Broadcast Partners buys more than 50 APT Horizon NextGen codecs

APT, the audio codec arm within the WorldCast Systems group, has announced the sale of over 50 Horizon NextGen IP audio platforms to leading Benelux-based broadcast network provider Broadcast Partners.

Broadcast Partners took delivery of the 52 audio over IP codec units in 2012 and have now deployed these throughout their extensive network of transmission networks for commercial radio stations in the Benelux and Denmark. The Horizon NextGens have been installed both on new Studio Transmitter Links over IP connections and also on existing links where ISDN connections have been replaced by IP.

With a network spanning over 350 FM transmitters, 40 DAB transmitters and a number of AM transmitters across a wide geographic area, the need for reliability and control were cited as key reasons in Broadcast Partners’ decision to select APT’s Horizon NextGen.

Werner de Schepper, manager of the technical and engineering department within Broadcast Partners, says: “We have tested the NextGens extensively and they turned out to be very reliable and to deliver an excellent quality. It was impressive and we decided to implement the codecs as part of our transmission network.”

APT’s Horizon NextGen is a highly professional codec for audio over IP delivery. With a DSP-based platform, dual IP ports, redundant power supplies and APT’s award-winning SureStream technology, it is fast becoming the most popular choice among budget-conscious broadcasters who are unwilling to sacrifice audio quality.

Broadcast Partners also use a number of APT’s WorldNet Oslo multi-channel codec units throughout their network for contribution and distribution of audio and RDS/TMC data. The Oslos serve both to interconnect the main datacenters and as studio transmitter links for our primary program feeds.

De Schepper comments: “In such critical locations, these units need to be fail-safe in operation and the combined inherent reliability and many redundant options of the Oslo provide us with great peace of mind. We have deployed the Oslos largely on E1 connections but some of the units are working on IP links with APT’s SureStream technology, which provides excellent reliability.”