Innovative broadcaster leads market in migration to efficient, scalable, uncompressed IP infrastructure

Da Ai TV, operated by the Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation, a non-profit media group, has become the first broadcaster in Taiwan to implement SMPTE ST 2110 live production and playout facilities, deploying a transformative end-to-end IP ecosystem from Imagine Communications.

First launched in 1998, Da Ai TV is an innovative broadcaster that became the first television station in Taiwan to go digital in 2005. The new ST 2110-compliant Imagine infrastructure ― spanning live production, ingest, playout, automation and master control ― reaffirms Da Ai TV’s position as one of the most forward-thinking media organizations in the region.

“Migrating to ST 2110 is a significant operational shift for any media organization, and we were looking for experienced technology partners who we could trust to help us navigate the transition,” said Kaming Tseng, Manager, Technology & Engineering Department at Da Ai TV. “We know that many media companies around the world have successfully deployed Imagine’s open-standard IP solutions in various applications, and we are confident that our new state-of-the-art infrastructure will enable us to simplify our operations, easily scale to meet evolving needs and ensure a long-term return on investment.”

Da Ai TV’s new master control and playout workflow is built on Imagine’s industry-proven Versio™ integrated playout platform and widely deployed ADC™ automation. Featuring ST 2110 I/Os, advanced graphics and master control capabilities, the Versio playout devices integrate tightly with the ADC automation in a seamless, end-to-end content management ecosystem.

Imagine’s powerful Magellan™ Control System simplifies management and operation of the entire workflow, from production through master control and playout, making the whole operation seamless and intuitive. The next-gen control layer also incorporates Magellan Touch, Imagine’s user-centric control framework, which allows operators to tailor their own control user interface.

To ensure seamless integration of existing SDI and new IP equipment, Da Ai TV uses Imagine’s award-winning Selenio™ Network Processor (SNP) as a convenient and compact gateway. SNP is a highly versatile media processing platform with functionality that can be easily field-upgraded as new functionality is developed or business requirements change by simply loading the appropriate software. At Da Ai TV, multiple SNPs are deployed throughout the new facility, providing various core processing functionality and serving as low-latency, HDR-aware production multiviewers.

“The transition path from SDI to IP varies depending on our customers’ specific requirements and resources, but the broader industry is definitely moving toward widespread implementation of ST 2110 IP infrastructure,” says Mathias Eckert, SVP & GM EMEA and APAC for Imagine Communications. “While many of our customers around the world are realizing the benefits of SMPTE ST 2110, there are many others that have yet to make the move. Our open-standard ST 2110 solutions make it an easier decision, as they allow media companies to migrate to IP at the pace that works for their business.”

The new playout and master control system at Da Ai TV was implemented in association with local Imagine partner and systems integrator Interactive Digital Technologies (IDT).

“We are delighted to be the first SI to implement this highly efficient technology from Imagine Communications in Taiwan,” says Steven Lin, Vice President, Media Group for Interactive Digital Technologies. “It was a seamless migration, and we look forward to our next project.”