Synamedia announces ATSC 3.0 IRD for cable operators

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020
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Synamedia’s Industry’s First ATSC 3.0 IP and RF Receiver Paves the Way for Cable Operators to Trial and Deploy ATSC 3.0

  • Synamedia announced today it is the first in the market to develop an ATSC 3.0 receiver, leveraging the company’s newly unveiled Media Edge Gateway software-based integrated receiver/decoder (IRD)

LONDON and ATLANTA — Synamedia, the world’s largest independent video software provider, announced today it is the first in the market to develop an ATSC 3.0 receiver, leveraging the company’s newly unveiled Media Edge Gateway software-based integrated receiver/decoder (IRD). The solution is unique in that it can function as both an RF and IP receiver, and will enable cable operators to capitalize on the next-generation distribution market as it evolves to new forms of software-based and cloud-native receivers.

While the transformational potential of ATSC 3.0 is currently mostly touted for over-the-air (OTA) broadcasters, the availability of a dedicated receiver will allow multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), who deliver a majority of broadcast transmissions, to receive ATSC 3.0 signals. As one of the first applications of Synamedia’s Media Edge Gateway, the ATSC 3.0 receiver enables cable operators to trial ATSC 3.0 signals and deploy on a smaller scale with cost-efficiency and flexibility, selectively incorporating features at their own pace. The new solution empowers operators to augment broadcasters’ ATSC 3.0 business ambitions and allows consumers to test drive new types of content afforded by the new standard.

Synamedia’s existing video network solutions, software IRD functionalities and ancillary hardware uniquely positioned the company to create an ATSC 3.0 receiver that will enable cable operators to quickly capitalize on the ATSC 3.0 market. Furthermore, for cable networks that are built on ATSC 1.0 technology, this receiver acts as a bridge between the two standards with ATSC 3.0 to MPEG Transport Stream output to help ensure cable operators can receive signals correctly from broadcasters.

“The promised benefits of ATSC 3.0 including high-quality video and audio, cross-screen capabilities, targeted advertising and interactivity are closer than ever to becoming a reality,” said Julien Signes, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Network at Synamedia. “Cable operators are well-positioned to augment the value of these new services, and the availability of an ATSC 3.0 receiver for MVPDs is the key to unlocking widespread adoption for ATSC 3.0. The winning combination of our portfolio and deep roots in the cable industry put us in an optimal position to be the first to develop this technology that will further enhance viewing experiences and transform infinite entertainment.”

Synamedia’s video network portfolio powers premium quality broadcast and broadband video for more than 1,000 operators worldwide and 100 million daily viewers. Its video distribution, processing and delivery services and solutions create compelling live multi-screen experiences, enable software-defined video processing and unify operations. The award-winning portfolio also touts a cloud-ready, converged broadcast and broadband end-to-end ATSC 3.0 offering and low latency solutions for live video. Its virtualized Digital Content Manager (DCM) features live transcoding to multiple bit rates and formats, scalable video functions and best-in-class video quality all aimed to deliver infinite entertainment.