Microsoft is extending its reach into the broadcasting realm with a new product called Skype TX, which it calls “studio grade software that delivers high quality audio and video output to seamlessly connect broadcast and media productions with people around the world.”
Skype TX will be available “in the coming year”, and the product is a result of a recent acquisition of its long-time partner Cat and Mouse. This basically now means that Skype will be better integrated into a professional studio set-up.
Indeed, the Cat and Mouse URL now redirects to a ‘Skype in Media’ section, which in turn teases more information around the new product. It’s basically designed with pros in mind, with support for the HD-SDI formats (a broadcast standard), while video and audio will be free from notifications, ads and other pop-ups. Skype TX will also manage aspect ratio mismatches automatically, and it can handle multiple Skype calls simultaneously on a single interface.
So with Skype TX, Microsoft is looking to help broadcasters transform their existing Skype-enabled video feeds into higher-quality broadcasts. This is a big move for sure, though it’s perhaps not all that surprising given the extent to which Skype is already used for live video in news broadcasts.
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