MELBOURNE, Australia—Mediaproxy has named Heartland Video Systems as its exclusive partner for the television business in the United States.

The Plymouth, Wisc., -based systems integrator will represent the company’s full range of technologies, including LogServer and Monwall as well as offer them as part of its installation portfolio.

"HVS has an enviable record in U.S. broadcast technology as a systems integrator and trusted supplier. HVS established its reputation in the market and now Dan Whealy is taking the company into the future. We recognized this expertise and knowledge, which makes HVS the ideal partner for us in a vibrant and rapidly developing market,” said Mediaproxy CEO Erik Otto.

Founded in 1997, HVS has established itself as a specialist in NextGen TV with over 60 ATSC 3.0 installations to its credit. In addition to system integration, HVS offers consulting and engineering support services, while also partnering with leading broadcast technology brands and suppliers.

In July 2025, Dan Whealy purchased the company, and it will remain a family-owned business.

Mediaproxy has become the leading developer of compliance and logging systems to major broadcasters and playout facilities. The company's flagship product is the LogServer monitoring platform, which can work with all current terrestrial broadcasting and streaming formats, including ATSC 1.0 MPEG-2 based HD and SD, and ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV 4K/HDR. Mediaproxy's Monwall multiviewer was recently expanded with the introduction of the Monwall Server, which gives capability for producing streams in a variety of low-latency formats and generating mosaics for multi-screen display.

"We are proud to enter into a strategic partnership with Mediaproxy and further the adoption of their innovative solutions throughout the United States television broadcast market," said HVS president Dan Whealy. "Having previously been a customer of Mediaproxy in my role as a broadcast executive, I have seen firsthand the operational value their technology delivers. As broadcasters navigate the increasing complexity of supporting both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 services alongside streaming and multi-platform distribution, trusted monitoring and compliance tools are more important than ever.”

More information is available on the Mediaproxy and HVS websites.

As broadcasters focus their future on ATSC 3.0, one organization in particular is reminding the industry of the importance of maintaining the current ATSC 1.0 infrastructure during the transition.

The National Translator Association, the leading advocate for TV and FM translator systems in the U.S., is holding its annual meeting just up the road from where the industry gathered last week in Las Vegas. During the event, taking place May 6-9 in Reno, Nev. broadcast engineers, regulators and manufacturers will discuss the latest developments and regulatory updates affecting the maintenance of the thousands of translators that ensure reliable transmission for over the air radio and TV broadcast.

'A Mixed World'
One panel, in particular will focus on how broadcasters with the challenges faced during the transition when stations that have deployed ATSC 3.0 also have to maintain their 1.0 signal. Kyle Walker, vice president of technology for Wiegel Broadcasting, will moderate “A Mixed World Of ATSC 3.0 And 1.0,” and will be joined by Mark Colombo, associate division chief of the FCC’s Video Division, Wayne Johnson with Southwest Colorado TV, Mike Schmidt with Heartland Video Systems and long-time TV Tech columnist Doug Lung, vice president of broadcast technology with NBC/Telemundo.

Walker says the panel plans to discuss new techniques and best practices for optimizing translator health in the current hybrid 1.0-3.0 configuration.

“We’re going to talk about maximizing 1.0’s full potential today,” he said, adding that representatives from Harmonic and Heartland Video Systems will be on hand to discuss new developments in encoding.

“Heartland Video, along with Harmonic are going to be showing some different techniques that you can do in 1.0 today that a lot of stations may not be aware of or taking advantage of, and not really just translators, but even full power major group stations," he said.

Walker says he’s eager to see what the companies are doing to “push the 1.0 envelope."

“We are also talking about a potential mixed world of 1.0 and 3.0, and it's not clear at this point that there's going to be a 1.0 sunset,” Walker added. “So what does it look like for broadcasters and translator operators in a mixed 1.0 and 3.0 world and some of the complications that go with that?”

In the session “Building A Reliable, Cost-Effective SRT Network,” Walker will expound on secure reliable transport, open-source video transport protocol developed by Haivision to move high-quality video over unpredictable networks like the public internet, and its increasing importance to broadcasters.

“SRT is starting to be used more and more today by a lot of broadcasters and even major cable providers as a cost effective, effective alternative to traditional dark fibers or dedicated circuits,” Walker said. “One of the challenges we see—from Weigel’s point of view dealing with different affiliates of all makes and models, not just LPTVs, but even some major groups where they have an SRT that's set up— is that they may have video coming out the other end, but the link is not really that resilient. And what we hope to break out in this presentation is to show stations how to build a cost-effective, redundant SRT system that actually has monitoring that an end user would know and understand.

“The ultimate goal is to make an SRT circuit as just as reliable as fiber,” he added.

The Importance of Communication
Walker said the convention will also focus on the challenges imposed by the complex logistics and fragmented management of of today’s translator environment, particularly in western states like Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“The state of Colorado has two DMAs, Colorado Springs and Denver, with Denver being the vast majority of the state... in Salt Lake City, the entire state of Utah, parts of Idaho, parts of Nevada, make up one DMA,” he said. “And there's no way that a full power station, even on top of a mountain, can even cover 20% of that vast geographical area.

“So they have translators throughout the state, and the challenge with those translators is that in many cases, they're not run by the stations themselves. A lot of times, they're being run by local county government agencies that, like everybody, are on a budget,” he added.

Walker says coordination between station groups, affiliates and regulators is key when it comes to transitioning from 1.0 to 3.0, using a station’s decision to become a lighthouse station to host the transmission facilities of other stations in the same area as an example of the challenges broadcasters face.

When that station decides to flip to a lighthouse (being a 3.0), that station might today be a CBS affiliate in 1.0 currently that's being distributed—in a lot of cases—to 70-80 different translators throughout the DMA, of which most of them they don't even control, Walker added.

“Now imagine a station suddenly decides to convert from 1.0 to 3.0... in many cases, these translator groups have no idea this change is coming down the pipe. And in a lot of cases, that is known once the change has been made,” he said. “So suddenly you have viewers out there that are saying, ‘wait, what happened? Why is my CBS gone?’”

