SAM: Snell Advanced Media

Snell Systems Provide Pristine Real-Time Conversion of High-Profile U.S. Sports Events for Distribution in Nordic Markets

 

READING, U.K. — May 15, 2012 —Snell today announced that it will be working with TeliaSonera for the distribution of NHL games across the Nordics. TeliaSonera International Carrier will be using nine Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 motion-compensated HD standards converters for real-time conversion of live sports feeds for satellite broadband service provider Viasat. Supplied by Snell's Swedish channel partner, Danmon Svenska AB, the Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 systems are dedicated to simultaneous 60-Hz to 50-Hz frame-rate conversion of live ice-hockey matches from the United States for distribution to Nordic territories in partnership with Encompass Digital Media. A Snell Centra control and monitoring system facilitates remote IP-based control of the Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 systems, installed in New York, from TeliaSonera's Stockholm facilities.

 

"We invested in the Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 systems because they provide the sophisticated motion compensated processing necessary to deliver live high-profile sports events with perfect clarity," said Steve Collett, global product manager, media services, at TeliaSonera International Carrier. "As we leverage our extensive fiber network for distribution of HD content worldwide, the Snell standards converter ensures that through the conversion process, we can maintain the exceptional visual quality of that high-end content."

 

The result of extensive research into the exacting demands of HD frame-rate conversion, Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 is designed to produce converted HD outputs that are virtually indistinguishable from the input. The standards converter is driven by Snell's Emmy® Award-winning Ph.C phase correlation motion technology, providing the most accurate motion-compensated video processing — even with exceptionally demanding types of content and for frame rates up to 1080 50p.

 

The Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 systems are remotely housed in New York, but control and configuration are handled in Stockholm via dedicated Centra control screens. Centra provides integrated, scalable control and monitoring, along with a variety of features that simplify use and further unify control and monitoring across all media operations. The system's intuitive graphical user interface is complemented by features including a salvo snapshot, graphical editing of tie-lines, and a variety of drawing and navigation widgets.

 

"TeliaSonera International Carrier is a global leader in providing IP network infrastructure, which the company now is employing to become a leader in high-end video delivery as well," said Mark Gardner, regional sales director at Snell. "The company's decision to build out a broadcast infrastructure based on Alchemist Ph.C – HD TX50 HD standards converters will enable it to provide an even broader range of global transmission services while maintaining the high quality for which TeliaSonera International Carrier services are known."