Network Electronics Supplies High-Performance Video Transport Solutions to MTV North

Network Electronics has supplied MTV with routing solutions for the play-out of six channels from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
MTV has successfully deployed the system, which consists of a powerful VikinX Modular 256x256 router, GYDA control and monitoring, and Web Panels. This world first Web Panel deployment provides MTV with unprecedented flexibility and control. The matrix is now live at MTV Amsterdam, controlling and routing play-out of MTV channels, encoding and the transport of video to and from the studio and master control room (MCR). On full roll-out, the router will assist with the play-out of MTV NL, TMF NL, TMF Flanders, and the shared channels of Nickelodeon/Comedy Central, Nickelodeon NL/MTV NL (with localized advert insertion for the Flanders region) and Nickelodeon/MTV France for French-speaking Belgium.
"MTV is a worldwide household name and we are pleased to be part of its latest technical development in The Netherlands," said Kjetil Bonde, European Sales Director, Network Electronics. "With so many viewers expecting a high level of service, it was important that the signal transport network that was put in place was of the highest standard in terms of performance and reliability. Not only do our powerful VikinX router solutions meet, and go beyond, these standards but they also prove to be extremely cost-effective."
Network Electronics has supplied separate Web Panels for the studio, encoding and MCR (Master Control Room) to allow MTV to set up separate functionality and control through one central matrix. MTV selected Network Electronics’ technology for its operational flexibility and the power and adaptability of its control software running on Web Panels. This industry first Web Panel deployment enables MTV to easily manage the routing of video, with the option for bespoke interfaces for each individual or category of user.
“We were delighted with how efficiently this system has been deployed. The flexibility and reliability of the solutions that Network Electronics has supplied ensures that we now have in place a high-performance yet cost-effective structure,” said Erik Walrecht, Broadcast Technology Manager, MTV. “Having moved our broadcast centre to Amsterdam at the beginning of 2007, we were eager to implement an advanced, reliable system to ensure the smooth operation of video transport to consumers throughout the MTV North region of The Netherlands, Flanders, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. We are very impressed with the Network Electronics solution and were delighted to be able to draw upon its vast experience and expertise in routing and signal transport.”
VikinX Modular is a range of powerful routing products, designed and built with flexibility, reliability and affordability as the most important design criteria. The routers accommodate the industry’s widest range of signal formats, including HD-SDI, SD-SDI, analogue audio, AES/EBU audio and telecom, with the ability to mix most of these signals in the same frame. Independent of signal format, all components are front loaded and hot-swappable.
The Network Electronics Web Panel, which MTV was the first to use, is a platform independent router control application. Templates are available and are fully configurable, offering multilevel control with level breakaway. A particular strength of Network Electronics’ System Configurator is that it is almost infinitely configurable, down to the individual user level. The combination of Web Panel and Configurator means that each user has access to just the functionality and options they need wherever they are, maximising both efficiency and security.
GYDA is a web interface tool for router monitoring and control, compatible with all major browsers, with signal presence detection on inputs. Further features include reading re-clocker lock and lock rate 143,177,270,360,540, 1485/1483.5 on all outputs, SYSCON error, EDH monitoring and the possibility for separated Ethernet connections for monitoring and control. MTV has deployed GYDA to monitor the input and output signals and moving forward plans to integrate GYDA with its existing automated monitoring solution.
(SP)