Viacom Selects PSSI Global Services for First 4K Transmission of Bellator MMA

PSSI Global Services was once again chosen by Viacom to provide satellite transmission services for their high-profile Bellator MMA content, this time in 4K ultra-high definition for the first time in broadcast history. Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva was broadcast live in 4K and HD to a large group of pay-per-view distributors across the U.S. and Canada, and in 163 countries worldwide to a potential audience of over 1 billion.

PSSI Global Services also provided transmission services for Bellator 180, which aired live on Spike leading into the PPV telecast. In addition, the company was on hand with multipath encoding, engineering management and project management services provided by its Strategic Television division.

In all, PSSI uplinked nine pathways from Madison Square Garden using five antennas on four uplink trucks, including the dual-dish CK25 C/Ku hybrid, which also served as an encoding hub for several pathways. The planning for this large-scale event began months ago, and Viacom contracted additional Strategic Television transmission management services to help traffic the 13 total pathways leaving Madison Square Garden.

“The depth of our fleet, engineering management capabilities and large event experience uniquely positions us as a scalable service provider,” says PSSI Global Services’ Strategic Television division vice president, Jason Land, who was on-site for the event and played an integral role in the planning efforts. “As our customers’ expectations and needs continue to expand at an unprecedented pace, we serve not only as providers, but also as partners, working together to develop solutions for complex, dynamic requirements.”

PSSI Global Services also recently acquired the Pittsburgh International Teleport, now the PSSI International Teleport, and has a fleet of more than 50 uplink/production trucks as well as international flyaway systems.