Pebble Beach Systems Wins Automation Contract From Sveriges Television

Swedish state broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) has selected Pebble Beach Systems, a leader in automation and media management, to automate the playback of its linear TV channels from its headquarters in Stockholm.
After a detailed tender process, the UK-based automation specialist was chosen to install its flagship Neptune system to automate the playout of SVT's four national channels, one international channel and one HD channel.
SVT is the largest TV broadcaster in Sweden, delivering quality viewing to Swedish speaking audiences all over the world via satellite, cable and broadband (IP TV).
With new delivery platforms such as HD, mobile and IPTV becoming standard, SVT decided to modernise its broadcast facilities to provide a more diverse service to its viewers. Part of the upgrade required investment in a new automation system which delivers the flexibility, reliability and range of features necessary to handle the complex multi-format, multi-platform environment.
The Pebble Beach Neptune system interfaces to a range of devices including Omneon Video servers, an NVision router, Harris vision mixers, with Dolby digital encoders and video index inserters from Axon. The system also interfaces to Ardendo's Meta product which is used by SVT for asset management.
A specific function that appealed to SVT is Neptune's ability to run any channel from any operator position and also from any physical playlist. This enables SVT to allocate playout device resources to suit the specific needs of each channel at different times.
SVT is also using Neptune's list sychronisation feature for redundancy. List sync provides mirrored playback from any playlist to any other to provide a true hot backup. If there is failure of any device in the playout chain SVT can switch over instantly.
The first phase of the system went live in May and the system will be fully commissioned by the end of 2008.
Tom Gittins, Director of Sales at Pebble Beach System, remarked: "This contract, won in conjunction with our partner for the Swedish market Divitec AB, continued our success in the demanding Scandinavian broadcast market and builds on the successful deployment of Neptune systems at YLE & Channel 4 in Finland and TV4, DITV and MTG in Sweden.
Further information is available at: www.pebble.tv.
(KMcA)