IBC 2018: CCTV expands Aperi deployment to enhance remote-production network

China’s state television broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), has expanded its implementation of the media virtualization functionality of Aperi’s (stand 2.C21) IP-based live media processing platform. Building on a successful deployment over the past year, CCTV decided to grow the platform globally, equipping its foreign locations with Aperi technologies so it can produce and distribute programming in a much more flexible way.

A broadcaster that outputs more than 50 channels of programming, CCTV has been using the Aperi platform to deliver high bandwidth, low-latency 4K, 3G-HD and SD media. More than 120 bi-directional links were installed to easily share this content between CCTV’s current and former headquarters in Beijing, some 15km apart.

Now rolling it out to connect multiple global locations, CCTV is using the Aperi platform for the remote production of its programming. By deploying this software-centric approach, it’s able to be much more agile in its production processes and quickly adapt to changing market conditions and live event requirements, as needed. And it will be able to do all of this while benefiting from better control over cost and quality.

Aperi’s live media processing platform integrates a floating license scheme, which provides the ability to turn on and off services as needed. This will allow CCTV to optimise the infrastructure for its multi-tenant network and lets it deploy services across the network for any number of program or production scenarios. It also means the broadcaster is able to load new software microservices or applications quickly and easily at any time.

The expanded Aperi-based network will provide CCTV with instant interchangeable SMPTE 2022 gateway functions, high-quality J2K and H.264 compression and transparent channeling of IP traffic. Its current workflow enables CCTV to add IP and video format demands instantly without needing to input additional cabling or hardware.

“This wider deployment of the Aperi platform shows how broadcasters can use software to create a high-bandwidth production and contribution network,” says Joop Janssen, Aperi’s CEO. “It’s proof that there’s a better way to produce the highest-quality live programming for broadcasters without relying on traditional fixed-function hardware.”