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Astro brings HD to Malaysian Homes Using Innovative EVS Solutions

EVS Broadcast Equipment, a leader in the design of hardware and software for the acquisition, the production and the playout of sport, news and TV programs today announced  that Astro, Malaysia’s leading cross-media broadcaster and direct-to-home (DTH) satellite pay-TV operator, has selected their instant tapeless technologies for content control operations on its HD channels.

The newly launched Astro B.yond service uses 28 EVS XT[2] servers under control of the AirEdit/IPDirector for the content control of its HD on-air channels.

“Astro had been using EVS servers for its studio productions and these servers have been installed in both of Astro’s Kuala Lumpur facilities; Bukit Jalil and Cyberjaya. EVS applications are highly flexible and have a scalable architecture, which are critical for our operations”, said David Thomas, Astro’s Vice President, Content Delivery Technology, Technology and New Media Division. For each HD channel put to air, there are fully redundant EVS systems based on the newly released AirEdit module of IPDirector. AirEdit allows operators to modify incoming HD channels in order to comply with Malaysian broadcasting regulations. A delay is applied to the incoming signal so the operator can make the modifications while the video is buffered on the EVS XT[2] server.

Thanks to the simple yet powerful interface of the AirEdit module, the modifications can be made swiftly, and in a seamless way that does not disrupt the viewers’ experience.

“EVS’ solution answers our operational needs but also our technical integration requirements,” said Noel Henry Augustine, Manager, Broadcast. “EVS systems are open and easily integrated with our other equipment, such as traffic system or archive,” he added.

The new AirEdit module of the IPDirector combines EVS’ expertise in content control applications that have been marketed by EVS for the past 15 years, with the power of EVS’ latest generation servers and applications. EVS solutions are directly winning against the competition today, providing the most reliable and powerful system to cater for the complex needs of HD Content Control.

“We are very proud to be working with Astro on such a critical component of their HD broadcast chain,” said Luc Doneux, General Manager, EVS APAC. “Astro and EVS’ common strive for innovation ultimately benefits the audience.”

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About Astro TV

Astro TV is Malaysia’s leading multimedia broadcaster and producer of Malay, Chinese, Indian and English language programming content. It owns and operates the only direct-to-home satellite TV service with access to some 14 million viewers in over 2.93 million homes, representing 49% of TV homes in Malaysia, making it one of the biggest pay TV operators in South East Asia. It currently offers over 125 TV channels, including 8 HD channels and 32 Astro-branded channels of original and aggregated content of various genres in multiple languages. Astro is also the first to introduce High Definition (HD) broadcast in Malaysia through Astro B.yond, making it a leading edge innovator.For more information, please visit

Astro

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About EVS

EVS Broadcast Equipment is a leader in the design of hardware and software for the production and playout of sport, news and TV programs in both live and near live environments. Its innovative Live Slow Motion system revolutionized live broadcasting, and its instant tapeless technology is now widely used in nonlinear editing and High Definition Television the world over.
The company sells its branded products in more than 70 countries and is capable of providing service in any region. EVS has offices in Belgium, China, Germany, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Spain, and the United States.

EVS

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