integration within any live feed including production and playout centre workflows.
The Live Embedder is capable of inserting, in real time, inaudible and robust SyncNow™ audio watermarks, including a channel identifier and a time code enabling fast detection and accurate synchronization with the content on air.
It supports 3Gbps HD-SDI , HD-SDI and SD-SDI input stream and can simultaneously embed the audio watermark into up to 8 audio channels including 5.1 and 2.0 audio systems.

Features and benefits
Reliable
The Axon Live Embedder is a hardware-based server. It includes powerful Digital Signal Processors responsible for the audio wa-termark insertion. The solution includes by-pass mechanism to prevent any outage for live feed, and redundant power supply unit as an option.

Space-saving and Cost effective
Axon uses a modular, flexible and high-density design enabling a cost-effective and space-saving infrastructure.

Proven
During its 25 year history, Axon has developed the market’s most sophisticated modular audio/video processing system, Axon is widely deployed in the broadcast industry and is recog-nized as a world leader.

Extendable
The standard solution can easily be upgraded with Dolby E/D encoding capabilities, loudness controls or any other processing modules available in the Axon’s catalogue (www.axon.tv).

Standalone
Once installed and configured the Live Embedder does not re-quire any external controls. It inserts continuously the SyncNow™ watermark into the audio track seamlessly.

Scalable
The standard solution can be upscaled to insert SyncNow™ wa-termarks into up to 8x8 = 64 audio channels, by simply adding new SyncNow™ watermarking cards in the existing cabinet.

Customizable
As each 2nd screen experience is unique, Civolution will adapt the SyncNow™ watermark to respond to each project require-ments, allowing its clients to offer the finest 2nd Screen experience to their consumers.

What is Audio Watermarking ?
Digital audio watermarking consists of embedding imperceptible information into the audio content (file, sound track) without af-fecting the audio quality of the original file (inaudible). This data - or payload – gives the media assets a persistent identity. It can later be extracted and interpreted by devices to identify, protect, synchronize or monetize the asset. The audio watermark infor-mation survives signal compression and transitions in the broadcast chain.