Harmonic solutions help Grand Lille TV switch to HD
Grand Lille TV, a French regional TV news channel that is part of the Secom Group, has transitioned to HD and launched an additional channel using the Spectrum media server platform from Harmonic. With extensive channel-in-box (CiaB) capabilities, Harmonic’s solution speeds up video distribution and enables new channels to be launched faster at a lower total cost of ownership than the broadcaster’s previous playout system.
“At Grand Lille TV, we recently launched a secondary news channel called Grand Littoral TV to expand our market reach, and it was the perfect opportunity for us to migrate from SD to HD. Since we handle a large number of live breaking news events on a daily basis, we needed a playout solution that is efficient, reliable and flexible,” said Vincent Charley, CTO at Secom Group. “Harmonic’s Spectrum platform works seamlessly with our cloud-based Chyro traffic system to help us get fast-breaking, high-quality news content on-air quickly and affordably.”
Grand Lille TV broadcasts in DVB-T from northern France as well as in IPTV via leading French service providers. At the heart of Harmonic’s CiaB solution at Grand Lille TV and Grand Littoral TV is the Spectrum MediaDeck media server featuring the ChannelPort integrated channel playout and Polaris Play automation systems. By merging branding and master control switching with clip playback on the industry’s most trusted media server platform, the ChannelPort system speeds up the cost-effective deployment of new channels. Tight integration between Harmonic’s Spectrum solution and cloud-based Chyro technology optimizes scheduling, ingest, branding and playout of HD broadcasts.
“Today, the stakes are incredibly high. Broadcasters, content creators and TV channels like Grand Lille TV are under intense pressure to deliver new programming and services more quickly than ever,” said Ian Graham, vice president of sales, EMEA and LATAM, at Harmonic. “Harmonic’s Spectrum media server combines exceptionally reliable playout and automation systems to optimize live and on-demand HD video delivery, opening up new revenue-generating opportunities for the broadcaster.”