Indiana PBS Member Stations Accelerate Real-Time Content Sharing Through New High-Bandwidth Fiber and IP Network Video
Beijing Time, July 1, 2013 -
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS), a consortium of eight PBS television stations and nine NPR radio stations serving communities across Indiana, is now installing a Harris Broadcast Network solution to effectively share and manage broadcast content across all 17 member stations. Based on a new cost-effective, high-bandwidth fiber and IP network video, this project enables these Indiana PBS member stations to achieve unprecedented real-time content sharing, collaboration, television and radio distribution capabilities. Roger Rod, Executive Director of Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS), referred to the project as "Statewide HD/SD Education for Indiana," noting that IPBS carefully considered several strong vendor networks. Due to its sharp vision, Harris Broadcast was seen as the only vendor capable of facilitating the convergence of baseband video and audio processing, compression, and IP multicast signal contribution, distribution, and management in a way that aligns with both current and future needs.
The complete Harris Broadcast solution includes Selenio™ media convergence HD/SD video network, IP Intraplex Link 100 and 200 codecs, audio networking, and the Magellan™ network management system platform for control and management of the entire system. The entire solution positions IPBS for the future with a configurable, scalable baseband/IP video platform that can adapt to new standards and operational requirements; it also allows interoperability with third-party technologies. "So far, real-time content sharing between our member stations has been extremely challenging due to the high costs of satellite time and technical limitations," Rod said. "Once the build is complete, our stations will have the resources to do more live programming efficiently and seamlessly across the state. Additionally, our creative storytelling and HD contribution capabilities will greatly expand, as it will no longer be an incredibly expensive and cumbersome proposition." For example, Rod emphasized that Selenio makes it easy for every workstation on the network to conduct live interviews from another IPBS station or otherwise share content via the IP network, controlling production travel costs. He pointed out that the Indiana Channel is an IPBS program service that will benefit from the ability to package live, real-time content produced by member stations on topics of interest to audiences statewide. Meanwhile, Intraplex IP Link technology enables IPBS NPR member stations to distribute full-bandwidth broadcast-quality audio streams and low-resolution confidence monitoring streams via IP multicast. IPBS stations will use IP Link codecs to share programming with one or more IPBS stations and assist with live news reporting. They will also serve as regional news bureaus, feeding the statewide IPBS wireless network more easily and efficiently than ever before. "Our statewide broadcast news service can now expand programming to provide 24/7 real-time content sharing across the nation," Rod said. "While each station focuses on local community service and multi-station collaboration, the network allows them to envision the entire state of Indiana as their local live working studio." The Magellan NMS streamlines the entire IPBS workflow management, ensuring the smooth and effective movement of high-quality video and audio media across the network. All contributed video and audio is merged into a single user interface, greatly simplifying the distribution process between stations. Additionally, the Magellan NMS architecture includes thousands of network drivers, simplifying the connection of future products in the IPBS workflow, including network switches, routers, and servers. Harris Broadcast will configure the entire system at WFYI, an IPBS member station in Indianapolis, and train station engineers over a two-day period. Individual stations will later migrate their components to the local I-Light network service. Rod described this as "an example of learning how to achieve the efficiency of a centralized service without sacrificing the autonomy, community service, and branding of local stations."
Looking ahead, Rod sees tremendous opportunities for the scope and efficiency of the Harris Broadcast solution. "This platform can save money, time, and effort for our member stations today, paving the way for IPBS television stations to establish a unified master control operation from a single location," he said. "We have been looking for ways to reduce costs and invest more resources into producing high-quality, Indiana-centered programming that we rely on our audiences to provide. We believe that jointly maintaining a single master control will result in significant capital equipment savings."