Walker continued, “the government that maintains a portion of those translators is now scrambling to figure out, OK, now they figured out that station converted to 3.0, what do they do? They don't necessarily have $10,000 to buy a converter box for every translator to adapt it back to 1.0. So we're going to talk about the different mechanisms that can be done to better mitigate and manage if a station chooses to make a switch or build a lighthouse so that there's not disruption all the way down the food chain.”

Heartland Video Systems, a leading midwest-based systems integrator and one of the sponsors of the NTA Convention, will participate in several panels, discussing the challenges broadcasters face in deploying ATSC 3.0 including preparations stations should take in the event of a large transition to ATSC 3.0. Mike Schmidt, ATSC 3.0 technologist at HVS, and Gil Yanku, senior director, pre-sales & solutions architecture at Harmonic, will also talk about ways broadcasters can increase ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 channel counts.

“With Heartland Video Systems having taken part in almost every ATSC 3.0 market transition in the U.S, we have learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t,” said Schmidt. “I’m looking forward to being able to share some of that experience and knowledge.

“We are currently testing channel loading in our lab at HVS and have found some very surprising results,” he added. “Increased channel loading will be even more important in a post transition world, so this is an exciting and timely topic.”

Additional topics will cover regulatory issues as well as an update on the Broadcast Positioning System from Bob Weller, vice president of spectrum policy for the NAB.

For more information and to register, visit the NTA Convention website.

SAN DIEGO—Network management and operational support systems specialist MNC Software has announced the appointment of Heartland Video Systems (HVS) as its authorized reseller for North America, and that it will feature its newly introduced Tapestry broadcast automaton and orchestration solution during the 2026 NAB Show, April 18-22, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“As broadcasters continue to modernize their operations, we are seeing strong demand for solutions that simplify complexity while improving operational resilience,” said Darren Frearson, CEO of MNC Software. “Heartland Video Systems has deep expertise in designing and integrating advanced broadcast infrastructures, and their strong relationships across North America make them an ideal partner to bring Tapestry and our wider connected workflow vision to more customers.”

Tapestry, unveiled earlier this year, is designed to bring real-time automation and orchestration to dynamic broadcast environments where services are frequently created, modified and decommissioned, such as live sports and event-based production. The platform enables engineering and operations teams to automate workflows, coordinate multi-vendor systems and manage resources across on-premises, cloud and hybrid infrastructures through a graphical interface.

The appointment of Heartland Video Systems comes as MNC Software continues to build global momentum, with several recent deployments across major broadcast networks and media organizations in North America, Latin America and Africa. Across these projects, MNC Software has replaced legacy broadcast reporting systems built on static, scheduled reports with a modern, real-time operational platform.

HVS recently secured a major deployment of MNC Software’s Mosaic monitoring platform with one of the largest U.S. broadcast station groups, replacing its legacy monitoring and control system.

The MNC Software-HVS agreement reflects growing demand for modern broadcast operations platforms that provide unified visibility, automation and control across complex infrastructures. HVS said.MNC Software also recently appointed Marcotec as its new partner in Europe.

See MNC Software and Heartland Video Systems at 2026 NAB Show booth W2661.

More information is available on the MNC Software and HVS websites.

DURHAM, N.H.—New Hampshire PBS (NHPBS) has completed an air-chain system upgrade to prepare for future statewide ATSC 3.0 operations and converting its Stewartstown, N.H., site to begin broadcasting ATSC 3.0 with the assistance of Heartland Video Systems (HVS).

HVS provided the complete solution, including design and consulting services, all hardware and software, system pre-staging and configuration and remote support for equipment turn-on. NHPBS originates its over-the-air (OTA) signal from its studio facilities in Durham, N.H.

NHPBS operates a statewide OTA system with three full-power sites, including Durham, Keene and Littleton, N.H., and two LPTV sites in Hanover and Stewartstown, N.H.

The public broadcaster set out to achieve four main objectives, including: upgrading its existing 1.0 encoding to improve workflow; adding 3.0-compativle air-chain equipment for its five transmitter sites; providing regionalized EAS messaging capability across the star; and flash-cutting its LPTV site in Stewartstown from 1.0 to 3.0 OTA service.

The project began by replacing the broadcaster’s 1.0 encoders with new primary and backup XOS units from Harmonic. They were equipped with MPEG-2 5xHD program licenses, Dolby audio, EAS processing, PSIP fetch, Nielsen watermarking and audio loudness control, simplifying NHPBS’ workflow.

HVS installed a DTV Innovations TSACO-3000 redundancy switch at the output of the 1.0 encoder to facilitate automated switching of the main and backup encoders.

A separate pair of Harmonic XOS primary and backup encoders with HEVC-DASH outputs was installed for ATSC 3.0 signal processing. These encoders feed a redundant pair of Triveni Digital GuideBuilder XM ROUTE servers, which in turn feed five individual Triveni Digital Broadcast Gateways—one for each OTA transmitter site. The Broadcast Gateways provide the STLTP signals required to feed the 3.0 transmitters.

To enable regionalized EAS messaging in a 3.0 network, a Digital Alert Systems DASDEC-III EAS receiver with Multi-Station and Advanced Emergency Alert (AEA) software options was installed at the Durham studio, along with additional DASDEC-EXR units deployed at each of the five OTA transmitter sites. All DASDEC units are equipped with the company’s EAS-Net protocol for streamlined integration. This architecture allows each regional transmitter site to broadcast only the EAS messages specific to its coverage area.

Before the project, the entire state received the same EAS messages regardless of location. Given the state is 190 miles north to south with diverse terrain and weather conditions, the upgrade significantly improves the ability of NHPBS to serve viewers around the state. With this upgrade NHPBS today can transmit EAS messages specific to Stewartstown where it is on-air with 3.0 and in the future regionalize emergency messages when it begins 3.0 service from its remaining sites.

The Stewartstown LPTV site is situated in the far northern region of the state. The site has been upgraded via a flash cut to begin 3.0 broadcasting. An STLTP signal from the Durham studio feeds the site.

