NEW DELHI—ENENSYS/TeamCast and Comark are demonstrating a single platform that supports ATSC 3.0 and DVB-T2 at BES (Broadcast Engineering Society) Expo India, Jan. 17-19 at the Pragati Maidan exhibition and convention center.

The platform, which uses Comark’s Exact-V2 1RU exciter and ENENSYS’s release of a new TeamCast version of its ATSC Digital Exciter with support for 3.0 and DVB-T2 waveforms, gives broadcasters the opportunity to explore both standards.

“The support of both ATSC 3.0 and DVB-T2 waveforms on a single platform will enable broadcasters to experiment with both second generation standards with the maximum flexibility,” said Eric Pinson, terrestrial market manager at ENENSYS Group. “This also might motivate more innovation for new services in the future that would expand the maximum benefit of the different and complementary standards.”

In the view of Joe Turbolski, vice president of sales and marketing at Comark, having access to both standards will allow broadcasters to maintain their existing service while taking a closer look at the new opportunities made available by another standard.

“Adding this capability to our DTV exciter not only allows broadcasters to now deploy DVB-T2, but also to be able to test ATSC 3.0 as necessary, preserving their investment,” he said.

See the demo at BES Expo India, booth #41.

More information is available on the Comark, ENENSYS and TeamCast websites.

CLEVELAND—A TeamCast Vortex II exciter with new software supporting advanced ATSC 3.0 configuration profiles has been integrated into a Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark TV transmitter at Tribune Media’s WJW for the next-gen TV testing station being conducted by NAB and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the company announced today.

The FCC has extended the experimental broadcast license under which WJW conducted two phases of testing—one focused on ATSC 3.0 performance in the VHF band and the second on UHF performance. The next testing round made possible by the extension will see the implementation of a completed, advanced real-world head-end system and tests of advanced next-gen TV configuration profiles and modes, including Multiple Physical Lay Pipers (Multi-PLP), Multiple Sub-Frames (time division multiplexing) and Layered Division Multiplexing (LDM), TeamCast said in a press release.

“With the recent announcement of the release of the ATSC 3.0 suite of standards at CES 2018, ATSC 3.0 is now real, and these field tests we are sponsoring with the Consumer Technology Association aim to demonstrate that ATSC 3.0 meets broadcasters’ expectations as being the most advanced service platform,” said NAB SVP Technology Lynn Claudy in the release.

Use of the TeamCast exciter, which is the second generation of the company’s DualCast ATSC 1.0/3.0 rack exciter, is “critical to successfully evaluating the capabilities” of the technology needed to support the next-gen broadcast standard, he added.

For a comprehensive list of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see our ATSC3 silo.

RENNES, FRANCE—Striving to make satellite connection easier for users, TeamCast has presented a new solution for satellite links. Using a feedback channel through a regular, low bitrate internet connection, the solution is able to optimize the link budget and increase the available payload capacity.

Feedback information elaborated by the downlink Neptune receiver is used by the uplink Vyper modulator to pre-correct the linear and non-linear impairments of the on-board transponder chain. The optimization is automatic and transparent for the user and can be used while the link carries user data, without needing to put the transmission on hold.

The link budget automatically increases while the link is used, allowing for the link margin to either secure the link against unexpected adverse conditions or increase the useful bandwidth by adjusting the modulation parameters.

TeamCast reports that the new solutions meets DVB-S2/S2X requirements. 

AMSTERDAM—The trio of Sinclair Broadcast Group, One Media and TeamCast were singled out during the Innovation Awards Ceremony during IBC 2017 to honor the work the three had done on the Next Generation of Broadcast Platform project. The project received the Highly Commended award in the Content Distribution category.

Kevin Cage, One Media (far left), Mark Aitken, SBG (center right) and Eric Pinson (far right) receive the award for the Next Generation of Broadcast Platform project.

Conducted by Sinclair, with the support of One Media and TeamCast, this project reconsiders the traditional way of deploying and operating a Terrestrial Broadcast Network. Some differences include the “small cell” network topology approach and the implementation of a standard agnostic and centralized transmitting technology, as implemented by TeamCast.

The concept was put to the test with an ATSC 3.0 Single Frequency Network experiment in Baltimore, which began in March 2016. A first deployment began during the second quarter of 2017 with the addition of a third transmitter to help refine the field experiment and acquire the experience for a nationwide deployment.

IBC awarded the trio the award on Sept. 17.

For a comprehensive list of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see our ATSC3 silo.

CESSON-SEVIGNE, FRANCE—TeamCast has officially been acquired by Enensys, the video delivery infrastructure provider. Together, the group will provide a product and software range that will work with ASTC 3.0, DVB-T2 and DVB-S2/S2X.

Jean-Luc Pavy, Régis Le Roux, Eric Pinson, Christophe Trolet, Guénhaël Le Roch, Eric Deniau and Gérard Faria.

The initial announcement of the acquisition came during the 2017 NAB Show, where the final negotiations were expected to be completed before the end of the second quarter of 2017.

As it was indicated with the initial news, TeamCast will continue to operate as a standalone company, with TeamCast co-founders Jean-Luc Pavy and Gérard Faria maintaining strategic management positions within the company.

The terms of the final deal were not disclosed. 

