31 Mar 2010
Pebble Beach Systems provides playout automation and content management to STN
Weybridge, UK: Slovenia-based satellite TV provider Satellite Telecommunications Network (STN) has awarded the contract to upgrade its automation system to content management and automation specialist Pebble Beach Systems, who will shortly be installing a 4 channel Neptune automation system at the facility.
STN was founded in 2004 and has rapidly grown to become one of the leading broadcast over satellite providers in Central and Eastern Europe with customers spanning the world. Offering TV channels, radio broadcasters and content producers a cost-effective outsource for all or part of their play-out and transmission requirements, the organsation pursues a policy of keeping ahead of the expanding market by investing in the latest technology. At the same time, it also builds in spare capacity on a rolling basis in order to handle the demand for increasing channel turn-around and time-dependent projects.
Mitja Lovsin, STN's Sales and Marketing Director was instrumental in the selection of automation system. 'We considered at least two other major suppliers when looking to upgrade from our legacy automation system, but making the decision to go with Pebble Beach Systems was quite straightforward.' he says. 'Our overriding concern was that the automation system should be easy to use, enabling us to make the transition as smoothly as possible. Pebble Beach Systems' Neptune automation fully met that brief whilst adding a wealth of advanced functionality. Many of the channels we host transmit a high proportion of live events, so we needed a system which could cope with highly complex workflows and rapidly changing playlists as well as the more predictable requirements of movie playout channels.'
STN prides itself on delivering reliable and uninterrupted services which are provided through several levels of redundancy, ranging from power supply to the end transmission chains. Tomaz Lovsin confirms, 'Technical integrity and reliability are at the core of our business ethos, so when it came to selecting an automation system, we needed to be satisfied that we were making absolutely the right decision for this core component in our installation.
The new STN system also comprises four Miranda Xchannel playout servers, and eight Xingest stations for HD/SD ingest. The system goes live this summer, with ingest and playout both controlled by Neptune. Ingested content is QC'd and passed either directly to playout storage or to a Quantum data tape library under the direct control of Anchor for archive.
Branding graphics for the new live sports and entertainment channels are provided via Miranda's Vertigo graphics automation. A powerful HD/SD character generator, which allows the playout of virtually unlimited layers of animated text and dynamically updated text, multi-level animation and dual channel DVEs, is controlled by Pebble Beach Systems' Neptune, featuring automatic playlist synchronization and on-air protection. The system will also incorporate Miranda's monitoring and interfacing equipment. Two Kaleido-X multi-viewers will be used for monitoring, and 13 Densite frames will house more than 100 interfacing modules, including up/down/cross conversion, and Dolby E/AC-3 encoding/decoding cards.
About Pebble Beach Systems
Pebble Beach Systems is a world leader in automation and media management, with scalable products designed for multichannel transmission, news, sports and interactive television as well as content management, workflow and direct archive control. Installed in over 40 countries and with proven systems ranging from single up to 96 channels in operation, Pebble Beach Systems offer open, flexible systems which encompass ingest automation, workflow automation, archive automation and complex file-based workflows.
About STN
STN is a global provider of broadcast over satellite solutions including channel distribution, playout, turnaround, content production and non-linear editing services all in SD/HD, subtitling, voiceover, encryption, and occasional use. STN is one of the largest and most modern teleports in Central and Eastern Europe.
To keep ahead of the expanding market STN developed a strong work ethic to equip itself with the latest technology and spare capacity on a rolling basis in order to handle the demand for increasing channel turn-around and time-dependent projects. STN, who are based just outside Ljubljana the capital of Slovenia, have a unique geographic location within the visible arc of all European and most Asian, Middle-Eastern, African and Trans-Atlantic satellites.
STN became the first European teleport with direct access on Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird™ 4A ::7°west. They can provide global telecommunication services in C-, Ku- and Ka-band to all continents across the world. STN's well established fibre infrastructure can reach everywhere and everywhen. STN have expanded their presence in the OU market earlier this year through acquisition of majority shares in DVB d.o.o, one of the leading mobile production companies in Central and Eastern Europe currently covering all Euroleague Basketball games. For further information regarding STN services and contact details, visit www.stn.eu
For further information, please contact:
Tom Gittins
Director of Sales
Tom.Gittins@pebble.tv
Tel: +44 1932 333790
