Ericsson targets sports and news with Voyager II

A new digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) system aimed specifically at television sports production and new gathering is set to be launched in China this month and later at NAB 2011, writes Kevin Hilton. Ericsson’s Voyager II is the fifth generation of its DSNG technology and is based on MPEG-4 coding, as opposed to the MPEG-2 technology used in the company’s first product for this market, introduced in 1995.

Ericsson sees Voyager II as part of an evolution of acquisition equipment for both sports and news broadcasters. The company says it is responding to demands from broadcasters and viewers alike for higher quality coverage, particularly with the increasing number of HD services going on air.

Voyager II has a hot-swappable 1RU chassis with a new front control panel that has been designed to be more intuitive and easier to use. The MPEG-4 AVC 4:2:2 encoding has 10-bit capability for resolutions up to 1080p at both 50 and 60Hz. A range of video processing options makes the system suitable for both SD and HD broadcasts. Multichannel and 3D transmissions have also been catered for, as have both terrestrial and satellite networks.

Giles Wilson, head of technology for Ericsson Solution Area TV, comments: “In a dynamic and fast-moving market, future DSNG systems must reliably deliver high quality video in multiple formats over all modern transmission technologies and networks. It is vital that news services and organisations meet the needs and desires of today’s consumers to watch coverage in the highest possible quality and also ensure they are equipped to provide the next generation experience, such as 3D coverage.”

Voyager II will receive its first outing at CCBN in Beijing from March 23-25 before its NAB launch between April 11-14.