Pitch Blue™: A Real Time HDTV Store and Forward Program Delivery System

CBS and Ascent Media and Warner Bros. are some of the largest distributors of syndicated programming with a distribution footprint to over 1,350 television stations or 800 hub locations. This paper will describe the system developed by the joint venture between CBS/Warner Bros./Ascent Media for end-to-end origination, distribution, reception, storage, and play-to-air of high definition content. The system will employ MPEG-4 video compression and will allow for both 5.1 surround sound and stereo audio, as well as a variety of vertical ancillary data services. The “catch server” at each station will be capable of receiving signals from two separate satellite transmissions. The server will contain three Terabytes of storage and be able to play high definition HD/SDI signals or down converted SDI signals directly to air. The server will also respond to standard VDCP automation control commands. The paper will detail the command and control system for conveying record and program schedules to the 800 catch servers. It will review the error correction protocol and retransmission methods for replacing error packets. Also discussed will be the insertion process for splicing triggers using the SCTE 35 protocol. The paper will also detail the bit budget and RF link budget required to ensure the reliability factor of 99.96%.

Published

2009-10

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M001348

ISBN

978-1-61482-943-0