IP Video Contribution Solutions from T-VIPS Enable Two Top PBS Affiliates to Transmit High-Quality Video in Real-time

After encoding the HD video to a 30 Megabit MPEG-2 ASI transport stream, WNET uses the T-VIPS TVG420 ASI to IP Gateway to move the compressed digital video over a high-performance OC 3 IP network to PBS’ network operations center in Alexandria for HDTV broadcast nationwide. At the PBS network operations center, the video enters the facility-wide workflow where it’s decoded back to ASI-HD video for broadcast.

“We’re extremely pleased with the reliability and performance of the T-VIPS TVG420 Gateway solution,” said Jeff Dockendorff, associate director of engineering for WNET, the PBS affiliate serving the New York Tristate area. “Our goal is to deliver a very high-quality product to PBS, and with the TVG420, the picture quality is exceptional.” Since the TVG420 was installed during the summer of 2010, WNET has used it to transmit many high-definition PBS productions to the network, including the weekly newsmagazine show “Need To Know” and “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2011” -- an annual “Great Performances” event featuring the Vienna Philharmonic in concert.

Boston PBS affiliate, WGBH, employs the T-VIPS CP510 Transport Stream Processor to filter select services from the WGBH-DT transport stream for delivery to Thames Valley Communications, a cable television, high-speed Internet, and digital phone service provider in Groton, CT. The T-VIPS CP510 enables flexible adaptation and filtering of MPEG transport streams and component filtering, as well as PSI/SI/PSIP table updates.

“WGBH looked at dedicated circuits for delivery to Thames cable but the cost was prohibitive,” said Michael Foti, Director of Engineering for WGBH. “I’d seen a demo of video over IP using the TVG420 and was impressed with its performance over the public Internet. We had to put something together fast with little budget, and the T-VIPS demo came to mind.”

While Thames Valley had been able to receive WGBH’s signal via satellite, in the Spring of 2010 that feed became unavailable. The communications provider terminated the signal at that time, along with the Boston-area NBC, ABC and CBS affiliates. “We could still receive WGBH’s signal through a fiber connection but that was prohibitively expensive,” explained Carl Andersen, director of programming for Thames Valley Communications, Inc. “To be competitive in our market, we needed to find a more more cost-effective way to get WGBH back onto our service. Representatives from WGBH demonstrated the TVG420 ASI to IP Gateway for us, and we realized that it solves our problem very affordably because it sends a high-quality video signal in real-time over IP.”

WGBH produces many top-rated PBS shows from its Brighton, MA studios, including “NOVA,” “Antiques Roadshow,” “Frontline,” and “Masterpiece Theatre.” With the T-VIPS TVG420, WGBH has found a cost-effective ASI to IP transport solution that preserves the high-quality HD imagery WGBH is known for.

According to Joe LoGrasso, VP and GM of T-VIPS America Inc., “While broadcasters such as WNET, WGBH and Thames Valley have a legacy of relying upon satellite, telco, and dedicated fiber connections for real-time, professional video transport solutions, our technology is ushering in a revolutionary shift to transporting and viewing video over IP networks in real-time, cost-effectively, and with the Quality of Service (QoS) the broadcast industry demands.”

The TVG420 is one of T-VIPS Video Gateway products for cost-effective, realtime contribution and distribution of professional quality video over IP networks. The Video Gateway solutions are part of an extensive portfolio of products that T-VIPS offers encompassing broadcast video contribution, terrestrial television, mobile television, IPTV, and TS monitoring, switching and remultiplexing.

About T-VIPS America Inc.

T-VIPS, a global leader in professional video transport solutions for contribution, distribution and Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), offers a comprehensive portfolio of powerful, efficient and intelligent solutions for processing and transporting high-quality video. T-VIPS’ close involvement in video standards bodies, leadership in JPEG2000, expertise in IP and transport stream multiplexing, processing and monitoring results in state-of-the-art technology that makes complex TV network operations simpler and preserves the integrity of high-end video streams. T-VIPS solutions are utilized in many demanding applications, including 1080/60p, 3DTV, alternative content for digital cinema, live HD sports and news back-haul, and the transport of HDTV programming over IP networks. T-VIPS is leading the IP-based video network revolution by empowering high-profile network operators, broadcasters and post-production customers in over 50 countries with innovative solutions that deliver significant operational and financial benefits. The privately held company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with Americas’ headquarters in New Jersey.