PANELLISTS
❝ If we delay the access to digital media via DTT , audiences will look for alternative access methods to consume digital content .❞
❝ We are doubling our efforts to introduce relevant content to our viewers on both our linear channels , as well as in Cambodia ’ s digital space .❞
24
March 2017
Rohde & Schwarz supports S Korean ATSC 3.0 broadcast
Last December , Seoul Broadcasting System ( SBS ) of South Korea aired its first 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) broadcast in the ATSC 3.0 standard . The sporting event , a World Cup short-track speed skating race , was terrestrially broadcast from the transmitter station on Kwanak Mountain , where Rohde & Schwarz installed a liquid-cooled R & S THU9 transmitter system . Following the successful broadcast , SBS has announced that it plans to use Rohde & Schwarz technology to set up a terrestrial TV network to broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 4K / UHD .
TeamCast releases Dual VYPER
TeamCast has launched Dual VYPER , which offers two high-end modulators in a compact package . With two modulators hosted into a single 1RU rack , Dual VYPER is designed for high-density applications such as DSNG trucks and large teleports , and is based on the third-generation VYPER platform . Dual VYPER supports DVB-S / S2 / S2X and DVB-DSNG modes and codes , including 64 APSK modes and 5 % roll-off values , and also offers IF and RF outputs , as well as insertion of CID data .
Next Month @ Distribution
Wireless Cellular-based Transmission
PANELLISTS
Dr Ali R Ebadi
Advisor Board of Directors Measat Satellite Systems
Martin Coleman
Executive Director Satellite Interference Reduction Group
Amitabh Kumar
Director , Corporate Zee Network
DTT transition opens new window of opportunity
W
In order to gain a foothold in the digital world , the transition to digital terrestrial television ( DTT ) is a necessity , rather than an option , for broadcasters . Josephine Tan writes more .
hen it comes to the transition to DTT , only five countries in the Asia-Pacific region — Japan , South Korea , Australia , New Zealand and Mongolia — have completed the analogue switch-off ( ASO ).
Particularly for public broadcasters , this is an “ alarmingly low ” progression , and will hinder their ability to compete in the current media marketplace , warns Dr Amal Punchihewa , director , technology and innovation of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union ( ABU ).
Following the changes in consumers ’ viewing habits and the variety of platforms that have been made accessible to them , Dr Amal urges broadcasters to commence the digital switchover ( DSO ) quickly before they risk losing their audiences to other digital platforms .
He tells APB : “ If we delay the access to digital media via DTT , audiences will look for alternative access methods to consume digital content . Broadcasters can only enjoy the true benefits of DTT married to broadband when the DTT transition is completed .”
In Cambodia , the Ministry of Information has laid the roadmap for the country ’ s DSO , which is planned to commence next year , and be completed by 2023 . One local broadcaster working closely on the government ’ s initiative is Cambodian Broadcasting Services ( CBS ). As the network oper ator for Cambodia Television Network ( CTN ), Cambodia News Channel ( CNC ) and MyTV , CBS will abide with the government mandate of switching from analogue to digital during
❝ If we delay the access to digital media via DTT , audiences will look for alternative access methods to consume digital content .❞
— Dr Amal Punchihewa , Director , Technology and Innovation , Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union ( ABU )
Designed as a scalable stream processing solution for broadcast , cable , satellite , OTT and network applications , Ateme ’ s Titan Mux can be incorporated into existing headend systems to support digital turnaround services .
the given period , affirms Bernard Anthony , CEO of CBS .
He explains : “ The digital revolution is spreading rapidly in the global arena as viewers are now able to watch what they want and where they want . On CTN ’ s part , we are doubling our efforts to introduce relevant content to our viewers on both our linear channels , as well as in Cambodia ’ s digital space .”
With multi-screen users on the rise , broadcasters have to keep pace with the ongoing DTT transition and build their services for viewers to watch their preferred content at any time , anywhere , and on any device . “ The market has transformed from a mass consumption product market into a customised product market . This increases the level of complexity in the network architecture ,” says Rémi Beaudouin , VP of marketing at Ateme .
For digital services such as videoon-demand ( VoD ) and catch-up TV , broadcasters are required to encode content in several formats to enable content viewing across different devices . To lower Capex and Opex while addressing multi-screen viewing , Beaudouin suggests creating a single , converged headend platform that is monitored by a management system . In this way ,
❝ We are doubling our efforts to introduce relevant content to our viewers on both our linear channels , as well as in Cambodia ’ s digital space .❞
— Bernard Anthony , CEO , Cambodian Broadcasting Services ( CBS )
broadcasters are able to manage any content formats .
He elaborates : “ Broadcasters can also benefit from additional savings from platform virtualisation , for instance , by migrating from hardware solutions that were based on ASICs ( application specific integrated circuits ) and FPGAs ( field programmable gate arrays ) to software-based products . This would allow them to introduce new services quickly , reduce operational complexity , and properly scale data centre resources as encoding requirements change .”
The digital transition is also prompting broadcasters to consider implementing solutions that would enable the migration to be compatible with the latest standards , including video compression codecs such as MPEG-4 or HEVC / H . 265 .
In order to further optimise bandwidth and allow broadcasters to launch more services , Ateme collaborated with a number of cable operators and set-top box ( STB ) vendors last year , to introduce the high-efficiency MPEG-2 ( HE-MPEG-2 ) codec . Designed to be compatible with MPEG-2 decoders , the HE-MPEG-2 codec eliminates the need to change or upgrade devices , according to Ateme .