Harmonic's DiviCom MV50 Encoder Completes Phase Four Digital Program Insertion Testing at CableLabs
Tuesday December 3, 9:06 am ET
Advanced DPI Support Maximizes Advertising Revenue Opportunity for Live Programming
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2002-- Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq:HLIT - News) today announced that its DiviCom® MV50 encoders completed the fourth phase of the Digital Program Insertion (DPI) test suite at CableLabs®, the cable industry's research consortium. These tests indicate compliance with SCTE 35 2001 (formerly DVS253), a standard established by the Society of Cable and Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). DPI is a key area of investment for broadcasters as it facilitates the regionalization of content to enhance local market relevance and also increases revenue potential.
Harmonic also participated in a multi-vendor demonstration simulating digital ad insertion in overtime and early-end scenarios during sporting events. The demonstration highlighted the DiviCom MV50 video encoder's support of advanced capabilities within the SCTE 35 2001 and an "in-progress" standard for uplink site cue message injectors that alert advertising equipment in a cable network headend. The dynamic nature of the communication between the uplink and headend systems allows broadcasters to maximize the value of advertising slots resulting from real time programming changes such as a sporting event that has gone into overtime or has been rained-out. The local advertising equipment is able to receive the messages and then insert appropriately priced advertisements into the pre-encoded program stream. This more flexible and cost-effective approach eliminates the need for decoding and encoding equipment to be installed locally. In addition, it gives operators the latitude to insert programs centrally at the headend or regionally using a distributed model.
"Digital program insertion -- whether for advertisements or for long and short form programming -- enables broadcasters of all types to generate more revenue from local content," said Dr. Yaron Simler, President of Harmonic's Convergent Systems Division. "The standards validation testing of our systems and multi-vendor interoperability demonstration highlight Harmonic's commitment to open systems which bring flexibility and value to our customers."
All four phases monitored compliance with SCTE standard 35 2001 (formerly DVS 253), which deals with digital program insertion cue messages that can be used to communicate with an ad insertion splicer for the localization of commercials, and SCTE 30 2001, which encompasses a digital program insertion splicing application program interface. Testing of each phase is built upon the testing of prior phases.
About Harmonic Inc.
Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite, telecom and broadcast network operators. Harmonic's open standards-based solutions for the headend through the last mile enable customers to develop new revenue sources and a competitive advantage by offering powerful interactive video, voice and data services such as video-on-demand, high definition digital television, telephony and Internet access.
Harmonic (Nasdaq:HLIT - News) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company's customers, including many of the world's largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.
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