The Pennsylvania Public Television Network (PPTN) is using its new ATM data transmission network to carry programming to all eight public television stations within the state. The work was completed over four months by AZCAR, which will be supplying maintenance services to PPTN for five years, as part of the contract.
In addition to live programming, the network is also part of a distributed asset management system used by all eight stations that includes a Sony Petasite Archive with an Avalon Archive Manager. The system, installed by AZCAR, is used to maintain a central library of programming. Programs can be delivered in MPEG-2 directly to servers at each station. The network also carries emergency notification services and communications channels connecting all sites with the PPTN Technical Center in Hershey. Marconi supplied the ATM switches for the network.