HVS provided a new Rohde & Schwarz TMU9evo air-cooled UHF solid-state transmitter operating on RF channel D34 for the Stewartstown site. The transmitter is capable of up to 1kW total power output (TPO) in either ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 operation. Features include dual-drive exciters licensed for ATSC 3.0, GPS-based time synchronization and ATSC 3.0 IP monitoring software. Transmitter installation and on-site proof-of-performance testing were subcontracted by NHPBS to a third-party provider.

To help NHPBS monitor the health and performance of its new on-air equipment, HVS supplied a Triveni Digital StreamScope XM analyzer for use at the studio. The StreamScope is configured to monitor IP, ASI and RF signal inputs and is fully equipped to provide performance metrics for ATSC 3.0 signals.

HVS also supplied an Airwavz.tv TVXplorer, which uses a RedZone receiver and a customer-supplied laptop PC for on-the-go testing of the ATSC 3.0 station signal at the Stewartstown site.

PLYMOUTH, Wis.—A group of about 20 TV technology vendors supporting NextGen TV are wrapping up their ATSC 3.0 Interop here at Heartland Video Systems headquarters after spending the week identifying and resolving any problems implementation of various 3.0 advanced features might create for NextGen TV reception.

“ATSC 3.0 has a lot of knobs that you can turn and tweak to make it whatever you want it to be,” said HVS director of sales Joe Turbolski. “This interop is testing all of those knobs and making sure they all work properly.”

HVS, which has integrated about 90% of all non-Sinclair 3.0 deployments, is hosting the fall test following a similar interop this past spring at Sinclair’s Hunt Valley, Md., headquarters. Pearl TV and Sinclair/ONE Media are co-sponsoring the gathering.

A Panoply of Tests
At this week’s event, participants are working to ensure that a laundry list of advanced ATSC 3.0 features won’t break consumer NextGen TVs and receiver devices when implemented.

The interop is performing basic service testing for Real-Time Object delivery Over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) and MPEG Media Transport (MMT) as well as testing: audio accessibility; app-based services; the Run3TV framework; virtual (i.e. Broadcast IP/Broadcast Enhanced Streaming TV) channels; 3.0 translators; Broadcast Positioning System (BPS); datacasting; event stream; dynamic ad insertion; the physical layer; STL Transport Protocol; Enensys cloud redundancy; regional service availability table (RSAT) testing; recovery channel; CBCS digital rights management; and expiring certificates.

In many respects, modern TVs in general and NextGen TVs in particular are more similar to a computer than a traditional television, and the room where the interop took place reflects that fact. Seated at rows of tables where the interop is taking place, software engineers focus on the particular 3.0 feature set they traveled to HVS to test.

Six large-screen TVs receiving 3.0 OTA signals from three main exciters –one each from GatesAir, Rohde & Schwarz and Teamcast—and test equipment modulators—from Enensys, DekTec and LabMod—display a looping NFL clip, game show clip and other content as programmers run their code and tweak it as needed.

“We have enough test equipment to feed each of those six chains so six different RF channels are on at the same time,” said HVS ATSC 3.0 technologist Mike Schmidt.

In a separate room engineers from Sinclair and HVS were testing BPS as part of the interop. “Sinclair was kind enough to bring their entire BPS kit here so we could do some testing that was very enlightening,” Schmidt said. “The main focus was to make sure that TVs survived BPS being present.”

At the spring interop, BPS testing was confined to simply inserting it into a 3.0 signal. “But here they started to create delays on two paths,” said Schmidt, adding that inserting delays “may in a heavy-handed way” simulate more closely what may happen in practice, especially in a single frequency network (SFN).

“They did delay on one path and everything worked fine,” he said. “Then they did delay on two paths, and it broke some TVs. So, there are still some things that need to be worked out.”

Being There
Notably absent from the event were many consumer electronics companies pursuing the NextGen TV market; however, Schmidt noted that’s to be expected, given the timing of the interop. Most CE companies are busy preparing for CES in early January, he said.

But not having a physical presence isn’t preventing CE companies from benefiting from what the interop uncovers. Their engineers are communicating with those present for the interop in real time via Slack messenger, said Schmidt.

“We have a PCAP [packet capture], or IP data recording, and we make those available at the end of the interop for all of our findings from all of the tests,” he said.

Working from the notes they take from their Slack communications, the CE vendors can then access the PCAP data corresponding to a failure and play it back in the lab, determine if the failure can be replicated and then dig in to find a solution, Schmidt added.

The testing that happens at the interop is important because it focuses the attention of the players trying to advance NextGen TV on making improvements to the implementation of the various features 3.0 offers, he said.

But couldn’t all of these participants do the same thing sitting in their offices scattered across the globe?

“That’s a good question,” Schmidt said. “But human nature factors in. If you’re just off on your own, it’s harder to do and easier to move on to something else.

“If everyone’s concentrated in one place, looking at the same thing at the same time, we can just focus on getting it fixed.”

The interop wraps up today with a half-day session devoted to advancing new technology and looking at new ideas.

PLYMOUTH, Wisc.—Heartland Video Systems (HVS) recently completed configuring New Mexico PBS’s Ateme-based encoding system with live artificial intelligence (AI) language translation of the broadcaster’s ATSC 3.0 OTA broadcast signal using LingoPal’s cloud translation services.

New Mexico PBS operates KNME-TV licensed to Albuquerque and KNMD-TV licensed to Santa Fe. The broadcaster created its own ATSC 3.0 lighthouse when KNMD-TV transitioned to 3.0 in June 2021, HVS said.

That conversion included a full solution from HVS, including an Ateme encoder that processes two HD program streams and three SD program streams that are simulcasts of KNME-TV’s offerings. New Mexico PBS and HVS have continued to evolve the functions and capabilities of the ATSC 3.0 OTA system over the last several years, most recently by providing AI-powered language translation, it said.

The HVS engineering team reconfigured KNMD-TV’s Ateme 3.0 encoder to send an SRT English-only audio stream to LingoPal’s cloud-based service. The 5.1 English audio track (there was no need to send SAP audio) was processed through the AI system, it said.

"Technology is moving fast, and what unlocks it for broadcasters is the tight, day-to-day collaboration between our teams and partners like Ateme, aligning encoding, delivery, and real-time translation so it just works inside existing workflows,” said Casey Schneider, LingoPal founder and CTO.

Live Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean translations of the original audio, delivered in 2.0 downmix mode and lip-synced with the video, are returned to the TV station’s ATSC 3.0 Ateme encoder, the company said.

“Sometimes technology advances enough to unlock features that previously could not be imagined,” said Mike Schmidt, ATSC 3.0 technologist at HVS. “The hope, in that case, is that the process isn’t too complex or require[s] so many resources so that it can’t be readily used. I was very pleased to find that neither drawback applied to this feature set. The entire configuration took about an hour, not including the work LingoPal did to prep the service beforehand, and worked as advertised the first attempt.”

The benefits of adding this new capability, particularly with regards to emergency messaging, “can’t be overstated,” said New Mexico PBS director of engineering Jason Quinn.

“The ability to communicate with our viewers in their native language gives us the chance to serve our complete audience with all of the important details they need in times of an emergency,” he said.

Heartland Video Systems will exhibit during the 2025 NAB Show New York, Oct. 22-23, at the Javits Center in New York City.

See HVS at NAB Show New York booth 465.

More information is available on the company’s website.

PLYMOUTH, Wis.—Heartland Video Systems has announced that they’ve signed a reseller agreement with Cuez for the company’s all-in-one rundown/news room computer solutions (NRCS).

As part of the agreement, HVS will focus on bringing the Cuez cloud-based solutions to U.S. broadcasters for news, sports, esports, (online) news, entertainment, live events, worship and other applications.

“As organizations face increasing pressure to do more with less—both in cost and resources—our partnership with Cuez enables us to deliver smarter, more efficient video production solutions to our U.S. clients, combining forward-thinking innovation with practical execution,” HVS President Dan Whealy said.

Cuez is a next-generation, cloud-based rundown and scripting solution that redefines live production workflows for broadcasters, digital content creators and the like, the companies said. Built for real-time collaboration, automation, and media management, Cuez brings everything together in one easy-to-use platform.

The platform’s three core components—Storiez, Rundown, and Automator—enable collaborative script editing, automated cueing and centralized control of studio hardware and software, the companies said.

With real-time syncing across devices, Cuez supports remote collaboration and last-minute changes, while its no-code Automator connects to several studio systems via API, allowing operators to manage media assets, trigger playouts and control cameras, graphics, lighting and more with just a few clicks, the two companies said.

HVS is continuously seeking innovative ways to streamline broadcast operations and deliver real value to its clients, Healy said. The partnership with Cuez will combine HVS’s expertise in media technology with Cuez’s flexible and intuitive tools in ways that will make it easier and more cost-effective for U.S.-based customers to modernize their control rooms without compromising on performance or reliability, he said.

“We’re excited to partner with Heartland Video Systems,” said Aaron Nuytemans, head of growth at Cuez. “It’s great to have them on board to help more teams in the U.S. discover how easy automation and modern rundowns can actually be.”

PLYMOUTH, Wis.— Dan Whealy has acquired Heartland Video Systems and will be its new owner and president, the systems integrator said.

Dennis Klas, former president and owner, will stay on through mid-2026 to support Whealy and ensure a smooth and seamless handover, the company said.

"It is an incredible honor to lead Heartland Video Systems into its next chapter,” Whealy said in a statement. “As a long-time former customer and current employee, I developed a deep respect for the legacy built by Dennis and the HVS team—one rooted not only in visionary leadership and integrity, but in a culture of outstanding ethics, transparency, trust, dedication, and service. That culture is what has made HVS so special to its employees, customers, and partners over the past three decades—something that is very near and dear to my heart to preserve going forward.”

The company, a premier video systems integrator, consulting firm, and manufacturer of the Videstra Micro-Local IP camera management solution, stressed that all key staff members, corporate structure, and customer-focused sales and support will remain in place.

Whealy brings 21 years of experience in the broadcast industry, with a well-rounded background in both radio and television and a deep understanding of all facets of broadcast technology to his new role. His career has spanned roles from hands-on engineering to executive leadership, including time at Quincy Media and, more recently as chief technology officer at Allen Media Broadcasting (AMB).

At AMB, Whealy led the company’s technological strategy and innovation across a nationwide group of network affiliates. Under his leadership, the organization achieved significant operational and infrastructure improvements, realizing multimillion-dollar annual savings through strategic capital initiatives. He brings extensive expertise in ATSC 3.0, studio technology, and cutting-edge aerial-based newsgathering solutions for local news coverage.

"To all of you—thank you for the relationships, hard work, and shared purpose that have fueled our success,“ Whealy said. “I want to reassure everyone that there will be continuity across the board during and after this transition process—HVS will continue to operate with the same team, the same mission, and the same focus on excellence that you’ve come to expect and know.

"As we move forward, HVS will remain a 100% family-owned company—retaining the agility, flexibility, and responsiveness that have always allowed us to quickly adapt to the needs of our customers and partners," Whealy continued. "I am deeply committed to preserving the values and culture that define HVS, while embracing new opportunities to grow, innovate, and serve with excellence. Together, we will build on our legacy and shape an even stronger, more resilient future for the next generation of HVS—and for everyone we cherish, value, and proudly serve in our business.”

“I am deeply appreciative of the personal and professional relationships I have formed throughout my journey in television," added Dennis Klas, former owner of HVS and strategic transition manager. "As this journey is now 40 years along, it is time to pass things on to the next generation. As a former customer and current employee, Dan fully understands and embraces our values and relationships. It has been a primary goal for me to assure that the values and ethics that have built HVS are continued after my ownership. I trust that Dan is understanding and well-positioned to succeed for our employees and customers.”

“This is an exciting new chapter for HVS,“ General Manager Linda Haney said. “Dan and I will work closely together to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible for both our employees and our customers, while preserving the values and culture that define HVS.”

