Eight-Channel, HD/SD Encoder Streamlines HD Transition for Global DTH Satellite Offering.
The first premium encoder to offer a density of eight HD MPEG-4 AVC channels in a 1-RU chassis, the ViBE EM4000 has recently been upgraded with an all-new, broadcast-grade SD-to-HD conversion capability. By combining premium HD MPEG-4 compression with the ability to upscale an SD video source to HD in a single solution, the EM4000 has enabled CANAL+ to move CANALSAT quickly to an all-HD operation while, at the same time, reducing capital and operating expenses. For the migration project, known as “TOUT HD,” CANAL+ has modified its entire head-end architecture to build an all-HD MPEG-4 satellite platform for CANALSAT. The new all-HD offering went live on July 1.
“With its global footprint and industry leadership in premium content, themed networks and pay-TV offerings, CANAL+ Group is the perfect customer — and the CANALSAT migration is the perfect project — with which to demonstrate the efficiencies and cost savings of our ViBE EM4000’s new upscaling function,” said Eric Louvet, vice president, worldwide sales and field services, Thomson Video Networks. “Media enterprises like CANAL+ understand that the ability to broadcast in HD is not only a key differentiator, but it’s critical to meeting viewer demand for premium picture quality. With its seamless ability to upscale SD sources and encode HD MPEG-4, in addition to its industry-leading channel density and streamlined management of DVB subtitles, the ViBE EM4000 is the ideal solution for these requirements.”