Edge Networks' Evoca goes live with COMARK ATSC 3.0 solution

Edge Networks Inc. Goes “LIVE” with a full ATSC 3.0 solution from Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark

SOUTHWICK, MA — Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark LLC (hereinafter “COMARK”), a manufacturer and supplier of DTV transmitters, end-to-end ATSC 3.0 solutions, and associated field services for over 45 years, has announced that Edge Networks is “on-the-air” with an ATSC 3.0 solution from COMARK. Edge Networks’ ATSC 3.0 system is being used in their revolutionary Next-Gen TV service Evoca, to deliver 80+ live, local, entertainment and sports channels to customers in Boise, ID.

COMARK’s unprecedented market experience in headend system designs began with the formation of Comark Digital Services during the original transition from analog to DTV. Comark Digital Services (CDS) was re-launched in 2018 to help broadcasters upgrade their headend solutions for both ATSC 1.0 and migrate to ATSC 3.0 / NextGen TV. CDS continues to provide market-leading solutions with best-of-breed technology and system expertise to help customers jump into the exciting possibilities offered by ATSC 3.0.

In March 2019, Edge Networks ordered a pair of 1.5kW E-Compact air-cooled EC702HP-BB ATSC 3.0 enabled UHF transmitter systems for their Boise LPTV stations KCBB-LD and KSBE-LD. After successful equipment demonstrations and on-air trials, Edge Networks placed orders with CDS for their end-to-end ATSC 3.0 solution to support both of their 6MHz RF channels. This advanced solution incorporates:

• SmartGate ATSC 3.0 Broadcast Gateway in a 1+1 redundant configuration
• MediaCast ROUTE/MMTP server in a 1+1 redundant configuration
• EdgeProbe Advanced ATSC 3.0 DTV transmitter monitor equipped with quad inputs
• Referee3 portable field receiver and RF signal analyzer
• VideoFlow IP-STL solution for reliable content delivery over an IP network connecting their NOC to the broadcast tower in Boise
• DASDEC-IR Intelligent Remote EAS receiver for the Boise DMA

“Our CDS group was formed specifically to help customers with these types of complex projects. CDS has the high-level view of ATSC 3.0 technologies and we lined up the right partners to help get our customers on-air, successfully,” says Joe Turbolski, VP of Sales and Marketing of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark, LLC. “Our team and our partners worked very closely with the staff at Edge Networks to provide exactly the right solution and we are extremely pleased to be a major contributor to this NextGen TV deployment.”

“Partnering with CDS to implement ATSC 3.0 in Boise allows us to deliver an uninterrupted signal with superior picture quality directly to our subscribers.” said Edge Networks President and CEO Todd Achilles. “We are glad to be working with CDS to provide consumers with our Next-gen TV service at an affordable price.”