Challenge
To minimize network downtime and maintain reputation by providing a high-level, cost-effective monitoring solution that could identify in-the-moment' and over time' network performance issues.
Solution
Implementation of VB120 monitoring probes across 40 sites within the Netherlands.
Results
Improved reliability and consistency of network performance which results in improved service to users and maintenance of reputation, as well as greater predictive potential for equipment failure and resultantly lower costs associated with repair truck roll-outs and on-site visits.
***
Customer Profile
Ziggo is the largest cable operator in the Netherlands, and provides digital cable television, Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers. This means it runs over 40,350 km of fiber-optic cable to roughly 4 million cable subscribers, and provides 200 television channels, along with VoD through Ziggo Go - an online television service.
Overview of need
With such a comprehensive network and a reputation as the Netherland's largest provider to uphold, Ziggo aims to achieve the highest up-time of their signal distribution infrastructure for their broadcast services. Any downtime, even for a single viewer, costs both potential revenue and reputation. Moreover, fixing network downtimes is costly and an inefficient allocation of resources.
Ziggo therefore recognised the need for smart monitoring to measure and quantify signal integrity all along the signal path to predict loss of signal. Within their IT-based operations, the need for robust monitoring is not as pronounced, because of the way that packets move in IT-based networks. However, broadcast AV carries with it very specific needs and behaviours based on its need to arrive in time, together and in order. For this, precise, broadcast-specific modes of monitoring are required.
Signal issues - including jitter - not only represent a challenge to consistent, high level QoE delivery in the moment', but also - over time - represent an effective way for predicting imminent system failure. The monitoring tool selected therefore needed be able to provide easy-to-access, intuitive, trend-based data over time. Ziggo requires both of these elements if they are to keep their network running in a reliable manner, and maintain OPEX budgets by limiting or eliminating systems failures and downtime.
Solution
Assessing the nature and health of the existing infrastructure, Bridge Technologies' business partner Burst Video' agreed a plan with Ziggo to upgrade the VB120 probes that were already integrated within their system, in conjunction with a fan reinstallation for all relevant racks. This implementation was rolled out over a total of 40 sites.
The VB120 broadcast probe offers a cost-effective and powerful monitoring solution, covering IP unicasts and multicasts, OTT/ABR streams as well as a whole range of RF formats. Offering maximum reliability and minimum maintenance, the VB120 consumes less than 12W of power, thereby reducing power consumption and air conditioning needs.
Most importantly for a cable network such as that of Ziggo, the VB120's innovative RDP technology (Return Data Path) allows for easy-re-routing of remote signals from regional locations into a centralised point for decryption and advanced signal analysis. This reduces the need for truck rolls and expensive on-site visits as well as facilitating rapid network expansion if needed. Recording functionality that is either continuous, manually triggered or alarm triggered allows for signal loss, packet loss and packet jitter to be checked against user-defined thresholds, ensuring that Ziggo can be confident of the robust functioning of its network at all times.
Technical Deep-Dive
The VB120 features a fully-fledged ETSI TR 101 290 monitoring engine used to monitor enabled inputs, one monitoring engine per input working in parallel. The basic VB120 monitors DVB, ASI and IP monitoring enabled through the IP Monitoring and Analysis option. Additional RF inputs may be included by adding demodulator blades to the system.
Each engine performs Priority 1, 2 and 3 measurements, monitors vital CA parameters, and can be configured to check signal scrambling. PSI/SI and PSIP tables are analysed and presented as table summary and hex dump, the latter enabling analysis of proprietary descriptors.
Bit rates are measured at TS, service and PID level, and the ETSI TR 101 290 engine also monitors RF parameters for optional demodulator inputs. Fully configurable round-robin functionality enables sequential monitoring of several transport streams per monitoring engine.
The VB120 has been designed to support all modern encapsulation standards including ISO/IEC13818-1 Transport Streams and MFRTP. The VB120 continuously measures signal loss, packet loss and packet jitter, and presents these elements through Bridge Technologies' own patented MediaWindow technology. MediaWindow allows for current and historical data to be displayed in an intuitive and visual way for easy understanding of the media flows in an IP network.