HVS has been a supplier of communications equipment, professional installation services and ongoing technical support for more than 20 years. It is a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, the winner of a 2010 Engineering Excellence Award and a voting member of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).

In 2024, HVS acquired Videstra, a micro-local IP camera management system for broadcast production workflow and web content publishing, including new revenue opportunities through camera sponsorships.

More information is available at www.hvs-inc.com.

SANTA FE, N.M.—New Mexico PBS (NMPBS) has turned to Heartland Video Systems (HVS) and its ATSC 3.0 team to optimize the public broadcaster’s existing ATSC 3.0 over-the-air (OTA) signal with Advanced Emergency Information (AEI)/Advanced Emergency Alert (AEA) capability.

HVS also supplied NMPBS with the necessary equipment for what is said to be the nation’s first ATSC 3.0 translator that works in conjunction with the broadcaster’s existing ATSC 3.0 facility.

Advanced Emergency Information (AEI) is a new ATSC 3.0 capability available to all broadcasters. The current Emergency Alert System (EAS) was deployed in the late ‘90s. In ATSC 1.0, the EAS signal is implemented via audio messaging. It is usually accompanied by a text crawl across the live video program. EAS is mandatory for ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 over-the-air broadcasts.

AEI supplements emergency warnings with additional real-time data customized to the region or type of emergency. It can also be used to provide non-emergency information, such as school closings, traffic updates and other community specific alerts. Consumers with NextGen TVs have the ability to opt in or out of AEI updates.

To take full advantage of AEI, a TV station needs to implement a Broadcaster App (BA) as part of its OTA signal. A 3.0 receiver uses the BA to render or display the AEI information properly on a consumer’s NextGen TV display.

HVS worked closely with NMPBS to implement its AEI solution by partnering with Digital Alert Systems and EiTV USA to configure, test and deploy an end-to-end AEI+BA solution on NMPBS’ KNMD-TV ATSC 3.0 station in Santa Fe, N.M., HVS said.

The EiTV USA team led the development of a BA delivered over the broadcast signal to ensure the reception of AEI messages on a wide range of TVs and set-top boxes. While AEI follows a standard, not all devices are fully compliant, making the BA essential for guaranteeing that AEI information is correctly received and displayed across different receivers, it said.

“Our main challenge was ensuring that the app consistently supported the display of AEI-MF messages and all associated multimedia content, including video clips, audio and graphic files, across all ATSC 3.0 receivers while maintaining a uniform look and feel,” said EiTV USA CEO Rodrigo Cascao Araujo.

Working with the broadcaster, EiTV, and Digital Alert Systems, HVS used its ATSC 3.0 lab to mockup the broadcaster’s on-air system and run many months of tests and report back findings to EiTV, said HVS senior engineer and ATSC 3.0 specialist Mike Schmidt.

“The data was mostly reports of how the different devices behaved with the app look, the remote buttons behavior, audio behavior, and the actual test message display. Getting all devices to eventually have a common look and feel was a challenge,” he said. “This was an iterative process, but eventually HVS and EiTV achieved the end goal of a fully functional app.

“Throughout the process, Ed Czarnecki [vice president of global and government affairs] at Digital Alert Systems provided expert advice about AEI that proved to be very helpful. HVS then worked with KNME and Digital Alert Systems to get connectivity between the DASDEC and the ATSC 3.0 broadcast equipment, program the DASDEC for AEI, set up various AEI data sources, and run on air tests. This is a big milestone for HVS and we were excited to be part of such groundbreaking work,” said Schmidt.

More than 80% of U.S. TV stations currently have Digital Alert System’s DASCEC. "ATSC 3.0 will transform public alerting and targeted messaging to audiences. Digital Alert Systems and our DASDEC messaging platform play a central role in the Advanced Emergency Information infrastructure," said Czarnecki.

NMPBS also operates over 35 translators primarily covering the northern half of the state. Its first translator site that will transition to ATSC 3.0 service will be K33QV-D in Tres Piedras, NM.

K33QV-D will augment K28GV-D currently on ATSC 1.0 and the new translator will receive an ATSC 3.0 off-air signal from KNMD-TV, including the new AEI+BA capability. For K33QV-D, HVS supplied a BE-TV25-GFU 25W ATSC 3.0 translator. K33QV-D is the very first ATSC 3.0 translator licensed by the FCC and the station is expected to be on-the-air by mid-2025. NMPBS intends to transition additional translator sites to ATSC 3.0 in 2025.

“New Mexico PBS is proud to help lead the industry toward better emergency alerting. We have partnered with Heartland Video Systems on our ASTC 3.0 project since our adoption in 2021 and eagerly came on board when they asked us to participate in AEA testing. Public television is the backbone of the emergency alerting system in the United States and we are excited to help the system evolve and advance.” said NMPBS director of engineering Jason Quinn.

More information is available on the HVS, Digital Alert Systems and EiTV USA websites.

NEW ORLEANS—WVUE-TV, Gray Media’s Fox affiliate here, turned to Heartland Video Systems (HVS) to pre-configure and lab test custom StatMux and HDR configurations in advance of the Super Bowl for use during its broadcast of the game.

Gray Media asked HVS to develop a custom ATSC 3.0 StatMux that wouldn’t adversely affect any of the available ATSC 3.0 tuners in TVs or set top boxes. HVS pre-qualified and tested several StatMux combinations in its advanced ATSC 3.0 laboratory in Plymouth, Wisc. After successful lab testing, the new configuration was deployed by WVUE for the game, the company said.

For the New Orleans ATSC 3.0 market, HVS configured a Harmonic XOS encoding platform and a DigiCAP DigiCaster ATSC 3.0 air chain as a StatMux. Before configuring the StatMux, the ATSC 3.0 OTA signal was running an average of 4 Mb/s per program service.

“Harmonic and DigiCAP worked on the StatMux for a while. It is certainly exciting to see it come to fruition in the production system at WVUE. HVS has been an instrumental partner in developing, testing and proving the enablement of StatMux, and we will continue to work with Harmonic and HVS to enhance the operational ease of the StatMux.” said Sang Jin Yoon, senior vice president of business development at DigiCAP.

