SES Platform Services: turnkey distribution with Grass Valley

Delivering multiple SD and HD channels with different brands, using the same hardware, and being able to easily scale as demand grows is the goal pursued by the new SES Platform Services broadcast center. To this end, Grass Valley has deployed multiple purpose-built, automated multi-channel broadcast server systems, integrated with SES's internal scheduling system, for all of the broadcast services they offer.

As an experienced multi-channel service provider, SES Platform Services (formerly Astra Platform Services, a division of SAS) has built a thriving business helping content owners distribute their programs across Europe. Building on its success in Europe, SES has been expanding its activities around the world.

In 2010, SES established a seamless broadcast service between Africa and Europe for Top TV, On Digital Media's (ODM) fast-growing pay TV package of 50 TV channels and 25 music channels for the South African market. By creating a high-quality custom DVB infrastructure, SES was able to help Top TV launch its new multi-channel service on May 1 of that year, just three months after initial discussions.

ODM currently operates a digital headend at its Johannesburg headquarters, and the range of channels are sent to SES's Unterföhring facility (near Munich, Germany) via dual-redundant fiber optic cabling, and combined with the other channels from around the world, on the platform. SES also performs multi-channel ingestion for ODM.

SES now handles all of Top TV's master control, automation and playout requirements, from a single integrated PubliTronic playout solution called Nexus-avs (Advanced Video Server).
This is a video server with integrated audio, video and graphics capabilities, for all types of digital television channel broadcast and channel branding applications.

The PubliTronic Nexus line of servers (now owned by Grass Valley and known as K2 Edge Integrated Broadcast System) is a broadcast-ready integrated broadcast solution, which comes with an automation software solution called Cobalt. SES uses Nexus and Cobalt in conjunction with a scheduling application, written in-house, called PTS. Schedules generated in PTS are downloaded to the Cobalt system, allowing the SES team to maintain control over individual template-based graphics and clip playback with a single integrated solution.

Automated architecture

SES uses Nexus integrated playout, Cobalt automation, and PTS scheduling software for all playout services it offers: from entry-level Playout Basic to its advanced Playout Pro solution. Grass Valley has taken the Nexus technology and enhanced it with new capabilities in the K2 Edge integrated playout system.

At the SES facility in Unterföhring, you simply configure the system to a customer's requirements, add the customer's content and playlist, and then, according to Stefan Hennecke, COO of SES, the system literally works on its own (adding graphics and other data along the way). A playlist of pre-scheduled clips is imported into Cobalt, where graphics and other elements are added based on specific rules.
“The architecture provides a highly flexible platform, with a high level of broadcast functionality where different workflows are migrated to a single one,” Hennecke highlighted.

The full-service company now uses the Grass Valley/PubliTronic Nexus server to broadcast 16 channels (with more to come, using a rack of new K2 Edge servers), including primarily movie and special interest channels. The K2 Edge Integrated Broadcast System combines media playout, channel graphics, asset management, and automation into one tightly integrated system.

Power and flexibility

Hennecke ensures that power and flexibility cannot fail to be highlighted. “We started using the Nexus solution in 2010, in order to gain some experience with the then new concept of integrated broadcast solution,” he said. “With it we have launched a new pay TV package for our client in a very short period of time.”

For SES, the integrated Grass Valley/PubliTronic solution provided a quick and easy way to address all of the client's requests, starting with logo insertion, aspect ratio signage (video index) and ending with template-based graphics insertion (lower thirds,…). They were very satisfied, and are still on the air today.

“Hoy realizamos emisión integrada con PubliTronic para canales de emisión con una complejidad de rango medio”, afirma Roger Gresser, Vicepresidente de Playout & MAM en Grass Valley. “Para canales muy simples (por ejemplo, canales sin gráficos, etc. y canales con requisitos de marcas muy específicos) todavía ejecutamos un enfoque modular de emisión. Así que tratamos de utilizar la mejor de las soluciones disponibles según los requerimientos.“

Multi-format distribution from the same box

Uno de las funcionalidades principales que Hennecke y su equipo mayormente utilizan de la caja Nexus, es la capacidad de ejecutar un canal de HD y SD con diferentes marcas, utilizando el mismo hardware. Otra característica importante es la capacidad de subtitulado del sistema.

El servidor K2 Edge de Grass Valley está disponible en tres niveles de capacidad: K2

Edge Express, para los canales de nivel de entrada con necesidades gráficas mínimas, K2 Edge Pro, para canales de línea principal con gráficos más sofisticados, como picture-inpicture; y K2 Edge Elite, que ofrece cambios de hasta cuatro fuentes HD y gráficos multicanal en 2D y 3D total con movimientos DVE, incluyendo compresión de créditos.

Hennecke asegura que planea instalar una gran cantidad de servidores K2 Edge Express en los próximos meses. “La fiabilidad y la flexibilidad son dos cosas que atraen a nuestros clientes y ayudan a nuestro negocio a crecer”, agregó. “Nuestra reputación se basa en esto, y por eso estamos comprometidos con la nueva implementación del servidor de vídeo de Grass Valley.”, ha destacado Hennecke.