ESPN Taps into Xbox 360 via Quantel, Aspera

By Ken Kerschbaumer

The Microsoft Xbox 360 continues to expand its feature set, moving beyond gaming to become a full-featured multimedia device offering first-rate content available via download. The latest addition? ESPN is using the Xbox 360 to deliver commercial-free games and other content.

Paul Gavalis, ESPN director of video technology and operations, ESPN Digital Media, says ESPN is working closely with Microsoft to make sure the system meets the demands of the most discriminating fan. “The challenge is getting the event to them as soon as possible,” says Gavalis. “We downlink the games in Bristol into Quantel sQ servers and then export it in the native format. That file is then moved to Redmond, WA with a software product called Aspera.”

The commercial-free standard-definition versions of select NCAA games are available for $3 and high-definition versions for $4.50, within 48 hours of the game's conclusion. ESPN TV shows, like the other TV content on the Xbox Live download site, cost $2 for standard-definition and $3 for high-def versions.

Paul Gavalis, ESPN director of video technology and operations, ESPN Digital Media, says ESPN is working closely with Microsoft to make sure the system meets the demands of the most discriminating fan.

“The challenge is getting the event to them as soon as possible,” says Gavalis. “We downlink the games in Bristol into Quantel sQ servers and then export it in the native format. That file is then moved to Redmond, WA with a software product called Aspera.”

The mechanisms of Aspera's transport technology and the features of its software products are specifically designed to give the operator precise, on-the-fly control of the finish time of individual transfers and the bandwidth used relative to other traffic. The company says that, unlike conventional or even accelerated TCP-based transfer technologies, the speed of Aspera transfers will not degrade as links become more congested. In addition, unlike other reliable UDP-based transports, the core is lightweight and does not require specialized hardware in order to maintain high transfer speeds.

For ESPN and others looking to move large amounts of data (a single game can be upwards of 100 GB) Aspera's FASP transport has no theoretical throughput limit. The protocol throughput scales from 50 kbps to Gigabit speeds independent of network latency and will remain efficient through packet loss rates of 50% or more. Gavalis says it is also self healing, ensuring files are delivered properly.

Once Microsoft receives the file they encode it content either at IMX 40Mbps or DVCPRO 100Mbps and then get that file down to 1.5 mbps for delivery.

“This platform reaches folks that want sports content, and the integration of ESPN games helps the bottom line of ESPN viewers,” says Gavalis. Toss in VOD to MSOs and podcasts on iTunes and ESPN is maximizing the output of its digital media worklow.

“There is no shortage of entertainment options and ways for sports fan to consume content so it is imperative to be on multiple distribution platforms,” says Gavalis. “The rising tide lifts all boats.”