HVS equally rated all the program services, but the Fox program feed still received the most bitrate due to the complexity of the video. After the custom StatMux was set up and tested, it is estimated the average bitrate was closer to 6-7 Mb/s and would max out at around 10 Mb/s when needed. Other services had peak bit rates at around 7Mb/s, HVS said.

So, at times, even non-Super Bowl programs benefited more than they would have if they were running the older pre-HVS configuration. In addition to the StatMux configuration, HVS also helped WVUE enable Dolby Vision and HDR10+ as well as a Dolby Atmos upmix, it said.

“Gray Media is committed to providing the best-in-class audio and video quality to its viewers through its NextGen TV broadcasts. HVS’s innovative StatMux solution allowed WVUE to deliver the best possible viewer experience during the Big Game and other high profile programming on WVUE, including local broadcasts of New Orleans Pelicans games,” said Robert Folliard, Gray Media senior vice president of government relations and distribution.

More information is available on the company’s website.

PLYMOUTH, Wis.—Heartland Video Systems, Inc. has announced that it collaborated with Fox Television Stations in Los Angeles to configure and deploy a custom Statistical Multiplexing (StatMux) solution for KTTV (Los Angeles). Designed to optimize bandwidth allocation without impacting ATSC 3.0 tuners, this advanced configuration ensured a superior broadcast experience for Super Bowl that aired on February 9.

Leveraging its state-of-the-art ATSC 3.0 lab in Plymouth, HVS pre-qualified multiple StatMux scenarios before implementing the final configuration at KTTV’s ATSC 3.0 Lighthouse station. This deployment significantly increased the Fox program feed’s bitrate from an average of 4 Mb/s per service to a dynamic range of 6-10 Mb/s, optimizing video quality without compromising other program streams.

For the Los Angeles ATSC 3.0 market, HVS integrated a Synamedia virtual Digital Content Manager (vDCM) encoding platform and a Triveni Digital ATSC 3.0 air chain to form an intelligent StatMux system.

This approach allowed Fox’s primary feed to dynamically allocate bandwidth based on content complexity while simultaneously improving bitrates for other services. HVS also enabled Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos upmixing, elevating both the visual and audio experience for viewers.

"Heartland Video Systems was the ideal partner to bring our ATSC 3.0 StatMux vision to life at KTTV in Los Angeles,” said Tim Joyce, senior vice president of engineering, operations, and technology, Fox Television Stations. “Their expertise helped us not only enhance bandwidth efficiency but also introduce Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, delivering a next-level experience for our viewers. We look forward to extending this innovation across our ATSC 3.0 Lighthouse markets."

Anne Schelle, managing director, Pearl TV added that "the success of this project underscores the power of ATSC 3.0 in delivering next-gen broadcast experiences. Through collaborations with Fox, Synamedia, and Heartland, we’re showcasing how custom StatMux solutions and cutting-edge features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos redefine broadcast quality."

"HVS continues to lead ATSC 3.0 innovation, driving real-world solutions that enhance both broadcaster efficiency and viewer experience," commented Madeleine Noland, president, ATSC. "The deployment at KTTV highlights the power of collaboration in advancing NextGen TV technologies,"

Heartland Video Systems (HVS) has been supplying the U.S. with quality communication equipment, professional installation services, and ongoing technical support for 20+ years. HVS is a proud member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), honored recipient of a 2010 Engineering Excellence Award, and a voting member of ATSC.

PLYMOUTH, Wisc.—Heartland Video Systems (HVS) has acquired Videstra, a company that offers solutions to integrate micro-local cameras for weather, towers and transportation departments into broadcast station production environments. Financial details were not disclosed.

"HVS has consistently been a forward-thinking company, committed to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that empower our customers to thrive,” said Dan Whealy, director of business development and technology at HVS. “The acquisition of Videstra aligns perfectly with this philosophy and vision.”

Videstra offers a suite of products that make it easy to integrate and manage remote IP cameras into production workflows. Founded in 2016, the company offers complete hardware and software solutions, including V-Streamer, V-Manager and VestraView client software. Its solution is available with support for four or eight simultaneous channels of genlocked HD-SDI output feeds for news, weather and web integration, HVS said.

The Videstra system works with a broad range of IP cameras from numerous manufacturers. It fully integrates camera control for a variety of IP streaming camera models. The scalable Videstra solution can accept from one to more than 100 cameras with the same in-house infrastructure, it said.

The client software is simple yet powerful with either list or tile views of the source IP video feeds and a familiar router output control. Videstra also provides the ability to be driven by popular broadcast automation software like Ross OverDrive and Grass Valley Ignite, it said.

Videstra also enables time lapse, web publishing, sharing and simple DOT camera access. The Videstra system offers the ability to brand or sponsor the camera feeds independently, providing additional revenue opportunities, it said.

“Videstra represents a premier product in the IP camera space, meticulously developed on enhancing the end viewer experience and unlocking new revenue opportunities,” Whealy said. “Leveraging HVS's seasoned, industry-leading team, we are confident in our ability to enhance, expand, and evolve the Videstra product offering, ultimately delivering greater value to both current and future Videstra customers across diverse business segments.”

Dan Desjardins, former founder and director of Videstra, said he was impressed with the “passion and expertise in broadcasting” that HVS brings to the table.

“Heartland is a company poised to grow the product and customer base with energy and purpose," he said.

More information is available on the HVS website.

PLYMOUTH, Wisc.—More than 50 organizations from around the world gathered at the headquarters of Heartland Video Systems here Oct. 29-31 to focus on ATSC 3.0 interoperability with an emphasis on signal signing, high dynamic range video, Dolby Atmos audio and enhanced accessibility features.

“As the broadcasting industry embraces the future with NextGen TV, interoperability and innovation are more critical than ever,” HVS president Dennis Klas said. “Hosting this event at our state-of-the-art ATSC 3.0 lab underscores HVS’s commitment to driving technological advancements that will redefine broadcast. The progress made in testing signal signing across platforms using both ROUTE and MMT protocols is another significant step forward to ensure secure and authentic broadcast signals.”

