While ATSC 3.0 ushers in exciting new capabilities such as the delivery of 4K-quality shows, targeted ads and mobile services, implementing this next-generation DTV standard can prove challenging and disruptive.
A new product with cloud-based, enterprise-level content monitoring and analysis solution could be the tool to provide help.
Vision-ATSC is a software module within the Qligent Vision cloud-based monitoring solution, a toolset for monitoring and analyzing the Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) characteristics of multiplatform broadcast signals.
“For broadcasters adopting ATSC 3.0, this transition is actually a complex forklift upgrade to a completely different DTV standard—in fact, a set of over 20 different standards—involving new multi-layered protocols and native IP streaming,” said Qligent COO Ted Korte. “Broadcasters will be moving signals in new ways and along new paths. We’re preparing our customers with a software-defined toolset and workflow that will have them prepared to comprehend over-the-air performance in a radically different content delivery system.”
Since Vision-ATSC evaluates both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 signals, broadcasters can use Vision-ATSC to establish a baseline of ATSC 1.0 performance and provide monitoring and oversight throughout the ATSC 3.0 transition for greater operational continuity. Vision-ATSC monitors and analyzes ATSC 3.0-specific protocols, such as ROUTE-DASH and MPEG Media Transport (MMT), as well as the multiple 4K/HDR/WCG/UHD signals, HEVC encoding, MPEG-H immersive audio, datacasting and mobile reception that are inherent to ATSC 3.0.
Vision-ATSC provides broadcasters with a cloud-based workflow that correlates and analyzes multi-layer data from nine distinct points along a signal path that spans from the broadcast gateway input sources to the antenna’s RF output. Four data points of direct multi-layer stream analysis, and five data points from vendor equipment, are reported throughout the ATSC 3.0 ecosystem. This data illuminates system configuration changes, problems and other issues so broadcasters can take steps to quickly optimize their ATSC 3.0 service.
“Ecosystem is the most important word here. When faced with a forklift-like upgrade like ATSC 3.0, it’s imperative to have products that will be part of a harmonious end-to-end system,” said Korte. “Vision-ATSC is made to deliver full oversight and peace of mind to broadcasters facing one of the most disruptive – yet beneficial – changes in the history of television.”
Qligent will be at the 2018 NAB Show (April 9-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth N5914)
