With the drop in the cost of bandwidth, it is becoming easier to redistribute existing broadcast content into new markets. And with new operators entering the market or looking to expand their market share, all are seeking solutions that will give them an advantage over the competition.
Digital Turnaround (DTA) offers that advantage.
DTA is the re-transmission of already encoded signals, and is the most affordable and proven method for small and medium-sized cable TV and microwave operators to break into the digital TV service arena.
This end-to-end solution provides answers for local content, providing operators with the ability to implement a quick transition from analogue to digital transmission and add `local content and advertising` to transmissions by using local encoding/turn around platforms. All this is done cost-efficiently because operators can utilise previously encoded signals.
Other benefits of employing a DTA system include quality maintenance, a more manageable infrastructure, lower operational costs as well as more flexibility and functionality.
The process
The DTA process tracks the following outline:
Firstly, the process handles content gathering from all traditional digital content sources.
This is followed by re-multiplexing and overall program grooming, enabling the operator to assemble programs from a variety of multiplexes and feeds to create customised programming for delivery as a single or multi-program transport stream.
During this phase, operators can add new programs such as local channels or pay-per-view channels. They can also digitally insert local advertisements.
The use of decryptor technology allows the operator to de-scramble multiple incoming channels to enable them to `groom` - in other words, they get to pick the content they wish to re-distribute. This cuts the encoder requirement costs dramatically.
The Conditioning Access System (CAS) forms a key part in the DTA system, primarily due to concerns about security. A CAS supports scrambling in accordance with the internationally recognised Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) algorithms, and provides secure access control and authorisation mechanisms for each "event" (news, movie, etc) at any scheduled time, for each and every subscriber.
Another element of the DTA system is that it handles overall system management, providing control of each item as well as redundancy control, monitoring and more.
The advent of DVB encoders and multiplexors lead the way into the digital broadcast era, and the opportunities offered by DTA-based solutions will no doubt represent the next wave in this dynamic industry.
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Graphic Image Technologies is a media focused company operating in the digital video, advanced Web and multimedia environment.
The GIT Multimedia Bureau produces presentations, CD-ROMs and kiosks. In addition, they develop Web applications and provide database and e-commerce integration.
In the video arena, GIT is focused on offering a vast array of solutions, ranging from broadcasting video over satellite and ATM, to multicast applications for use in the corporate LAN and WAN and Internet streaming environments.
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