The plugfest, the third annual HVS-hosted 3.0 interoperability event, gave broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers and broadcast equipment providers the opportunity to test, validate and refine the latest 3.0 features. Thousands of tests across various equipment combinations verified compatibility and performance in real-world scenarios, HVS said.

The event revealed significant progress on cross-platform signal signing. Participants tested both the ROUTE and MMT protocols. Tests of the former showed ROUTE (Real-Time Object Delivery Over Unidirectional Transport) signing to be successfully verified. MMT signing tests revealed areas needing improvement.

Various HDR formats, including HLG, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, as well as combinations of the same, and 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos audio were tested with the goal of enabling cinema-quality, immersive home entertainment.

The event also saw tests of enhanced accessibility features to verify consumer device support for AC-4 dialog enhancement, descriptive audio and multiple caption tracks. Jim Starzynski, director and principal audio engineer at NBCUniversal, and Charles Bronson, a video and audio broadcast and live-streaming solutions architect, ensured compatibility, enhancing accessibility for all users.

Event participants had an opportunity to assess integration of consumer electronics and broadcast equipment for tuning and downloading content via content delivery networks, merging internet-based delivery and over-the-air broadcast for a seamless viewer experience and interactive services.

Tests were conducted to determine the ability of devices to remain tuned when modulation parameters and service placement change in support of uninterrupted service and 3.0’s flexibility.

Testing explored Verance watermarking in ATSC 1.0 to render broadcast applications on existing channels as a means to help bridge current and next-generation technologies and extend advanced services.

Tests of new datacasting services, compressed layer signaling and basic DASH Event Streams, were conducted, and Mike Dolan, a founding authority on ATSC standards and digita-TV engineering, presented on 3.0 timing using an API to verify device synchronization to enable perfect alignment of audio and video for seamless viewing.

“The interoperability event at HVS has been pivotal in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with NextGen TV,” said Anne Schelle, managing director of Pearl TV. “By focusing on critical advancements such as signal signing, HDR, and accessibility, we’ve made significant strides in ensuring that broadcasters can securely and efficiently deliver enhanced services to consumers. HVS’ expertise and cutting-edge facilities were instrumental in the success of this event, fostering collaboration that will shape the future of broadcasting.”

More information was available on the HVS and Pearl TV websites.

PLYMOUTH, Wis.—Heartland Video Systems (HVS) has announced that it is working with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to offer broadcasters new ATSC 3.0 datacasting solutions. 

The datacasting offering will provide 3.0 broadcasters with new revenue streams from businesses who want better options for sending firmware, software, and increasingly important data, the companies said. 

BIA Advisory Services and industry executives have identified datacasting as one of the most potentially profitable applications of NextGen TV, aka ATSC 3.0. 

This collaboration combines HVS' broadcasting technologies with HPE's global IT expertise to offer a comprehensive ATSC 3.0 datacasting solution, the companies said. 

"Our collaboration with HPE is a pivotal moment for HVS. This collaboration melds our profound broadcasting knowledge with HPE's exceptional data management prowess. The result is a superior ATSC 3.0 datacasting solution that ensures efficiency, accessibility, and notably, enhanced profitability for broadcasters," said Dennis Klas, founder and president at HVS.

"We see datacasting as a unique opportunity for broadcasters to exploit new business models,” added said Paolo Ceccherini, worldwide business lead, digital video solutions, at HPE Communications Technology Group. “Early adopters who have already selected our industry-first, award-winning Broadcast Core Network solution — which is based on decades of experience in broadcast automation and orchestration — have provided extremely encouraging feedback. We are excited to collaborate with HVS to accelerate this industry transformation further," 

The companies also stressed that the solution will provide broadcasters with increased bandwidth, unmatched reliability, and advanced customization.

More information on the new ATSC 3.0 datacasting solution is available at www.hvs-inc.com. 

DETROIT—For an in-vehicle ATSC 3.0 entertainment experience to remain uninterrupted as a car or truck travels from the coverage area of one station to another, there needs to be successful hand off between the two stations much as a cell phone network provides for calls to remain uninterrupted as people move from one cell to the next.

A test conducted in November 2021 demonstrated the viability of this handoff during a test involving a version of DigiCap’s DigiCaster 3.0 gateway installed at two participating television stations, WKAR TV, the Michigan State University public media station in East Lansing, and WMYD, The E.W. Scripps Company TV station in Detroit, the company revealed today.

In the test car, LG Electronics installed a system to receive and display ATSC 3.0 signals on a rear-seat entertainment TV. As the car traveled from the signal coverage of one TV station to the next, the handoff technology succeeded in keeping a steady TV signal on the receiver device, it said.

“The success of the demonstration is meaningful as it shows that both entertainment and data services in moving cars can be commercialized," said Yeongho Je, director of C&M Standard LAB at LG Electronics.

Heartland Video Systems installed and configured servers and installed the DigiCasters at both stations.

“Achieving seamless data hand off between the signals of adjacent ATSC 3.0 TV stations is foundational for any datacasting application in the automotive and mobile fields,” said Anne Schelle, managing director at Pearl TV. “While data handoff technology is not new, confirming a successful test of this technology for use with ATSC 3.0 spectrum is an important step forward.”

PLYMOUTH, Wis.—Heartland Video Systems announced it has joined the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) as a voting member, bringing 20 years of experience and knowledge implementing ATSC 1.0 and now 3.0 to the organization.

“Since ATSC 3.0 implementations have started, we have been fortunate to be working with several large station groups and feel we could make a real contribution by joining ATSC as a voting member,” said Heartland Video CEO Dennis Klas. 

“With experience gained from each market, combined with what we learn from our ATSC 3.0 integration lab, we improve with each integration we do," he said.

Madeleine Noland, president of ATSC, welcomed Heartland Video to the committee. “Heartland Video Systems is known for their thorough understanding of the equipment and systems they sell and support,” she said. “They use their active ATSC 3.0 lab to assist broadcasters in their transition to NextGen TV. ATSC is continually developing the ATSC 3.0 platform, and participation from systems experts such as Heartland is critical.”

