PanAmSat QuickSpot eases satellite xmission
Story Highlights
PanAmSat and On Call Communications have developed a new satellite-based communications solution to enable the coverage of breaking news and live events by local and independent news stations. By using PanAmSat’s QuickSPOT on-demand satellite technology and On Call’s OnSPOT auto-deploying broadband satellite communications systems, broadcasters can now report on breaking news events as they happen and then transmit the coverage to viewers in real time with unrivaled simplicity, mobility and cost-efficiency.
KOCE, a PBS-affiliate based in Huntington Beach, Calif., is using the new system to provide live news coverage to viewers of events that previously could only be pre-recorded. “The QuickSPOT/OnSPOT solution gives us the opportunity to deliver live remote broadcasts at far lower costs and convenience than anything we had been able to do in the past,” said Michael Taylor, news director, KOCE’s evening newscast, Real Orange. “Being live on the scene gives us a new dimension, covering the news as it happens, making the story much more ‘real’ to our viewers. The recent fires in Southern California exemplified this as we reported from the field, delivering the latest updates from fire officials, what areas were being evacuated and what schools remained open. Our news was much more relevant to our viewers compared to something written and broadcast from the studio.”
The QuickSPOT/OnSPOT solution provides a powerful, cost-effective broadcast delivery system making it possible for smaller broadcasters, such as KOCE, to access the formerly cost-prohibitive world of live broadcasts. These stations can now avoid the expense of dedicated satellite space by paying only for their on-air time. And, no technical knowledge is required to operate the auto-deploying terminals.
“Through our work with On Call, we’ve developed a truly game-changing broadcasting solution that transforms the world of satellite news gathering,” said Mike Antonovich, executive vice president, Global Sales and Marketing for PanAmSat. “By using smaller auto-pointing antennas in conjunction with the latest generation of digital encoding and compression and our bandwidth-on- demand provisioning service, live news coverage is now simpler, smarter and smaller then ever before. These lower-cost systems can now affordably be made available to support everyone from major market television stations to local community cable channels. Smaller communities benefit by getting up-to-the- minute reports on local weather, storm conditions and developing news events. And, independent stations can provide a wider variety of coverage and perspectives as they serve up their own live reports. It is a win-win for everyone — the broadcaster and the viewer.”