Print Page 11/7/2008

PBS has chosen Harris’ Nexio multiformat server platform as part of a complete upgrade to support the network’s multiple HD services. The servers will be used in three PBS facilities: its Media Operations Center in Crystal City, Va., Network Operations Center in Springfield, Va., and Disaster Recovery Site outside of northern Virginia.

PBS programming is prepared for broadcast at the Media Operations Center and then transferred to the Network Operations Center, which serves as the headend for the transmission of more than 15 satellite feeds in various HD and SD formats to support the media services provided by PBS member stations to their audiences. The Nexio server will be part of a combined HD/SD multichannel deployment similar to the SD multichannel configuration that currently serves PBS stations. In the event of a major system failure at PBS headquarters, all national programming would originate from the Disaster Recovery Site.

“Over the last few years, PBS has been transitioning to a fully file-based workflow, including ingest, storage and delivery of programming,” said Jerry Butler, senior director of Interconnection Products, PBS. “The comprehensive upgrade of the Network Operations Center, in particular, has been critical to meeting the needs of PBS member stations, which requested that we provide more of our National Program Service in high definition.”

PBS is also using Harris Platinum routers and Centrio multiviewers.

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