To prepare for the launch of pay-TV broadcaster M-Net’s six new high definition (HD)
movie channels, SuperSport International’s Technical Operations Division, Media
Solutions, had to design an entirely new workflow that would also accommodate a
standard definition (SD) simulcast, as well as a family track and hearing impaired (HI)
subtitles on both the HD and SD outputs.
On 1 October this year M-Net took the unprecedented move of launching six new
genre themed HD movie channels on MultiChoice’s DStv platform and simulcasting
them in SD.
M-Net’s sister company in the MultiChoice Group, Media Solutions, was tasked with
the technical and operational aspects of the project.
This involved designing a unique method of up/down conversion between the HD and
SD outputs and the creation of Digital Delivery Processing (DDP).
Manny Coelho, HOD: Media Services, Media Solutions, notes that in addition to the
new HD movie channels, Media Solutions delivers eight other HD channels onto the
DStv platform – three entertainment channels and five SuperSport channels.
“Only the HD movie channels and the general entertainment channels are down-
converted to SD 16:9, to cater for those viewers who have SD decoders, as opposed
to HD PVRs,’ he explains.
“We were given 14 months from inception to implementation for this project. This was
a really tight turnaround time as such but I’m proud to say it went off without a hitch.
It was a big collective effort from the entire MultiChoice Group.’
According to Coelho, the launch of Intelsat’s IS20 satellite in August was key to the
new services.
“We needed substantial additional transponder capacity to cater for the huge amount
of bandwidth required for the new services. All our HD channels are 24/7/365.
“The scope of the project led to Media Solutions taking on an extra staff complement
of 16 people. In addition we had to invest in new technology,’ he explains.
For the month of October Media Solutions had to ingest over 1 200 titles and process
large volumes of movies and series.
Workflow
Baxter de Jager, HOD: Systems Architecture & Engineering, Media Solutions, explains
the simulcast process: “In the playout environment, for each HD movie channel we
receive a schedule (ie. planned list of events) while the content is now supplied
mostly in HD for ingest into our playout systems.
“Within this we do two things – we down-convert the HD signal to SD 16:9 for the
simulcast; secondly we insert the Channel’s ident (logo) into both the HD and the SD
versions of the same schedule. The reason we separate the latter process is because
some SD viewers might not have 16:9 screens, which means the sides of the picture
may be cropped, depending on viewer settings. For this reason we put the channel
ident closer to the middle of the picture (4:3 friendly) on the SD version.’
“It was really the concept of one schedule and two outputs that enabled the HD
movie channels, also in SD. The simulcast has created a useful efficiency for the
company as we don’t require separate control rooms for the HD and SD outputs.’
The simulcast process for the HD entertainment channel, M-Net Africa, is slightly
different as it is broadcast to West Africa and East Africa. A time delay solution has
been added to accommodate the two-hour time zone difference across the continent.
Another difference is that the channel ident is inserted into the master output at an
earlier stage. There are four possible outputs from the M-Net Africa schedule – HD
current; SD current, HD time-delay and SD time-delay. Only three of these are in use
at the moment.
HD family track and HI
M-Net has included a family track and HI subtitles on its SD channels for many years.
When the broadcaster launched the first M-Net HD channel in 2008, it had only
original audio and, where available, a Dolby 5.1 option.
“As HD content increased and we introduced more HD channels, we had to find a way
to offer the same features as on the SD channels,’ comments De Jager. “I am not
aware of any other broadcaster in the world that offers Family Audio & HI subtitle
options along with original stereo and 5.1 options all at the same time.
“We had to create a way of taking the HD master track and delivering original audio,
a family track in stereo, the 5.1 option and the HI subtitles. This had to be
incorporated in what we refer to as the Digital Delivery Process (DDP).
“Media Solutions receives the content either as a file or a tape with its original audio.
They then make a low resolution copy of the master content with a burnt in time
code; this is sent to an outsourced company to create the subtitles and synch them
to the picture.
“The HI file is emailed as an attachment with the data which we merge to the master.
On top of that we make a copy of the original audio and cut out the swear words for
the family track. ‘
Audio processing and loudness control is done just before the family tracks are edited
in one of Media Solutions’ non-linear edit (NLE) suites. Everything is then merged on
the HD playout master ready for simulcast.
De Jager notes that these days most of the Hollywood studios are increasing content
delivery as files, rather than on tapes. This has resulted in M-Net being able to flight
the latest TV series much closer to the American broadcast.
“Content is archived in our Media Asset Management (MAM) system and can be
accessed by those who need to edit, playout or re-purpose it for video on demand
(VOD) or the web. Our file delivery solution needs to be very secure – a point-to-point
encrypted system ensures that the studios’ content is safe,’ he states.
Media Solutions has created a mirrored content storage site and / or back-up recovery
site away from its offices in Randburg at Samrand. The two sites are connected by
fibre.
Equipment
On the playout side of Media Solutions some of the major equipment brands used are
Harris D-Series automation system and Harmonic (formerly Omneon) video servers.
Miranda presentation mixers are used for final manipulation of the signals and to
insert the channel ident.
“For Media Asset Management (MAM) we use the Viz Ardome system which handles
the huge volumes of data that we receive, process and output,’ says De Jager.
“Archive is on IBM data storage. The devices to handle the file delivery from the
studios are Signiant and Aspera. Audio processing is done through Dolby DP600.’
Because the studios deliver content to M-Net in various file formats they need to be
transcoded on a Telestream Vantage system to Media Solution’s two house formats –
HD = DNXHD120 and SD = IMX30.
By Joanna Sterkowicz
Screen Africa magazine – Novmeber / December 2012