Heartland Video’s 3.0 technology implementation over the past year has required special attention to health and safety given the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said.

“As station staffs were stretched due to COVID-19, Heartland was able to use our experience, and relationships with multiple vendors, to ease each market transition,” said Klas.

The business side also has evolved since Heartland Video assisted broadcasters with their 1.0 implementation two decades ago.

“Twenty years ago, broadcasters had greater control to standardize their broadcast equipment and IT across multiple markets. But most larger station groups were grown through acquisitions, and as a result many must deal with a variety of technology upgrade scenarios. System integrators, like Heartland, have had to develop expertise to work with all suppliers and across all technology scenarios,” he said.

Heartland Video plans to share its firsthand knowledge about the latest ATSC 3.0 technology and best practices with the committee “as a way to give back to our industry,” said Klas.

More information is available on the Heartland Video website.

PLYMOUTH, Wisc.—Heartland Video Systems learned a lesson 20 years ago during the transition from analog TV to ATSC 1.0-based DTV that is proving to be valuable as broadcasters once more transition, this time to NextGen TV service.

“When we were integrating ATSC 1.0, there was always a rush to get stations on the air quickly,” recalls Dennis Klas, company CEO. “This was a challenge because everyone was working with new technologies with little integration history. As ATSC 3.0 came into view, Heartland made a commitment to build an integration lab where we could test connectivity between different ATSC 3.0 products.” 

The integration lab enabled Heartland Video to gain experience working with products from prominent suppliers all under the same roof, making it possible to run different product combinations and predict results. Just as with 1.0, broadcasters deciding to deploy ATSC 3.0 are placing equipment orders with aggressive turn-on schedules, says Klas. However, this time around the knowledge and experience gained in the lab is helping the integrator meet these demands.

While working with Pearl TV, Heartland learned about the success of member stations with ATSC 3.0 technology from DigiCAP, says Heartland Senior Systems Engineer Mike Schmidt. “Because we like to test all available prominent suppliers, we evaluated their technology,” says Schmidt.

Klas found DigiCAP offered technology that could prove useful to some of Heartland’s broadcast clients. “We also found DigiCAP to be very responsive to our requests, and [DigiCAP] has a forward-looking technology view, especially in app development,” he says. “We have implemented their air chain technology with several station groups with very positive results."

According to DigiCAP Senior Vice President of Business Development Sang Jin Yoon, DigiCAP and Heartland share the belief that lab testing to integrate 3.0 products is a fruitful strategy. “When we saw their integration lab, we immediately recognized a like-minded commitment to proactively work with new technology.”

DigiCAP built its integration lab in 2017 to ensure South Korean broadcasters could begin offering over-the-air NextGen TV service to transmit live coverage of the 2018 South Korean Winter Olympics in 4K.

More information is available on the Heartland Video Systems and DigiCAP websites.

MADISON, WIS.—WisconsinEye provides unfettered access to the actions of Wisconsin’s state government, broadcasting public policy debates and decision-making processes to viewers with a balanced presentation. Our studio facilities near Capitol Square are equipped for high-end live production, with broadcasts delivered to local cable TV systems and over the internet.

We’ve been operating with the same broadcast and production infrastructure since we went on the air in 2007 and the system has recently shown signs of age. We needed a more reliable system to deliver 1080i HD content to our viewers so we hired Heartland Video Systems to upgrade our complement of 1080i cameras, production switchers, graphics systems and other related equipment.

GOODBYE PATCHBAYS

One of our primary goals was to use our existing fiber infrastructure to move content between the state capitol and our remote production studio two blocks away, but in a far more simplified, reliable and flexible manner. We had long used a patchbay system to connect up to 72 camera positions—a mix of fixed and roaming cameras—across four floors of various committee, assembly and senate rooms. The Heartland Video Systems team recommended transitioning to a MultiDyne HD-3500 fiber-optic system to replace this setup.

The move to MultiDyne has immediately streamlined connectivity through the permanent patching of 19 camera positions. This has reduced the time and labor required to patch and troubleshoot systems and eliminated the need to constantly plug and unplug the cameras. The system allows to very quickly bring up fixed and roaming cameras, adjust color and exposure, and reliably transport 1080i video, tally, RS-485 control, and other signals from the capitol to our studio. MultiDyne’s tally support has been a major added benefit, offering a clear indication as to which camera is on-air at any time.

The HD-3500 architecture comprises a series of transmitters (capitol) and 24 rackmounted receivers (studio). The transmitters are highly adaptable from an integration standpoint, and cleanly connect to our Ross PIVOTCam cameras and Vinten tripod base plates. Multidyne’s custom, bracket-mounted interfaces and connectors are far more flexible and adaptable than competitive systems we evaluated.

MAXIMIZING DISTANCE AND BANDWIDTH

The transmitters have also proven highly durable, an important benefit in production environments with roaming cameras. The black powder coat finish adds a sharp look and feel, making our camera systems look more professional.

The MultiDyne system allows us to move signals over single-mode fiber to maximize transport distance and optimize bandwidth usage. The architecture is clean from a connectivity standpoint at the receive points, using splice cabinets and a fiber patch panel with LC connectors to support the cable runs at the studio. This also eliminated the need for a fiber router, which reduced overall project costs.

The reliability of the MultiDyne system cannot be overstated. Signal drop-outs are non-existent, and signal integrity and quality is consistently robust. MultiDyne’s built-in monitoring capabilities are also clear and easy to understand. The LED interfaces on transmitting and receiving units display solid link lights as signals move over the fiber infrastructure. Similarly, blinking lights indicate the presence of RS-485 control and other data. There is never any uncertainty in regard to signal presence and connection quality.

The team at Heartland Video Systems expertly specified and installed this customized system on behalf of WisconsinEye, with MultiDyne delivering exactly what we needed across reliability, flexibility, adaptability, signal integrity and ease of use.

John Schroeder is the director of program production at WisconsinEye. He can be reached atjohn.schroeder@wiseye.com.

For more information visitmultidyne.comor call 516-299-9513.