PSSI has undertaken a high-density upgrade for its mobile OB fleet and International Teleport giving PSSI more flexibility, security and functionality for high-profile live event coverage.
PSSI International Teleport
PSSI Global Services, specialists in programming contribution and distribution, is upgrading its mobile fleet and PSSI International Teleport, ahead of the global soccer events taking place in North America mid-year. Combined with their expertise in live event management, PSSI Live’s teleport facility is built to ensure reliability, continuity and efficiency.
Capable of 4K and HD transmission, the Teleport gives users global reach via multiple-satellite and fibre connectivity, with robust redundancy. To connect to a larger audience, users can also integrate directly with digital platforms for IP and OTT distribution. PSSI's Network Operations Centre (NOC) maintains 24/7 monitoring and serves as support for uninterrupted service.
Deploying the X Patform
PSSI and Appear are entering a new phase in their existing collaboration, in which PSSI will deploy Appear's X Platform, chosen due to its high density, integrated functionality and security. This upgrade means PSSI will be better-equipped to build a more flexible contribution infrastructure, ready for the future.
Appear’s X high-speed video networking platform is specifically designed for IP-centric video contribution and distribution, and includes IP connectivity and compression features for high capacity video processing. The X chassis has 10G bi-directional IP interfaces supporting video firewall-grade IP security at each connection node. Capable of internal routing of up to 140G, the hardware backplane connecting the various modules and components together results in a flexible, agile platform.
The chassis supports dual active backplane, giving lossless redundancy between modules. An active backplane can include switches, processors, memory and other components that help manage data flow, allowing more control and intelligence. The X platform service density can be defined for up to 2,000 services in-and-out per module.
The X platform supports light intra-codecs as well as AVC and HEVC, and option modules for receiving compressed or uncompressed video from IP or SDI are available. Backplane latency of less than 1ms, plus the implementation of both current and future IP video standards including VSF-TR03, VSF-TR04 and SMPTE2110, enhances its suitability for most video applications.
Demanding Summer of Live Sports
"Upgrading the PSSI trucks and our teleport in Pittsburgh with Appear's X Platform puts us in a strong position for an extremely demanding summer of live sports," said Derek Blount, CEO of PSSI. "The combination of Appear's high-density deployment and our own operations and engineering expertise enables us to exceed our customers' requirements in premium live events. As an early adopter of this platform, PSSI has years of experience proving the reliability of both the Appear technology and the support team behind it."
Appear X Platform rack
Appear is supplying PSSI with multiple X20 chassis and a range of integrated functionality including encoding, decoding, satellite modulation and demodulation, ASI and Secure Reliable Transport (SRT). Through this deployment, PSSI has a more flexible, secure integrated platform for media contribution workflows. As a part of the project, Appear has enabled PSSI to upgrade its video transport security to BISS-2 encryption, giving users confidence that their premium sports feeds are highly secure, leveraging AES-128 encryption, dynamic key rotation and real-time receiver control.
"PSSI operates in some of the most challenging live production and transmission environments in the broadcast market, with its customers demanding flawless performance, strong security and total operational reliability," said Ed McGivern, President & General Manager, Appear US. "This deployment helps make sure that PSSI delivers for its customers with greater efficiency, more flexibility and the confidence that premium live sports feeds are protected at every stage." www.appear.net
