Christian TV network Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) has become the first SA broadcaster to adopt video-over-ATM, after using analogue microwave technology since 1985.
The deal with Telkom, Broadcast Vision and MultiChoice was announced in Randburg yesterday.
"The industry trend is to advance from outdated terrestrial analogue broadcast networks to digital quality and flexibility," said John Joseph, Telkom International and Special Markets marketing executive. Telkom supplied the link and service.
<B>Turning to satellite</B>
TBN started as an evangelical television network in Los Angeles and expanded to the Ciskei in 1985. It was granted a TV broadcasting licence, and so became the first local community TV station in the Eastern Cape. A similar situation followed in Transkei, and the two networks were amalgamated in 1994. It has subsequently been refused national terrestrial expansion.
It then turned to satellite broadcast and tied in with the DSTV platform. It broadcasts on DSTV channel 77. The network is now broadcast by 5 540 TV studios and uses 34 satellites. It claims to be the biggest private broadcaster in the world.
ATM, a fibre-based networking technology that delivers quality assurance and supports real-time transmission of voice, video and data, was chosen as the replacement technology. Joseph said he could not disclose the price, because Telkom is in a closed trading period.
However, TBN`s executive director, pastor Andre Roebert, said: The cost is on a par with analogue if one counts the extra equipment needed in analogue beyond the base equipment for a superior quality service."
Roebert is enthusiastic about the potential for ATM, saying it improves efficiencies, obviates the need to supply another microwave signal for every new video feed into TBN, is a turnkey solution and improves manageability. "Downtime is assured at no more than 0.05%, depending on the service level agreement, and there is a near-perfect signal."
The new link runs between TBN and MultiChoice`s Randburg offices. Broadcast Vision will act as the customer interface and provide equipment from Nextream to "ensure seamless integration and commissioning of the service".
TBN`s turnkey equipment had to be upgradeable, to allow the sending of live feeds from its regional offices in future. The company`s African headquarters are in East London, with an Eastern Cape office in Bisho. Telkom has ATM links to satellite areas in Crowthorne and Hartebeeshoek, with uplinks that can provide broadcasting into other areas.
Spokesmen commented that other broadcasters would in time have to follow suit, as microwave technology makes way for digital transmission technologies.
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