SuperSport Scores Scalability with New Harris Broadcast Router

(12/04/2013) Leading South African satellite broadcaster SuperSport is moving into a new state-of-the-art HD playout center. Responsibility for management and monitoring of all the signals in the facility has been handed to the Platinum IP3 router from Harris Broadcast, representing the first global installation of this innovative advance in routing technology. Harris Broadcast's South African dealer, Concilium Technologies, supplied the Platinum IP3 as part of a complete package of Harris Broadcast infrastructure equipment, and worked closely with Harris Broadcast throughout the project.

The Harris Broadcast Platinum router led the industry by being the first to offer genuine dual-path routing, allowing video and audio to be contained in the same device without losing signal paths. The Platinum IP3 takes that to the next logical stage, incorporating data as well to offer triple-path routing. It makes it the ideal router for facilities moving toward a hybrid or IP-based infrastructure, and as a means of routing data separately from video and audio.

The internal architecture is designed to allow expansion at any time without taking the router out of service a unique capability. Cards can be added, and additional chassis connected, without affecting on-air performance. This will transform the way that mission-critical facilities, such as playout centers, will be designed for future expansion.

Our new playout center will initially operate 32 HD channels, but we have an eye on the future, which sees continuing growth and consequently a huge rise in the number of signals we need to monitor and route, said Ian Peacock, systems architect specialist at SuperSport Media Solutions. We chose the Harris Broadcast Platinum IP3 not just because it gives us the integrated routing and multi-viewer functionality we need today, but because it will be able to grow as our facility grows, without any interruption to the services our viewers expect. The Platinum IP3 is a unique development in routers, and we are delighted to be the first user because it absolutely meets our requirements.

The integrated Platinum IP3 router for SuperSport includes HView SX Pro multiviewers used extensively across displays in the facility. The complete installation also features Harris Broadcast Magellan router control panels and the CCS Navigator network design, control and monitoring system; as well as Harris Broadcast signal processing and interfacing equipment including the Selenio media convergence platform, 6800+ modular core processing devices, OPTO+ fiber interfaces and X85 signal processing units. The contract covers extensions to SuperSport's existing Harris Broadcast D-Series playout automation system.

This project is based on Harris Broadcast's commitment to provide future-proof and cost-effective solutions combined with Concilium's ability to provide top quality local support to the customer, said Andrew Cole, broadcast sales manager at Concilium. From the depth and breadth of the Harris Broadcast technology solution to the expert knowledge of our technical and operational support team, this is a great customer-focused team where value is added at every stage of the chain.

We have been very pleased with the strong positive reaction that broadcasters are making to the availability of the new Platinum IP3 router, and I am delighted that SuperSport, a long-time customer of Harris Broadcast, is the first to use the remarkable Platinum IP3 router, said Harris Morris, CEO, Harris Broadcast. Their new playout center is destined to become one of the most sophisticated in the world, and the Platinum IP3 will initially support hundreds of signals in the initial 32 HD channel infrastructure, with the potential to support thousands of signals through future expansion. We are proud to be at the very heart of this facility, routing, monitoring, processing and automating all the signals on which the broadcaster depends.

About Concilium Technologies

Concilium Technologies (Pty) Ltd. is a wholly owned and empowered South African Company. The company is an established and trusted solution provider specialising in Test & Measurement, Broadcasting and Telecommunications. Concilium provides a complete product experience through the winning combination of an extensive range of solutions from leading suppliers and an ability to deliver effective local value added services around them, with the belief that it's the people that deliver the difference. Concilium services the sub Saharan African region from its offices in Centurion, South Africa and is a certified ISO 9001:2008 facility with an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited electronic repair and calibration facility.

About Harris Broadcast

Harris Broadcast is an industry leader in delivering the most advanced, content-rich media experiences available for a wide spectrum of radio, television and private media networks around the globe. With more than 25 leading brands including Versio , Selenio and Maxiva , the company enables media organizations to tap into one of the broadest, integrated product and solution portfolios in the industry. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the company is widely recognized for its product quality and reliability, engineering excellence and customer service, and has earned nearly 100 technological firsts and more than 50 awards for technical innovation.

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