Zambias ZNBC Chooses PlayBox Technology Neo for Broadcast Playout from its Lusaka Headquarters

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Zambias state-owned television and radio network, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, has chosen PlayBox Technology Neo as the core of a new playout facility controlled from its headquarters in Lusaka. The newly completed system was installed by Beijing-based StarTimes in partnership with PlayBox Technology Asia Pacific.

ZNBC initially upgraded to Neo at its studios in Zambias second largest city, Kitwe, comments PlayBox Technology Asia Pacific general manager Desmon Goh. Then it expanded its Lusaka headquarters. That transition from legacy analogue equipment was greatly appreciated both by the networks technical and operational staff. StarTimes was then commissioned to replace the analogue system at the networks central studios with PlayBox Technology Neo.

The new installation includes 12 3U AirBox Neo servers combined with TitleBox Neo CG interactive graphics, a Multi Playout Manager monitoring, control and viewing system, six ListBox Neo Playlist Preparation stations and six TitleBox Neo Preparation stations for template creation. These are configured as six main and six backup playout channels, integrated with ZNBCs existing production studio infrastructure. The entire workflow is in 1080i high definition with output downconversion for the parallel 576i standard definition transmission feed.

A key requirement was the ability to allow region-specific insertion of interstitials such as commercials into the regional stations as well as the integration with the existing media asset management system by Chengdu Sobey Digital Technology. The channel schedules are prepared using ListBox Neo preparation workstations linked to the relevant AirBox Neo servers via a 10GbE local area network. Each AirBox Neo can source content from the same LAN, from an incoming satellite feed or from locally generated SDI feeds. The project also included provision of a 96 terabyte server for storing programmes and interstitials.

In addition to the servers and software modules, six full weeks of training were provided at StarTimes office in Beijing plus three days of refreshment training at ZNBC in Lusaka. The new system is now in successful operation.

AirBox Neo enables ZNBC to source and process video and audio content from practically every known production platform or video server. Playlists can be scheduled weeks in advance to allow fully automated playout. Gaps or time overlaps are automatically resolved to ensure continuous operation even when conflicting timed events are present. Special facilities ensure uninterrupted operation if content files or even entire schedules are missing or misplaced. Changes to the playlist can be made at any time, even during an on-air session.

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The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC (www.znbc.co.zm), operates diffusion services across three radio channels (Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 4) and two television channels (TV1 and TV2). It also has plans to introduce new channels. ZNBC is mandated to educate, inform and entertain all Zambians by means of radio stations and television channels. The corporation is wholly owned by the government of the Republic of Zambia and was established on April 1, 1988 as a public service broadcaster, the precursor to Zambia Broadcasting Services (ZBS). The corporations core responsibility is to provide radio and television broadcasts throughout the country. Its other role is to provide signal distribution to other broadcasting stations.

StarTimes (http://startimestv.com) is a Chinese multinational media company with a strong presence in Africa. It provides digital television technologies to countries and television broadcasting industries which are switching from analogue to digital television. StarTimes is also a leading digital TV-operator across Sub-Saharan Africa. Its arrival in the African market made pay-TV affordable to every family. As of May 2017, StarTimes operates in 30 countries and serves 10 million subscribers.

PlayBox Technology Limited (www.playboxtechnology.com) is an international communications and information-technology company serving the broadcast and corporate sectors in more than 120 countries. PlayBox Technology Limited is dedicated to the research, design, development and provision of the best products, systems, solutions and services. Over 18,000 TV and branding channels are now powered by PlayBox Technology Limited broadcast solutions. Users include national and international broadcasters, start-up TV channels, webcasters, interactive TV and music channels, film channels, remote TV channels and disaster recovery channels. They are able to deliver their content as baseband (SD/HD SDI) or DVB/ATSC-compliant streams as well as in web-based formats such as RTMP. Simulcasting of SDI and one or multiple streams is also possible.

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