MediaCorp launches HD broadcasts on Omneon Spectrum

Singapore’s MediaCorp has deployed an Omneon Video Networks Spectrum HD server system to support playout of its trial channel, MediaCorp HDTV, via a terrestrial network covering the entire city-state. The Omneon server system was supplied by systems integrator Ascent Media Network Services.

“Omneon demonstrated an excellent track record with respect to reliability and performance as a playback server in major installations all across the world,” said Yeo Kim Pow, senior vice president of MediaCorp. “The system also features a highly scalable architecture that will allow us to expand our HD services when the time is right.”

MediaCorp said it is the first broadcaster to conduct an HD trial and deliver HD services via a terrestrial network in Southeast Asia. The Omneon Spectrum HD server system in use at MediaCorp is a mirrored system that supports a total of six channels. HD content for MediaCorp HDTV, which focuses mainly on documentary and entertainment programming, is being ingested from a tape machine via a Snell & Wilcox Memphis HD encoder. The 50-Mbps HD MPEG content is stored on the server system with a QuickTime wrapper. Harris D-Series automation controls the Omneon server system.

The scalable, distributed architecture of the modular Omneon Spectrum server system also offers users such as MediaCorp flexibility in scaling system components and capacity in small or large increments as desired.