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Distributing content in challenging times

Mar 2, 2009 8:03 AM, By Michael Grotticelli

“By combing MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2, operators can double the efficiency of their networks, sending either more programs or using half the bandwidth,” said Ned Mountain, president and COO of Wegener. “That’s the real name of the game. Saving costs while continuing to deliver high quality content is what every one is seeking to accomplish.”

Tighter network control
Store-and-forward solutions can help improve bandwidth efficiency among network operators by allowing broadcasters to send HD content as compressed files. They enable operators to leverage satellite transponder space while pushing content to the headend, thereby letting the operator decide what the consumer has access to and for how long. The technology also allows network operators to mix file-based content with live content for events like sports. Special promotional text and graphics can also be laid over video content, completely automatically.

The technology is also being used for so-called “hybrid” networks, which make extensive use of both satellite and IP infrastructures for the same content. A global network might want to use satellite delivery domestically, but IP in overseas regions where satellite coverage is not available. There a secure transmission via the Internet is used. The difference is two-way IP versus one-way satellite transmission.

MPEG-2 is here to stay
“Most cable and broadcast networks will have to deal with MPEG-2 for years to come” Mountain said. “They understand that with the proliferation of existing boxes in the home, they have to get that final product in MPEG-2 for consumption. There’s various ways to do this, and new ones are emerging all the time, but it’s a fact of life in content distribution.”

Operators can also create “virtual channels” that are operated without human intervention, cycling content from a hard drive located in a hub facility. The network control system tells the server what content to playout and in what sequence. In this example, all of the content does not need to be sent in real time every day, so again, bandwidth and cost is conserved. These are becoming more popular as staff is reduced and more channels need to be filled.