The North American Starz migrates fifty channels to digital with iTX

Starz Entertainment automates a total of 45 channels, 29 in SD and 11 in HD as well as 22 as disaster reserve, with the iTX system from Omnibus Systems. This facility is one of the most ambitious software-based broadcast platforms in large-scale multi-channel operation that Omnibus has launched.

Omnibus Systems with its iTX automation and playout platform has helped the North American company Starz Entertainment to migrate to a totally digital, software-based environment. In total, Starz has integrated 29 channels in standard definition and 11 premium channels in high definition under this platform, along with another 22 channels as backup to back up possible disasters.

Ray Milius, senior vice president of operations at Starz Entertainment, said: “As an early adopter of Omnibus' Colossus automation system, we have had a successful relationship with Omnibus dating back a decade, so the decision to choose iTX as the platform for the migration we carried out was a simple one.

In addition to a high level of redundancy in broadcast, iTX's ability to reduce hardware and the resulting error potential of several complex systems is a significant advantage in our installation. In addition, having a single storage based on IT standards allows you to take advantage of it through multiple channels and products. The iTX platform allows us to dynamically map video, multiple audio tracks, subtitles and rate ratings… with greater flexibility and reducing our storage needs.”

Reducing costs and infrastructure

In operation since last summer, iTX's new Starz facility is the centerpiece of an ambitious project to migrate to software-based server technologies at its Englewood, Colorado facility. Starz has thus sought to reduce the costs and complexity of its infrastructure by replacing aging hardware-based equipment with software solutions running on standard IT servers. The iTX platform is capable of replacing traditional equipment such as video servers, graphics systems and audio encoders from a variety of manufacturers. In terms of space savings, Starz has managed to go from 44 to 16 racks. In addition to significant energy savings, having fewer hardware integration points reduces potential points of failure. Additionally, iTX offers a high level of redundancy for each channel, providing a primary broadcast chain backed by a secondary broadcast chain with the same functionality.

"Starz Entertainment was one of the pioneers of highly automated multi-channel broadcasting. In fact, when the Colossus automation system was adopted in the mid-1990s, Starz was one of the largest operations in the world to use this technology. Now, with the adoption of iTX, Starz is leading the way again, providing a perfect use case for a software-based broadcast platform that can meet the complex requirements of large-scale multi-channel operation," said Mike Oldham, CEO of Omnibus Systems.