Harmonic has announced that SELECTV has deployed its IP-based compression and multiplexing solutions for its direct-to-home satellite pay TV service in Australia.
The efficient DiviCom Electra 1000 multi-channel MPEG-2 variable bit-rate encoder is being used in combination with the DiviTrackIP distributed statistical multiplexing solution to allow SELECTV to aggregate content while maximizing service-carrying capacity and providing superior video quality.
Now fully operational, SELECTV offers programming packages not available from the local cable and satellite pay-TV providers.
SELECTV's DTH service, which is available throughout Australia, targets selected ethnic and cultural market segments and includes language-specific, community-oriented and other premium channels acquired from facilities in both Australia and the United States.
For many operators, such as SELECTV, MPEG-2 video solutions continue to be a proven platform with outstanding VBR compression performance and superior video quality with the economics and end-to-end compatibility typical of an established technology.
"As a new video service provider in Australia, SELECTV recognized early on that it needed to do more than simply replicate what was already available in the market," said Andrew Robertson, chief technology officer of SELECTV.
"Focusing on underserved viewer segments and creating specific programming packages with content sourced from around the world provides a rich and differentiated television service, though several difficult technical challenges were generated, which Harmonic helped us overcome," Robertson added.
"SELECTV is leading the way in a new category of service providers who are creating a place for themselves by focusing on a series of discrete market demographics," said Shahar Bar, director of satellite and broadcast solutions for Harmonic.
"This emerging business model requires a more extensive understanding of the viewer's interests and preferences as well as a versatile and scalable service infrastructure to enable it."
The DiviCom Electra 1000 efficiently MPEG-2 encodes up to four channels in a compact one rack-unit package. As such, SELECTV is able to implement a 12-channel multiplex in a mere five rack units, significantly reducing space and power requirements.
DiviTrackIP, in use worldwide, streamlines the aggregation of content and minimizes video bit-rates by dynamically interoperating with encoders over a LAN or WAN.
