The US-based non-profit, global educational TV broadcaster, Scola, has bought IP-based stream processing, transcoding, media server, and storage systems from Harmonic, to power its satellite distribution and internet service expansion, writes David Fox.
The new systems are intended to improve Scola’s broadcast video quality, decrease satellite bandwidth usage by up to 50%, and triple the amount of VoD formats supported on Scola’s website. Scola receives and retransmits programming from around the world in native languages.
To enhance picture quality, workflow, and multi-view channel capabilities, Scola’s suppliers and systems integrators, Foundation Telecommunications and TBC Integration, will deploy an array of integrated Harmonic video infrastructure, including Electra 8000 encoders, ProStream stream processors and realtime multiscreen transcoders, Omneon Spectrum MediaCenter media servers, and a file-based ProMedia Carbon automated transcoding farm.
“We work with top solution providers to provide best-in-class video infrastructure solutions for our broadcast and satellite customers,” said Sean Busby, Executive VP, TBC Integration. “Harmonic offers superior video compression, processing, and server solutions, making it possible for us to enable Scola to expand its services successfully and deliver a more compelling offering.”
The Electra 8000 encoders provide Scola with SD/HD MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC encoding, as well as integrated statistical multiplexing. They can handle up to four channels in a single rack unit, reducing operational costs through high density and power efficiency. Scola will use the ProStream 1000 platform for bulk scrambling and the multichannel Spectrum MediaCenter as a media server and content storage.
The ProStream 4000 realtime multiscreen transcoder is optimized for adaptive streaming, enabling Scola to meet growing demand for OTT and mobile TV services. File-based transcoding is provided by the Rhozet-powered ProMedia Carbon, which is being deployed in an enterprise-class, automated transcoding farm controlled by the Harmonic Workflow System. Scola will also use IRIS software to monitor quality of service and NMX Digital Service Manager for configuration, control, and monitoring of Harmonic and third-party video network elements.
“Scola wanted to work with a solution provider that could offer an integrated headend system and meet the end-to-end technical requirements for video compression and distribution,” said George Livergood, President, FTI. “Harmonic supplies the advanced video compression, stream processing, and server technologies that enable Scola to expand its broadcast and Web services with confidence.”
www.ftionline.com
www.harmonicinc.com
www.scola.org
www.tbcintegration.com
