Distribution Costs for Digital Television Networks

Television networks rely on the cost effectiveness of synchronising the activities of several separate stations. Generally, operational cost savings can be achieved by reducing the level of local input in favour of distribution from a common central site. However the loss of input of local material can mean reduced revenue, identity and reliability. — With the emergence of DTTV and the rising cost of bandwidth the economics of networking must be revisited. Networks must decide on the degree to which they should build a digital structure that is aligned to their existing analogue system. They have the opportunity to build a different structure in the light of new technology and distribution pricing regimes. There is also the possibility of modifying their analogue systems in anticipation of the new digital frameworks. — This paper is a discussion of three different modes for distribution to a network; locally managed breakaways, multiple central sites and centre control local insertion. — Timing delays are considered and cost comparisons made. Factors relate to the network configuration and to the use of MPEG compression. This paper includes a way of modelling some of these factors to produce relative pricing of alternative configurations. It concludes with some observations about the current and likely future developments in MPEG switching.

Published

1999-07

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M001207

ISBN

978-1-61482-948-5