LAS VEGAS—Enensys and TeamCast are taking a seat at the negotiating table, as Enensys has entered into talks to acquire the modulation technology provider. Together, the companies will seek to provide a range of products and software range across video delivery infrastructures, including ATSC 3.0.

Regis Le Roux

“The portfolios of Enensys and TeamCast are extremely complementary,” said Regis Le Roux, president and CEO of Enensys. “Businesswise, TeamCast regional strength in the Americas and North Europe will increase Enensys’ footprint. Conversely, TeamCast will benefit from Enensys’ strong presence in MEA and APAC regions.” 

Enensys says that TeamCast will continue to operate as a standalone company. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of Q2 2017. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed, per Enensys press release.

CLEVELAND—The National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Technology Association are preparing a field test for ATSC 3.0 in Cleveland and have announced they will be utilizing transmitter and exciter technology from Hitachi-Comark and TeamCast as part of the process.

TeamCast ATSC 3.0 exciter

The field test will use an experimental broadcast license provided by the FCC at a terrestrial station located in Cleveland and owned by Tribune Broadcasting’s WJW-TV. The general performance figures for the ATSC 3.0 transmissions are expected to assist U.S. broadcasters as they are going through the repacking process associated with the incentive auction.

An existing Comark transmitter has been selected and turned on for this trial. The transmitter includes an ATSC 3.0 high-end excited from TeamCast and radiates a 30kW ERP signal on channel 31.

The ATSC 3.0 field test is planned for the coming months.

For more on this subject, visit our ATSC 3.0 silo.

RENNES, FRANCE—Television in Vietnam is going digital, with the country currently in a five-year process of switching-off its analog services. Specifically, networks are progressively converting from DVB-T systems and MPEG-2 encoding to DVB-T2 and MPEG-4. To help support this transition, Vietnam Television Corporation (VTC) is working with digital modulation technology provider TeamCast.

VTC, one of three nationwide broadcasters in Vietnam, has upgraded high power sites in six cities using the TeamCast DVB-T/T2 Twister exciters. The exciters were able to upgrade VTC’s six existing 10 kW IOT-based transmitters. These upgrades occurred in 2016, with medium and low power sites expected to be upgraded in 2017.

Analog switch-off in Vietnam is scheduled to be completed by 2020.

RENNES, FRANCE—TeamCast appears to be in the camp that two is better than one, as the digital modulation technology provider has introduced its new Dual VYPER platform. The new system is designed to offer two high-end modulators in a compact package in a single 1RU rack and responds to high density applications, like DSNG trucks and large teleports.

Based on the third generation VYPER platform, Dual VYPER offers high quality output signal, full support of DVB-S/S2/S2X and DVB-DSNG modes and codes, including 64 APSK modes and 5 percent Roll-Off values. IF and RF outputs, insertion of CID data, easy control through front panel and web-browser are also available.

The Dual VYPER system is now available.

RENNES, FRANCE—Recently, a DVC-CID interoperability test was conducted by digital modulation technologies provider TeamCast and test and measurement systems provider Rohde & Schwarz. The test, which was conducted between the DVB-CID generator embedded in the R&S BTC Broadcast Test Center and the TeamCast DVB-CID receiver, was deemed a success.

The two companies decided to conduct the interoperability test as a result of the DVB Group having not organizes one themselves thus far.

According to TeamCast’s Satellite Product Line Manager Philippe Hostiou, the test with R&S that TeamCast’s satellite transmission products are fully compliant with the ETSI 103 129 DVB-CID standard.

RENNES, FRANCE—Korean TV broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) has acquired TeamCast’s exTra3.0 terrestrial exciter, according to the terrestrial and satellite modulation technology provider. SBS will reportedly use this new exciter to test the ATSC 3.0 standard.

exTra3.0

The exTra3.0 exciter is a real-time, stand-alone terrestrial exciter that is fully software upgradeable. It has integrated features such as Digital Adaptive Precorrection for RF signal performances, Automatic Gain Control to adapt radiated RF signal levels, and both forward and reflected power measurements.

SBS will use the exTra3.0 for the broadcaster’s testing of ATSC 3.0 technology during the standard finalization period, per Eric Pinson, TeamCast’s business unite manager. ATSC 3.0 offers support for UHD/higher content delivery, personalization and interactivity, and more flexible usage, i.e. fixed, portable and mobile usage.

LAS VEGAS—The Korean Broadcasting System is installing an ATSC 3.0 TV exciter from TeamCast, a provider of terrestrial and satellite modulation technologies. The exTra3.0 is a real-time, standalone terrestrial exciter that supports ATSC 3.0, which is designed to transmit 4K/UHD content.

KBS will use the exTra3.0 of evaluating new ATSC 3.0 technology, particularly in the broadcast of 4K/UHD content.

“The exTra3.0 has been especially designed to meet broadcaster’s demand for testing this new ATSC 3.0 technology during the standard finalization period that is foreseen to last until next April,” said Eric Pinson, business unit manager for TeamCast.

KBS, based in Seoul, South Korea, operates two national TV channels. It has been heavily involved in the testing of UHD activities, running several terrestrial transmission trials since the analogue TV switch-off in Dec. 2010.

The Rennes, France-based TeamCast made the announcement ahead of CES 2016, which runs from Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas.