Synamedia powers TDF broadcasts in French overseas territories

TDF choses Synamedia Video Network to broadcast FranceTV in French overseas territories

LONDON — Leading video software provider Synamedia today announced that TDF, the French telecoms and digital infrastructure operator, has selected Synamedia virtual Digital Content Manager (vDCM) for the video processing of public broadcaster France Televisions’ (FranceTV) five national channels as well as Outre-mer La Première and Arte, across French overseas territories.

TDF will use software-based vDCM to prepare these channels for transmission after they have been distributed by satellite to 10 overseas territories including New Caledonia, La Reunion, and French Polynesia. vDCM will process the channels as well as manage the insertion of local channels.

vDCM will manage the H.264 transcoding, statistical multiplexing (statmux) and mux to transmitters on 106 sites for terrestrial broadcast. To centrally manage the workflow and licenses across all vDCMs from France, TDF will also use the Synamedia Video Services Manager (VSM) cluster. The deployments started in September 2023 and will be complete in Q1 2024.

According to Pascal Merle, Purchasing Manager at TDF, “We evaluated the available video processing solutions and Synamedia vDCM came out as the most suitable solution on the market. We were impressed by features including its high density, performance, and reliability. In addition, VSM gives us flexibility to control the workflows all managed remotely from Paris.”

Elke Hungenaert, VP of Product Management at Synamedia commented, “We have a long-standing relationship with TDF for video processing of channels from France and this new contract is a testament to the quality of our IP optimisation technologies. Broadcasting to such remote locations around the globe presents unique challenges and we are working closely with TDF to ensure a smooth roll out and a great TV service for viewers.”

At the heart of Synamedia’s video network portfolio, vDCM delivers scalable video experiences in pristine quality. Covering all processing functions, from multiplexing through encoding and transcoding to packaging and IP transport, vDCM is an end-to-end platform with the industry’s richest feature set, allowing TDF to build highly reliable and available workflows for 24/7 processing.