Paxson Communications puts Omneon Spectrum Media Server at heart of network

Omneon Video Networks has announced that Paxson Communications, owner and operator one of the largest broadcast television station group in the United States, has selected the Omneon Spectrum media server system to sit at the heart of a newly rebuilt network operations centre (NOC).
The Omneon server system will provide the on-air programming and commercial content for 12 digital streams, main programming feeds, as well as backhaul channels, delivered via satellite to 60 owned and operated Paxson TV stations across the country.
The Omneon server solution implemented at Paxson consists of 10 inputs and 20 outputs, with both main and backup server systems for a fully mirrored operation. Each of these two systems currently has a capacity of just over eight terabytes, or 1,200 hours of playout at 10 Mbps. In addition to handling feeds delivered to broadcast group stations, the server outputs are used for quality control and monitoring. The server system operates in conjunction with Harris automation and Masstech asset management software and is expected to go live, fully on the air, by the end of 2005.
Designed for the professional television industry, the Omneon Spectrum media server provides a reliable and scalable infrastructure for broadcast playout and storage applications.
Its open architecture enables support of a broad variety of third-party applications for control and transmission, media management, archiving, and collaborative production. The system is available in a broad range of configurations to meet the specific needs of each installation.
Because the Omneon Spectrum server system is highly modular, built on a scalable, distributed architecture, it offers companies like Paxson Communications the utmost flexibility in scaling system components and capacity in small or large increments as desired.
(CD/SP)