NTC Touts Expanded HD Deployments

The increase in consumer interest in HDTV is fueling demand for facility upgrades in broadcast and cable, according to National TeleConsultants, (NTC) a Glendale, Calif.-based systems integrator.

"The nation's transition to digital television [DTV] and HDTV continues to gain momentum," said Ed Hobson, vice president for National TeleConsultants. "Major broadcast and cable networks are gearing-up to deliver HDTV content to their viewers and they have turned to NTC to provide the strategic technology consulting, design, and integration services necessary to make this happen.

NTC has been involved designing and implementing a number of significant facility digital upgrades including:



  • Converting the Fox Network Center in Los Angeles to 720p and designing and building the first all-digital, server-based multichannel network release facility capable of broadcasting 10 simultaneous regional HDTV feeds;

  • Designing and building an HD Release Facility at DirecTV's Los Angeles Broadcast Operations Center in El Segundo, Calif. and establishing Local-Collection Facilities nationwide to enable DirecTV viewers to receive local HDTV stations;

  • Designing and Building ESPN's new HD Production Facility in Bristol, Conn., the world's largest HD production facility;

  • Converting the Disney/ABC Time Square Studios to HDTV, including HD capabilities for ABC-TV's Good Morning America Studio and Ingest/Playout Facility in New York;

  • Designing and building Discovery Channel's HDTV Control Room in Silver Spring, Md., and

  • Installing a new server-based automation, ingest playout and HDTV MC Room for KQED in San Francisco.