Furthermore, alarm handling is one of the main tasks of the VB120 Broadcast Probe, and all measurements are checked against user-defined thresholds for alarm generation. A sophisticated threshold template system gives the user full alarm handling control at probe, TS, service and PID level, ensuring that only relevant alarms are displayed.
All of this can be managed and controlled through a separate 10/100/1000-T Ethernet interface, whilst the IP-enabled VB120 may alternatively be managed in-band through the 10/100/1000-T video interface or through the SFP video interface. Standalone access is achieved through the use of any standard modern web browser, avoiding the need for a dedicated client applicati
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
06/12/2025
In a live broadcast from the Reagan National Defense Forum, L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Ku...
06/12/2025
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A new survey from Pixitmedia by Datacore revealed a major shift in the Media & Entertainment industry in media archiving, with 85% of resp...
06/12/2025
HACKENSACK, N.J. LiveU has announced that the national public broadcaster Czech Television has completed one of the largest LiveU live production deployments fo...
06/12/2025
NEW YORK The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the Excellence in Production Technology Emmy Award to NASA+ and Dr. Tom Leight...
05/12/2025
2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nati...
05/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio DataThe company's Data Refinery offers users total control and governance over da...
05/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Sca...
05/12/2025
Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD SplitThe deal does not include WBDs sports assets like TNT Sports (US, UK, LatAm), Euros...
05/12/2025
FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championsh...
05/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the ...
05/12/2025
Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast f...
05/12/2025
As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ev...
05/12/2025
ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows fo...
05/12/2025
It's about that time! Awards season is in full swing, and the Film Independe...
05/12/2025
Every year, Spotify Wrapped offers a personalized look back at the audio that defined your year. It's a snapshot of your listening habits, designed to tell ...
05/12/2025
In 2025, Spotify's EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR programs celebrated women, LGBTQIA , and emerging artists who turned moments into milestones. From breaking record...
05/12/2025
In our latest blog, we explain how Wi-Fi 7 rollouts can drive consumer loyalty with value-add services such as consumer cybersecurity. We also explore how this ...
05/12/2025
LOS ANGELES Netflix announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Nielsens Gracenote has launched Gracenote Content Connect, a new ad platform that provides agencies, brands, supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-si...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK In an most important update to the workings of deal-based programmatic advertising, IAB Tech Lab has released version 1.0 of its Deals API for public c...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Pass the turkey. Pass the stuffing. Pass the cranberry sauce. All are common requests of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving Day with family and f...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Netflix announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's $1.02 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular in a decision that was issued sho...
05/12/2025
The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars From Yellow to Viva La Vida, Fix You to Paradise, this playlist goes back to the start.
December ...
05/12/2025
Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee The 32nd annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture series was held on Thursday, November 13, with guest...
05/12/2025
Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from LinkedIn Premium Published on Dec 5, 2025 Categories: Company News, Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Co...
05/12/2025
Friday 5 December 2025
A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exc...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Act...
05/12/2025
Tis the season of giving once again and this year we've taken our Give Back Fridays' concept and turned it on its head.
In the autumn we were approach...
05/12/2025
Brayden Gogis doesn't remember a time when he wasn't completely fixated on games in all forms. In preschool, when they asked us to dress up as what we ...
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux
More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...
04/12/2025
Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...
04/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be...
04/12/2025
SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Co...
04/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: LiveU Lightweight Sports Production: A Step Change in Spor...
04/12/2025
London to Riyadh: DAZN brings the boxing glamour to new production levels for Be...
04/12/2025
Analysis: Paramount bets on the battering ram' with Champions League play By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - 10:12
Print ...
04/12/2025
Space City Home Network Launches SCHN DTC App for Astros and RocketsThe Rockets and Astros were previously the lone NBA and MLB teams without a DTC appBy Jason...
04/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Content Workflows Workshop Spotlights Evolution of Spor...
04/12/2025
New Sponsor Spotlight: Geotech's Patrick Wambold On the Unreal Engine Revolu...
04/12/2025
Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nationally and RegionallyBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 1:52 pm
Print This Sto...
04/12/2025
(L-R) Rebecca Lichtenfeld, Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki, and Judith Helfand att...
04/12/2025
SBS launches Future Frames initiative to support emerging First Nations video ed...
Challenge 
