Challenge
A national public broadcaster in the Schengen Area, currently use Pebble Automation to play out four national TV channels. They also have a separate DR system using the same technology. The Automation solution was controlling a number of legacy integrated channel solutions, along with Viz Trio graphics and Cavena Subtitle inserters. When the host servers needed to be replaced, it was decided to also replace the integrated channels with newer technology. It was important to provide a future proof solution so that any new server system could support HD in the first instance and be upgradeable to UHD later down the line, without the need to update any hardware. The systems needed to support both SDI and ST 2110, run off shared storage and be able to host the VizRT graphics engine as a software plugin rather than on external PCs.
This customer purchased a Pebble Integrated Channel and connected it to their test system. With the support and expertise from Pebble, they configured and tested various video and audio processors to reassure themselves it would perform as required. The broadcaster published an EU tender, and our channel partner were successful with their system integration bid.
Solution
The solution comprises of four identical server systems, a main and redundant system for the main playout and the same for DR. Each server system has an EditShare shared storage connected to two appliance servers each hosting two Pebble HD Integrated Channels. To further increase redundancy an Integrated Channel can read files from either the main or redundant shared storage just in case one should go offline. When running in UHD, each server will support one UHD channel, therefore an additional 2 servers would be added to the shared storage to support four UHD channels.
The broadcaster will continue to use VizRT Trio, however the graphics render engine will be a software plugin running in the Integrated Channel.
High quality conversion between HD and UHD is processed in hardware on a I/O Network Interface Card, and the channel branding or logo is also keyed into video here. It is far more resource efficient to brand a UHD Channel using a card rather than in software because it reduces the data transfer between the card and motherboard when UHD Program and HD simulcast outputs have different branding.
Result
Commissioning of this system began in late 2022 allowing for the delivery of hardware. In the meantime, Pebble Remote will be added to the automation solution so that channels can be controlled and monitored remotely via a HTML5 web browser.
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