Content DistributionSecurely moving hundreds of channels around the world

Challenge # 2: Bandwidth E�iciency vs Receiver Compatibility Adding another layer of complexity to today’s distribution systems are the e�iciency gains provided by HEVC encoding. On the one hand, a migration to HEVC can help save significant bandwidth costs for the increasingly higher quality and growing amount of content being distributed. On the other hand, HEVC can be a format wholly incompatible with the millions of set top devices deployed by cable and satellite operators around the globe.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: In addition to supporting HEVC encoding and DVB-S2X modulation as part of its core content distribution solutions, Cygnus o�ers a variety of receive devices, from pure SD/HD/UHD receiving and demodulation to re-configurable transcoding devices designed to change as future distribution needs change. All of them are tailored to help bridge current bandwidth e�icient distribution systems with legacy consumer devices.

Challenge #1: Shi�ing Consumer Consumption Consumers today are driving demand for live content in two directions. First, there is an increasing demand for larger televisions in the home, typically with 4K UHD/HDR capabilities as a default o�ering. Second, there is as much if not more demand to receive the same content available on the 65” inch TV on a 6” phone or 10” tablet or 15” laptop. These two growth demands are combining to drive a need to capture and deliver live content in the most flexible manner possible.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: Cygnus’ flexible processing solutions can be configured to provide resolutions from SD all the way to 4K UHD, including 1080p50/60 solutions with HDR that fill the sweet spot between consumer demand for high quality and broadcaster needs for value maximization. And it provides MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC and HEVC encoding from a single hardware or so�ware platform to a wide range of receive devices, all designed to provide the maximum possible flexibility for the highest possible return on investment.

The Continuing Content Journey

It’s one thing to get multiple streams of high quality content from a live venue to a relatively small number of receive locations. It is something else to take multiple channels of content, made up both live and file-based inputs—not to mention breaking news—and securely distribute that content to hundreds or thousands of receive sites for onward transmission to hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe.

Over the past 25 years, hundreds of MediaKind Cygnus content distribution systems have been deployed, delivering thousands of channels from broadcasters, content owners and service providers to tens of thousands of receive devices around the world. From ABC in the US and ABC in Australia distributing content to broadcast a�iliates, to IMG securely distributing English Premier League content around Europe, content providers everywhere rely on Cygnus to securely transmit their content anywhere while maintaining the highest level of quality possible.

Pulling it All Together: The Next Generation of Distribution

Managing the challenges of 21st century content distribution requires re-thinking the entirety of the distribution chain, from content ingest to content reception to content output. MediaKind has been seeing these changes coming for a while, and our solutions have been evolving to be ready to respond to the coming shi� in market dynamics.

Our new Cygnus distribution solutions are being designed to deliver the maximum number of services in the lowest bandwidth possible, while elevating the level of content security provided in recognition of the value placed on HDR, 1080p, and 4K UHD. And while these new platforms can run more e�iciently over satellite, they can also now leverage the power of IP and travel with minimal delay over fiber links across the country or around the world.

Flexibility in these solutions is key. No one workflow is optimal for every broadcaster. Some prefer to run tried and true solutions already proven over many years, and let others experiment with cutting edge technology.

1Content Distribution www.mediakind.com

Challenge #3: Maximizing ROI There is a growing need to find new ways to pay for the explosion of content being transmitted. Opex payment models mirror revenue streams coming in and are now possible with a shi� toward microservice based so�ware solutions. But many broadcasters are also eyeing the field of targeted advertising, with its ability to charge significantly higher rates to advertisers for a guarantee that a certain demographic or geographic region is viewing the targeted content. That, in turn, leads to new requirements for managing, controlling, distributing and reporting exactly what is being watched, when, and by whom.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: Cygnus’ distribution solutions are focused on helping broadcasters meet profitability targets with designs tailored to the specific needs of each individual broadcaster. That’s why we o�er both a centralized headend architecture and one designed to push more processing to the edge of the network. Centralization allows broadcasters to create and manage the distribution of all the localized streams from the main headend, simplifying the receive devices to be deployed. Edge of network processing reduces backhaul requirements and headend costs, but increases the complexity of the receive devices, which are now localizing services from pre-positioned content based on commands from the headend.

Some want to start with what they know, but with flexibility built in to migrate to newer architectures as technologies mature. And still others want to be the first on air with the latest solutions to maximize ROI.

This is why Cygnus is the right choice for next generation distribution solutions. Headends can be built with field proven and feature rich hardware technology centered around AVP 4000 encoders. Or broadcast-ers can choose to adopt MediaKind Encoding Live so�ware-based solutions with no loss in video quality and the ability to choose on premises or cloud-based architectures. Either solution provides MPEG-4 AVC or HEVC encoding up to 4K UHD with HDR for the highest quality video possible. And either solution works over satellite or IP or a combination of the two for truly redundant links.

