Raycom Standardizes With Harris Selenio

Raycom Media has selected Harris Corp.’s Selenio media convergence platform to upgrade over-the-air digital broadcast signal encoding services at 43 TV stations. The move is expected to deliver new efficiencies for Raycom including improved high-definition/standard-definition signal quality, higher channel capacity and stronger signal redundancy to maximize on-air reliability.

Selenio provides a hybrid of digital baseband video processing, compression and IP capabilities.  Raycom Media also use Selenio for video/audio frame synchronization and 5.1 audio processing — automatically “upmixing” 2.0 stereo signals to digital surround sound.

Raycom Media said it chose Selenio “based on its robust encoding performance, upgrade-friendly design, and ability to perform multiple functions in a single platform.”  The broadcaster also chose Selenio due to its long-term experience with the Harris NetVX encoding platform, which will endure in standby mode at all stations for maximum signal redundancy.

Harris said it will deploy the orders within 90 days, providing fast-track shipments to get all stations on the air quickly with Selenio.

Raycom Director of Engineering Bob Thurber said Harris has an excellent customer support track record with Raycom. “In my mind there is no company better than Harris for customer support and field service, and I think that’s a consensus you’ll find with many of my industry peers,” said Thurber. “We chose Selenio foremost for technology reasons, but the reliable and consistent customer support model from Harris is incredibly important to us — especially in a critical operation like the air chain. We know that Harris will stand behind this product for many years.”

Thurber added that establishing a common signal encoding and processing platform simplifies operations and maintenance across Raycom Media. He said that his station chief engineers had input into the decision, which will further enhance the way stations share information and use Selenio moving forward.

“Conformity in hardware platforms is something we try to adhere to, and Selenio is a dynamic platform that will remain serviceable for years” Thurber said. “The ability to handle IP distribution addresses a potential future challenge as we can accommodate that in this one chassis. That is the dynamic nature of this platform, and it was an important consideration in its selection.”