Sinclair Launches ‘Broadspan’ Datacasting Platform

Sinclair Inc. has launched its “Broadspan” datacasting platform to enable data distribution capability across all current Sinclair NextGen Broadcast (ATSC 3.0) markets where it serves as the host station. Edgio Inc., a content delivery network, will become the first partner of the Broadspan datacasting platform.

Sinclair said: “This marks an exciting step forward for broadcasters and consumers and begins to fulfill the promise of digital convergence offered by ATSC 3.0. It opens the door to multiple new business opportunities for broadcasters and greatly enhanced efficiency for data distribution.”

Using a broadcaster’s ATSC 3.0 channel, the Broadspan platform will allow businesses to distribute files, updates or video over the air to any device with a 3.0 receiver — cars, tablets, phones or television sets. Data delivery relies on the newly designed broadcast core network. This infrastructure provides the means to link all available ATSC 3.0 spectrum intelligently from multiple stations to deliver the customer’s data quickly, efficiently, and securely.

Broadspan’s customer experience, it says, “allows for easy and seamless data distribution planning with an intuitive and streamlined ordering and tracking process. Customers can immediately visualize the network availability across markets and submit a distribution request tailored to their needs. They will have a full picture of the path their data will take through the broadcast network. The provisioning system also gives customers real-time visibility into the status of their data distribution request, allowing them to confirm the scheduling, and if enabled, see the validation of the data delivery on the receiving systems.”

Edgio is the initial commercial user of the Broadspan system. It will use the platform to deliver a true 4K experience to viewers, by supplementing streaming over the internet with over-the-air data. This takes advantage of the unique capability of ATSC 3.0 to converge broadcast and broadband seamlessly. “Broadspan’s ability to deliver the extra bits to the customer over the air is a game changer. It will be able to offload significant video and audio data from the internet, reducing congestion and enhancing user experience while allowing increased bitrates without any loss of service,” Sinclair said.

Del Parks, Sinclair president of technology, said: “Broadspan’s customer-centric data delivery provisioning platform provides an elegant, cost-effective tool to move data easily. It leverages the remarkably reliable and efficient one-to-many broadcast architecture to provide a new option for data users.”

Eric Black, Edgio CTO and GM of media, said: “Sinclair’s pioneering leadership in ATSC 3.0 enables this groundbreaking innovation. By leveraging ATSC 3.0’s convergence of broadcast and broadband, we are delivering a true 4K experience. Broadspan isn’t just a game changer; it’s a paradigm shift in defining immersive entertainment.”

U.S. broadcasters, including commercial and noncommercial station operators, have deployed NextGen Broadcast service to date across the U.S. in over 70 markets covering nearly 75% of the country’s population, according to Sinclair. It said that “linking those markets and stations to allocate data capacity efficiently among potential data customers is essential in establishing broadcasting as a competitive data distribution platform. Broadspan provides the means to easily use that network.”

This new datacasting platform, the company continued, “is a win-win for the entire ecosystem – customers can enhance their choices for efficient data distribution at a lower cost per bit and broadcasters can create additional revenues to support their investments in local news production.”

Aside from Edgio’s use of the Broadspan platform for a cost-efficient supplement to data off-loading, other customers can use the new platform to supplement and enhance their IP data distribution tools. These would include automotive connectivity services (software updates, infotainment, precision navigation, and safety enhancements), software updates for “edge-heavy” industries like building/industrial automation, and critical infrastructure support. “Data can be accurately and seamlessly distributed across local, regional or the national market and delivered using low-band spectrum, propagating further and penetrating buildings better than other wireless bands,” Sinclair said.

Skip Flenniken, Sinclair’s VP-general manager, technology business development, said: “Data distribution is the powerful next step in the evolution of broadcasting. While continuing to provide exceptional and enhanced video programming, we now have the capability to repurpose a portion of our spectrum to meet the needs of data users on market-disrupting terms. Broadspan is a simple and convenient way for customers to access that capability.”