Content security is accomplished with MediaKind’s nCompass Director platform, which provides the ability to encrypt content, schedule events, control receive devices on an individual and/or group basis, and verify the status of a receive device for the highest level of confidence that the correct content is being transmitted at the correct time.

Broadcaster or Operator

RegionalCenter

BroadcastCenter

ProductionFacilityAny input/output (SDI/ST 2110/IP)

Multiple encode/decode formats

Up to UHD 4:2:2 10-bit resolution

Secure satellite/IP/cloud transmission

High level view of a typical content distribution solution

Challenge # 2: Bandwidth E�iciency vs Receiver Compatibility Adding another layer of complexity to today’s distribution systems are the e�iciency gains provided by HEVC encoding. On the one hand, a migration to HEVC can help save significant bandwidth costs for the increasingly higher quality and growing amount of content being distributed. On the other hand, HEVC can be a format wholly incompatible with the millions of set top devices deployed by cable and satellite operators around the globe.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: In addition to supporting HEVC encoding and DVB-S2X modulation as part of its core content distribution solutions, Cygnus o�ers a variety of receive devices, from pure SD/HD/UHD receiving and demodulation to re-configurable transcoding devices designed to change as future distribution needs change. All of them are tailored to help bridge current bandwidth e�icient distribution systems with legacy consumer devices.

Challenge #1: Shi�ing Consumer Consumption Consumers today are driving demand for live content in two directions. First, there is an increasing demand for larger televisions in the home, typically with 4K UHD/HDR capabilities as a default o�ering. Second, there is as much if not more demand to receive the same content available on the 65” inch TV on a 6” phone or 10” tablet or 15” laptop. These two growth demands are combining to drive a need to capture and deliver live content in the most flexible manner possible.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: Cygnus’ flexible processing solutions can be configured to provide resolutions from SD all the way to 4K UHD, including 1080p50/60 solutions with HDR that fill the sweet spot between consumer demand for high quality and broadcaster needs for value maximization. And it provides MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC and HEVC encoding from a single hardware or so�ware platform to a wide range of receive devices, all designed to provide the maximum possible flexibility for the highest possible return on investment.

The Continuing Content Journey

It’s one thing to get multiple streams of high quality content from a live venue to a relatively small number of receive locations. It is something else to take multiple channels of content, made up both live and file-based inputs—not to mention breaking news—and securely distribute that content to hundreds or thousands of receive sites for onward transmission to hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe.

Over the past 25 years, hundreds of MediaKind Cygnus content distribution systems have been deployed, delivering thousands of channels from broadcasters, content owners and service providers to tens of thousands of receive devices around the world. From ABC in the US and ABC in Australia distributing content to broadcast a�iliates, to IMG securely distributing English Premier League content around Europe, content providers everywhere rely on Cygnus to securely transmit their content anywhere while maintaining the highest level of quality possible.

Pulling it All Together: The Next Generation of Distribution

Managing the challenges of 21st century content distribution requires re-thinking the entirety of the distribution chain, from content ingest to content reception to content output. MediaKind has been seeing these changes coming for a while, and our solutions have been evolving to be ready to respond to the coming shi� in market dynamics.

Our new Cygnus distribution solutions are being designed to deliver the maximum number of services in the lowest bandwidth possible, while elevating the level of content security provided in recognition of the value placed on HDR, 1080p, and 4K UHD. And while these new platforms can run more e�iciently over satellite, they can also now leverage the power of IP and travel with minimal delay over fiber links across the country or around the world.

Flexibility in these solutions is key. No one workflow is optimal for every broadcaster. Some prefer to run tried and true solutions already proven over many years, and let others experiment with cutting edge technology.

2Content Distribution www.mediakind.com

Challenge #3: Maximizing ROI There is a growing need to find new ways to pay for the explosion of content being transmitted. Opex payment models mirror revenue streams coming in and are now possible with a shi� toward microservice based so�ware solutions. But many broadcasters are also eyeing the field of targeted advertising, with its ability to charge significantly higher rates to advertisers for a guarantee that a certain demographic or geographic region is viewing the targeted content. That, in turn, leads to new requirements for managing, controlling, distributing and reporting exactly what is being watched, when, and by whom.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: Cygnus’ distribution solutions are focused on helping broadcasters meet profitability targets with designs tailored to the specific needs of each individual broadcaster. That’s why we o�er both a centralized headend architecture and one designed to push more processing to the edge of the network. Centralization allows broadcasters to create and manage the distribution of all the localized streams from the main headend, simplifying the receive devices to be deployed. Edge of network processing reduces backhaul requirements and headend costs, but increases the complexity of the receive devices, which are now localizing services from pre-positioned content based on commands from the headend.

Some want to start with what they know, but with flexibility built in to migrate to newer architectures as technologies mature. And still others want to be the first on air with the latest solutions to maximize ROI.

