Head-end Project a WIN for MediaHub and Magna

WHEN MEDIAHUB WON a tender to build a new head-end for the WIN television group, it partnered with Magna Systems and Engineering for the project’s key products and Systems Integration (SI) component.

As MediaHub Chief Digital and Information Officer, Simon Scott, explains, “MediaHub were looking for specific technical requirements in terms of device footprint, sustainability and feature set. Magna’s product range offered these key features and more. In addition, MediaHub engaged Magna’s excellent SI services for the system build.”

The new WIN head-end is used to deliver all of the company’s channels to viewers at home. It is already on-air in various parts of Australia, with the remainder of markets going live during March 2023.

All signals are processed in the IP domain, either SMPTE 2022-6 uncompressed as the input to the compression system or SMPTE 2022-2 Transport Stream over IP compressed as the internal signals within the headend, then at the final hand off stage converted to ASI for distribution by the transmission provider.

MediaHub’s requirements were comprehensive and included a small footprint and highdensity IP to ASI gateways and SFN devices, an IP monitoring platform, compliance logging platform and the highest quality SI services. Scott continued, “Magna provided a turnkey offering around various parts of the glue required for the new head-end project. Magna’s SI team also performed the physical build of the entire project including the compression system at two different data centres.”

In total, Magna provided Dell IT infrastructure and servers, EVS Neuron SDI to IP Gateways, an Appear XC and X10 series platform for SFN MIP insertion and IP to ASI adaption, a TAGVS Multiviewer, BridgeTech monitoring probes, Actus compliance logging, Birddog NDI to HDMI converters and Magna’s full set of professional SI services.

Scott added, “Magna provided a project manager who directed and oversaw various cabling installers. Their SI service included technical CAD drawings for the project, as well as performing various design tweaks to accommodate the different requirements in the two data centres. Magna also held regular progress meetings, managed the install timelines and provided all the required install documentation for the project.”

Magna’s technology offering aligns closely with MediaHub’s technology vision, providing best of breed solutions that are not only feature rich but low footprint, as either COTS IT or bespoke

THE HBBTV ASSOCIATION, a global initiative dedicated to providing open standards for the delivery of advanced interactive TV services through broadcast and broadband networks for connected TV sets and set-top boxes, has announced the publication of version 2.0.4 of its core specification.

The three main highlights of the new version are the integration with voice assistants, with accessibility features, (e.g. dialogue enhancement or user interface magnification), and with the new DVB-I standard, enabling

HbbTV ‘red button’ applications to be used with live/linear TV services received as a DVB-I stream via broadband networks. Their availability depends on the TV set or set-top box supporting the underlying feature.

There are also a number of smaller enhancements and fixes to errors found in previous versions of the HbbTV specification. A full list of the new features and changes can be found in the HbbTV 2.0.4 “explainer” in the resources library on the HbbTV website.

Jon Piesing, HbbTV Vice-Chairman

ISKY NEW ZEALAND ANNOUNCED in July 2020 that it had renewed its partnership with telecommunications operator Optus to deliver a new softwaredefined satellite to replace the existing D-series satellite.

The new satellite was originally expected to be ready for service in late 2023. Optus has now confirmed that, based on the advice from the satellite’s manufacturer, various factors

(including Covid and manufacturing and supply chain issues) have delayed the planned ready for service date of the satellite until late 2025.

Sky and Optus say they are working closely to ensure the ongoing security of supply for Sky’s satellite requirements in its core Sky Box business. A number of options are being considered, including, if required, using another satellite already in an orbital location hardware.

Scott said, “Other solutions offered required multiple racks of 1RU equipment, but with Magna’s assistance we managed to facilitate the same in 2 x 1RU devices. This not only simplified the solution but provided a number of benefits, including lower power usage and smaller system footprint. Bearing in mind the solution for 260 channels fits within two IT racks for the whole of the compression headend - previously 12 racks with the last technology generation - it is an amazing achievement for both MediaHub, our compression vendor Ateme and the many Magna product offerings we used.”

The new headend solution is also future-proofed and ready for UHD, HEVC, DVB-T2 and other similar upcoming requirements.

Simon Scott concluded, “Magna’s team ‘just work’. Whether it was Alan, Dave, Tim or Paul, all of them assisted at various stages through the project and all have proven invaluable in assisting the MediaHub team, led by Anthony Colquhoun, to successfully deliver this major project for MediaHub and our client.”

Visit https://magnasys.tv and Chairman of the Specification Group which spearheaded the specification development process, said: “We are excited about the opportunities HbbTV 2.0.4 creates to improve the experiences for users of HbbTV applications and services. Integration with voice assistants is significant as voice input becomes more widely used in user interfaces of TV sets and other home devices. Accessibility features are an essential addition in the context of the European Accessibility Act. Integration with DVB-I is important as the distribution of live/linear programming via IP streams to TV sets becomes more widespread in the future.”

The HbbTV Association will shortly be issuing a Request for Proposals for the development of unit tests for the new features. While some of them may be reviewed and approved in time to be included in HbbTV’s July 2023 Conformance Test Suite release, most should be ready to be included in the February/March 2024 Test Suite release.

Visit https://www.hbbtv.org that supports ongoing delivery of satellite coverage to the Sky platform.

Sky Chief Executive Sophie Moloney said: “We remain excited about the benefits of the new software-defined satellite, especially as we experience weather events that the new satellite can better help mitigate against. And, of course, we understand how important it is to ensure coverage and access to Sky and the free-to-air channels we carry (including Prime) to all of New Zealand. Based on the information shared and assurances by our partner Optus to date, we are confident of the mitigation options to ensure our continued delivery of the key moments that matter most to our Sky customers.”

Sky expects to update the market on further developments in due course.

Visit https://www.sky.co.nz