LAS VEGAS—Roberts Communications Network (RCN) recently selected the AirBox Neo-20 playout system from PlayBox Neo as the solution for all playout. 

RCN will pair the AirBox Neo-20 with PlayBox Neo’s multi-channel, multi-server Capture Suite for ingest of multiple live sources. Systems integration firm Keycode Media assisted RCN is selecting AirBox Neo-20 and Capture Suite, the company said.

Fathom Events, a world-class entertainment company that requires delivery of a wide variety of live and pre-recorded content to more than 1,100 movie theaters across North America, is an RCN customer and will benefit from the new deployment.

To meet all its playout requirements, RCN needed a highly reliable and extremely robust solution with the ability to time delay live recordings for later playback. RCN also required the ability to receive a wide array of file types for insertion into live scheduled content. 

Keycode Media’s distribution needs centered on delivering live and recorded content to its movie theater clients as well as redundancy and support for 5.1 surround sound.

AirBox Neo-20 provides automated content streaming and broadcast playout for satellite, cloud-based, cable head-ends, over-the-air broadcasters, corporate TV and internet-based TV. It can easily mix a variety of media files and live inputs in one playlist and provides multiple SDI/IP streaming outputs at the same time in many standards up to 4K.

Media can be trimmed, edited or repositioned. Live productions are streamlined to allow insertion and execution of various events or live streams into the playlist. For automated playout, AirBox Neo-20 allows playlist scheduling for weeks ahead. Gaps and time overlaps are automatically resolved to ensure continuous operation even when conflicting timed events are present.

Capture Suite is a multi-channel-multi-server UHD/HD/SD live ingest solution that integrates into the production workflow of any television network, post-production facility or playout center. Capture Suite allows users to control multiple ingest channels, spread on multiple servers from a single web user interface. Functions such as input selection, ingest presets, file naming conventions assignments and auto-transfer functionalities are supported.

More information is available on the company’s website. 

HENDERSON, Nev.—Roberts Communications Network (RCN) has announced the creation of a Broadcast & Media Services division that will focus on broadcast and media business customers requiring occasional use and full-time services.

Jonathan Crawford, former President & CEO of The SPACECONNECTION (TSC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Telesat, has been appointed president of the new RCN division, and will focus on vendor relationships, business development and strategic partnerships.

"We specialize in delivering high-quality, low-latency, reliable, secure video around the globe, whether it be via satellite, fiber, or internet," said RCN President and CEO Todd Roberts. "The creation of a new Broadcast & Media Services division signifies our commitment to diversify into other industries, as also reflected by our recently announced partnership with Fathom Events, which serves the movie theater industry. Jonathan, with his decades of experience and expertise in the broadcast and media industry, was the perfect person to lead this new venture."

Crawford has been in the broadcast and media industry for 28 years, serving as CEO with TSC for 13 years. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Crawford held SVP and VP roles in sales and operations. In addition, he worked for Globecast North America in many managerial roles.

As part of the transition, RCN will also be taking over the former occasional use services of TSC, servicing events such as March Madness, MLB, NBA, NFL, NCAA Basketball & Football and worldwide conferences.

"This newly-created division of RCN represents unlimited potential and I am very excited for the opportunity to lead it," said Crawford, who has served as a board member of the TSC for 13 years, Space and Satellite Professionals International since 2017, and other boards in various industries. "I am extremely impressed with RCN's brand-new, state-of-the-art, content production and distribution facility, and I cannot wait to show off the company's existing global service capabilities to the customers I have serviced for decades and also use those capabilities to bring exciting new partners and clients on board."

In addition to Crawford, RCN has also announced the hiring of Victoria Rivera-Caple as Director of Occasional Use Services for the new Broadcast & Media Services division. She formerly served as Manager of Satellite Services for TSC for 21 years.

PLANO, TEXAS—Communications & Power Industries’ (CPI) ASC Signal Division has been tapped by Roberts Communications Network to provide seven satellite antenna systems for its new teleport in Las Vegas.

The ASC Signal Division will provide Roberts with three 9.3 meter C-band systems, as well as four 7.6 meter Ku- and C-band systems, all of which feature four-port feeds. Roberts is also utilizing CPI’s Satcom & Medical Products Division for satellite communication amplifiers.

Roberts Communications is a Las Vegas-based provider of satellite and terrestrial communications services. It will make its new teleport live as of Nov. 1.