Viacom's Supersuites
allow rapid deployment
of additional networks
Viacom Networks has maintained
its Network Operations Center
(NOC) in Hauppauge, NY, for
more than 20 years. As the group
conceived and launched new networks, the
technologies used were chosen on an as
needed basis.
In the summer of 2005, to accommodate
a number of expected network launches, Viacom
engineering conceived the Supersuite
concept. The idea was to provide a common
user-friendly design to accommodate
all network requirements, allowing for the
rapid launch of a new network within six to
eight weeks of the request from operations.
The new design would support a flexible,
standardized and interchangeable operating
paradigm so that any operator could command
any channel from any workstation
under a highly automated control system.
Having worked together on other critical
projects, Viacom turned to The Systems
Group to detail the concepts and bring the
plan to life in a short four-month project
cycle timed to launch the first four networks.
Supersuite supports 16 SD channels and
four HD channels under the control of five
monitoring positions, all under the watchful
eye of a single supervisor in the NOC
control room.
The Supersuite uses a robust technical
core, consisting of Harris ADC automation,
Grass Valley routing (Venus/Trinix matrices
under Jupiter control), Evertz 500 and
7000 series modular products and MVP
multi-image processing, via NEC 61in plasma
screens on custom mounts provided by
Forecast Consoles. Four-channel audio is
supported for each SD channel, with 5.1 capability
in place for the HD channels.
The monitoring system includes several
custom scripts to simplify and automate the
configuration and setup time of a network
that may be switched via an extensive KVM
to another operator position.
Channel content is delivered via Omneon
Spectrum servers (long form) and Pinnacle
MediaStream servers (commercial spots)
via Miranda Imagestore and Presmaster
combination providing all of the branding
required for each network application.
Supersuite has been a successful concept
that allows Viacom the benefit of rapid deployment
of additional networks under a
fixed cost model that will support future
growth of the broadcaster. | 
