Grass Valley AMPP Provides an All-Encompassing Approach t...

Encompass Digital Media and Grass Valley are expanding their collaboration with the launch of Altitude Playout Plus, a software-defined channel origination platform developed for broadcasters managing live, late-changing and complex programming.

Encompass Digital Media provides managed media services to broadcasters, networks, sports leagues, federations, and OTT platforms worldwide, supporting channel origination, content processing, live event distribution and delivery.

The new service combines Encompass's managed services, Media Cloud and Altitude Flow, with Grass Valley AMPP and Playout X, creating an integrated workflow from media supply chain operations through to channel origination and transmission. Channel 4 has selected Altitude Playout Plus to support its channel portfolio under a new multi-year managed playout agreement, with services scheduled to launch in 2027. Channel 4 is the second major UK public broadcaster to select the Encompass and Grass Valley platform, following the successful launch this month.

Altitude Playout Plus has been developed for channels where schedules and content can change close to and during transmission, such as live sports, news and entertainment. Alongside playout, the architecture supports live contribution, event management, recording and fast-turnaround workflows, giving Encompass the flexibility to respond quickly as schedules and content update.

Grass Valley's AMPP provides the software-defined production and playout foundation, with Playout X supporting channel origination. Encompass integrates these capabilities with Altitude Flow, its media supply chain and control platform, while its web-based Playout Director brings together the operational data needed to manage live programming and late changes.

The result is a distributed architecture that can be deployed across cloud and on-premises infrastructure and operated from multiple Encompass locations. Services for the UK public broadcasters will be delivered from Encompass facilities in London and Riga, providing geographic diversity while giving operational teams flexibility over where resources are deployed.

Altitude Playout Plus has been designed around the realities of running complex live channels, where schedules can change quickly and operators need immediate access to the services and information required to respond, said Keir Shepherd, Chief Solutions Officer, Encompass Digital Media. Our work with Grass Valley gives us a software-defined foundation that we can combine with our media supply chain, operational tools and global managed service capability. Channel 4's decision to adopt the platform, alongside another major UK public broadcaster, gives us a strong foundation for extending the service to other demanding channel environments.

The architecture also gives Encompass access to additional AMPP applications when specialist capabilities are required. Resources can be introduced according to the requirements of a channel or event rather than maintained permanently for workflows that may only be used periodically.

For Grass Valley, the deployment demonstrates how its Dynamic Media Facility approach supports established broadcast services across hybrid, geographically distributed infrastructure. AMPP applications can operate alongside existing systems and Encompass technology without requiring the service provider or its customers to standardize operations around a single deployment location.

Major broadcasters are looking for greater flexibility without compromising the resilience and operational control required for live television, said Steve Hassan, Senior Director Playout at Grass Valley. Working with Encompass shows how a Dynamic Media Facility can bring software-defined playout and existing broadcast operations into the same architecture. Resources can be deployed across cloud and on-premises infrastructure and across different locations, giving service providers the flexibility to respond to changing channel and event requirements while maintaining the operational standards their customers expect.

Extensive design work between Encompass and Grass Valley has been completed ahead of the Channel 4 transition to ensure the platform meets the broadcaster's technical and operational requirements.

Grass Valley will be at IBC 2026 at the RAI Amsterdam, September 11-14. Visitors can meet the team at Booth 9.A01 to learn more about AMPP, Playout X and the Dynamic Media Facility.

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