RealNetworks' RealNetworks Broadcast Network (RBN) has completed construction of its all-digital Internet Broadcast Operations Center at its downtown Seattle headquarters. The new facility was designed by RBN with integration services provided by Digital System Technology, Inc.

The new facility utilizes full bandwidth serial digital video for signal acquisition and distribution, which allows for the digital capture of video directly into RealVideo 8 without first converting to an analog signal before the encoding process.

'RealNetworkers' are now also able to manage and monitor complete network and customer feeds directly from their desktops via customized workstations.

"We're excited about offering this service to our broadcasting customers. RBN's new digital facility significantly improves the quality of service delivered to our customers' viewers," says Mark Warner, Manager of Broadcasting for RBN.

According to Warner, the digital broadcast quality video and audio that is now directly provided to the encoder significantly reduces noise and artifacts that do not have to be cleaned up later in the encoding process. "The end result is the highest quality streaming media possible."