TV Centro América and TV Morena update their distribution networks with Bridge Technologies and MediaKind

The solutions of Bridge Technologies y MediaKind have allowed Brazilian television stations TV Centro América and TV Morena (both stations affiliated with TV Globo) start using the IP/SRT protocol and the public internet for broadcast distribution processes.

The integrator Avicom Engineering was selected by the affiliates of the Globo TV Central America Network and TV Morena, located in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, to provide a complete distribution solution based on the transport of video over IP/SRT and BTS through a redundant public network. Luis Botelho, director of engineering and technology at Rede Matogrossense de Televisão (managing company of both television stations), explains that he has opted for Avicom's proposal as it is agnostic and adapt the channel to use 4K signals in the future, “thus meeting the demands of TV 3.0.” The profitability of the solution was also key, as he explains: "The previous solution (with dedicated IP connections) cost R$ 10,000 per month per port. Today we have internet with much larger bands, at a much more interesting cost. All this influenced when carrying out the economic feasibility study."

In the Central American TV stations of Cuiabá, Sinop and Rondonópolis, in addition to the TV Morena channels in Campo Grande and Ponta Porã, the programming back-up signals are no longer distributed by satellite, after the migration. Specifically, in Tangará da Serra (MT) and Corumbá (MS), the main signal and redundancy use only connections IP/SRT to deliver programming to transmitters. This is how Botelho explains it: "Avicom considered not only the distribution network, but also the remote switching of transmitters, in case of any problem, which increased reliability. The system was the one that best met the assumptions of robustness against bad weather and the very high average temperatures of our region." Automatic switching between the main and backup signal is carried out by the probes VB243, of Bridge Technologies, guaranteeing the continuity of transmissions. This smart switch uses technology ETR290 to verify compliance with parameters such as PSI/SI tables, bit rate and added services to apply the switches.

On the other hand, the integration of the probes with the solution IP gateways reach MediaKind It allowed complete integration, with video and BTS transmission at very low latency using Internet networks in the contribution and distribution of signals. Specifically, the processor was used MK RX1 and the encoder MK CE1, solutions used in several projects worldwide.

Jaime Ferreira, general director of Avicom Engenharia, summarizes the keys of the project as follows: "The solution that we implemented in TV Centro América allows a great expansion of functionalities. At the moment we are working with BTS and SDI-HD, but the system will be able to integrate the station and its affiliates with the public internet in additional applications, including the commercial regionalization solution "splicing", transcoding and integration of signals with IP 2110, among others. The technologies provided by our representatives Bridge Technologies and “MediaKind, combined with our local technical support, will ensure high-quality contribution and distribution streams and minimal latency for years to come.”