SVG Sit-Down: NESN on Planning for a 4K HDR Future with the Switch
Upgrading video transmission is intended to allow new capabilities, flexibility
Story Highlights
Last month, NESN announced that it had selected The Switch’s high-performance hybrid fiber/internet network to replace its existing satellite distribution platform. The move improves the flexibility of NESN’s video-distribution network and lays the groundwork for the New England-based regional sports network to deliver broadcasts in 4K HDR in the future.
SVG sat down with NESN CTO/VP, Engineering, Fahad Haider to discuss The Switch deal, what it allows the network to do immediately that was not possible before, and what it means for the network’s 4K HDR future.
NESN’s Fahad Haider: “[Upgrading distribution] has enabled us to produce and distribute native 4K HDR games and other programming in 2021 and beyond.”
NESN was utilizing satellite transmission for a long time. NESN’s future roadmap includes several new initiatives, such as 4K, gaming, and more. We could have achieved some of this via satellite, but the cost of doing it via satellite was very high. More important, with new transmission [capabilities], we wanted to enhance video compression as well as optimize video-transport bandwidth. We evaluated several solutions by many different vendors and researched several new video-compression, -encoding, and -transport methods. We found that moving to fiber and IP transmission would be the best path forward for us.
Why did NESN opt to make this upgrade with The Switch?
NESN has a long-time relationship with The Switch. We evaluated many vendors, and most offered great solutions that NESN could utilize. However, The Switch’s solution stood out due to their existing network reach to most MVPDs’ headends.
What does this enable NESN to do that you couldn’t do before? How does The Switch’s IP network boost your operations compared with a satellite distribution platform?
We had only one single satellite path to headends via satellite. We were limited to the available bandwidth on the transponder. With our 4K plans, we had to spend a lot more to get one more channel transmission on a new transponder. In addition to this, our satellite uplink used to be interrupted occasionally by severe weather in New England. With The Switch’s network, we were able to establish point-to-point fiber and IP backup to our affiliate partners. Additional bandwidth needs were also fulfilled by fiber network. Any future expansion is going to be easier with the IP network and new platform.
How did this partnership come about? What was your research process, and what were you looking for in a solution? Why did you choose The Switch?
We sent an RFP to several vendors in this business. After evaluating each response and researching the solution offered by each vendor, we selected The Switch because of their already existing point-to-point network inside most MVPD headends. Their proposed solution was robust, and the new platform enabled us to enhance our video compression with low latency and made adding new services easy.
What services is The Switch providing in addition to connectivity?
We use The Switch to backhaul our Red Sox and Bruins road-game feeds. In addition to this, we recently partnered with The Switch to transport our OTT streaming services to our new app and website partners.
How are you working with your affiliates and partners to implement this new platform for NESN?
The process of working through the transition with affiliates and partners was cooperative, educational, stressful at times, but ultimately very rewarding. It was an opportunity to work with new affiliate personnel in engineering and programming, learn and understand their near- and long-term technology plans, find work-arounds and solutions for obstacles and pressing deadlines, and ultimately realize the new delivery system works. It was great to be able to enjoy the sense of relief and fulfillment that accompanied that.
What are your long-term plans when it comes to 4K HDR, and how does moving to The Switch’s IP network enable you to make that upgrade in the future?
NESN’s plans include producing and airing our live games and programming in 4K HDR. We have already upgraded NESN to [SMPTE ST] 2110 IP infrastructure, upgraded to 4K HDR-capable production-control room. Our studio cameras are 4K HDR; we upgraded to AES67 audio and upgraded to 4K HDR master-control playout and 4K transmission. All this has enabled us to produce and distribute native 4K HDR games and other programming to our viewers in 2021 and beyond.
