BVN Chooses Axon's SMART DVB System

Axon Digital Design has announced that its SMART DVB system has been selected by Best of Vlaanderen and the Netherlands (BVN) to ensure the quality of programmes transmitted via its network from outlets. BVN Television is the Dutch-language public television channel for Dutch and Flemish people abroad. It transmits worldwide via satellite.

NPO Dutch Public broadcasting in Hilversum, the Netherlands, is the executive company of BVN TV, while BVN's network hosts the best radio programmes from VRT and television programmes from NPO. Daily operating services are provided by the Ericsson Broadcast Services Division at NPO's headquarters in Hilversum.

BVN recently renewed its downlink system to encompass the latest 2.1 version of SMART DVB software, which includes Gateway support and Web Alarm status views. The organisation also replaced its existing servers with smaller SMART DVB 25 servers that deliver lower energy consumption and lower heat dissipation.

SMART DVB is an open and scalable system that can be deployed at multiple levels and comprises of a suite of tools to monitor, analyse and report live on live MPEG-2 and DVB transport streams. It combines Axon's modular software with COTS server hardware, all managed through a universal windows-based interface. With SMART DVB, broadcasters and network operators can check the health and conformity of their programming across the digital distribution chain and ensure that any signal problems are quickly identified and resolved. This service allows broadcasters to maintain quality for viewers and meet commercial and legal obligations relating to performance.

Rene van Baaren, Channel Manager, BVN, said: "With the latest SMART DVB upgrade providing a Web Alarm status view, we can now see the status of the NPO BVN network at several outlets or mobile devices around the Globe. What's more, it can do this without interfering with our main monitoring system."

BVN is using SMART DVB to monitor downlinks at Atlanta in the USA, Johannesburg in South-Africa, Sydney in Australia and NPO's head office in Hilversum, the Netherlands.

In total, the system comprises seven SMART DVB probes, seven different Satellite transponders, two on-premises encoders and a decoder/descrambler on location. The interconnection between the Probes and the SMART DVB Gateway is carried out via a low bandwidth internet connection and protected by Cisco ASA VPN tunnels. Web status output from the SMART Gateway is monitored at the Ericsson Master Control Centre where operators can see the actual and historic status of the DVB Transponders, Services and Components. The SMART Gateway is also sending email notifications to the MCR to inform the first line operator. Should a problem occur, SMART Gateway can send selective email notifications to different stake holders.

"We rely on Axon's SMART DVB platform to gives us a complete view of our transport streams to ensure programme quality and provide valuable trend analysis and trouble-shooting," said Rocus de Joode, NPO's Satellite Network Coordinator. "These latest upgrades to the system are not only enhancing the view of our global operations and with small servers providing lower energy consumption and lower heat dissipation we're also saving money and being more environmentally responsible."

"We're delighted to continue our relationship with NPO and support their global operations," added Jan Eveleens, CEO, Axon. "SMART DVB is proving to be an essential tool for broadcasters not only for the quality control of MPEG-2 and DVB transport streams but to drive new levels of performance, efficiency and functionality."

Image: SMART GUI with TR290 Multiview.

www.axon.tv

(JP/LM)