This is why Cygnus is the right choice for next generation distribution solutions. Headends can be built with field proven and feature rich hardware technology centered around AVP 4000 encoders. Or broadcast-ers can choose to adopt MediaKind Encoding Live so�ware-based solutions with no loss in video quality and the ability to choose on premises or cloud-based architectures. Either solution provides MPEG-4 AVC or HEVC encoding up to 4K UHD with HDR for the highest quality video possible. And either solution works over satellite or IP or a combination of the two for truly redundant links.

Content security is accomplished with MediaKind’s nCompass Director platform, which provides the ability to encrypt content, schedule events, control receive devices on an individual and/or group basis, and verify the status of a receive device for the highest level of confidence that the correct content is being transmitted at the correct time.

Centralizing all local content at the central headendsimplifies receive devices at the edge

Distribution Headend

Leverages cloud technologies for content aggregation

Local and national content packaged into localizedfeeds for distribution back to local broadcast locations

Increases complexity and bandwidth requirements at primary headend, while simplifying reception and reporting requirements

Leverages cloud technologies for content backhaul to distribution headend

Received content already packaged and ready for transmission

Receive devices are simple receiver,decoders or transcoders

Local Broadcast

CentralizedLocalization

Challenge # 2: Bandwidth E�iciency vs Receiver Compatibility Adding another layer of complexity to today’s distribution systems are the e�iciency gains provided by HEVC encoding. On the one hand, a migration to HEVC can help save significant bandwidth costs for the increasingly higher quality and growing amount of content being distributed. On the other hand, HEVC can be a format wholly incompatible with the millions of set top devices deployed by cable and satellite operators around the globe.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: In addition to supporting HEVC encoding and DVB-S2X modulation as part of its core content distribution solutions, Cygnus o�ers a variety of receive devices, from pure SD/HD/UHD receiving and demodulation to re-configurable transcoding devices designed to change as future distribution needs change. All of them are tailored to help bridge current bandwidth e�icient distribution systems with legacy consumer devices.

Challenge #1: Shi�ing Consumer Consumption Consumers today are driving demand for live content in two directions. First, there is an increasing demand for larger televisions in the home, typically with 4K UHD/HDR capabilities as a default o�ering. Second, there is as much if not more demand to receive the same content available on the 65” inch TV on a 6” phone or 10” tablet or 15” laptop. These two growth demands are combining to drive a need to capture and deliver live content in the most flexible manner possible.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: Cygnus’ flexible processing solutions can be configured to provide resolutions from SD all the way to 4K UHD, including 1080p50/60 solutions with HDR that fill the sweet spot between consumer demand for high quality and broadcaster needs for value maximization. And it provides MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC and HEVC encoding from a single hardware or so�ware platform to a wide range of receive devices, all designed to provide the maximum possible flexibility for the highest possible return on investment.

The Continuing Content Journey

It’s one thing to get multiple streams of high quality content from a live venue to a relatively small number of receive locations. It is something else to take multiple channels of content, made up both live and file-based inputs—not to mention breaking news—and securely distribute that content to hundreds or thousands of receive sites for onward transmission to hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe.

Over the past 25 years, hundreds of MediaKind Cygnus content distribution systems have been deployed, delivering thousands of channels from broadcasters, content owners and service providers to tens of thousands of receive devices around the world. From ABC in the US and ABC in Australia distributing content to broadcast a�iliates, to IMG securely distributing English Premier League content around Europe, content providers everywhere rely on Cygnus to securely transmit their content anywhere while maintaining the highest level of quality possible.

Pulling it All Together: The Next Generation of Distribution

Managing the challenges of 21st century content distribution requires re-thinking the entirety of the distribution chain, from content ingest to content reception to content output. MediaKind has been seeing these changes coming for a while, and our solutions have been evolving to be ready to respond to the coming shi� in market dynamics.

Our new Cygnus distribution solutions are being designed to deliver the maximum number of services in the lowest bandwidth possible, while elevating the level of content security provided in recognition of the value placed on HDR, 1080p, and 4K UHD. And while these new platforms can run more e�iciently over satellite, they can also now leverage the power of IP and travel with minimal delay over fiber links across the country or around the world.

Flexibility in these solutions is key. No one workflow is optimal for every broadcaster. Some prefer to run tried and true solutions already proven over many years, and let others experiment with cutting edge technology.

3Content Distribution www.mediakind.com

Challenge #3: Maximizing ROI There is a growing need to find new ways to pay for the explosion of content being transmitted. Opex payment models mirror revenue streams coming in and are now possible with a shi� toward microservice based so�ware solutions. But many broadcasters are also eyeing the field of targeted advertising, with its ability to charge significantly higher rates to advertisers for a guarantee that a certain demographic or geographic region is viewing the targeted content. That, in turn, leads to new requirements for managing, controlling, distributing and reporting exactly what is being watched, when, and by whom.

Cygnus Meets the Challenge: Cygnus’ distribution solutions are focused on helping broadcasters meet profitability targets with designs tailored to the specific needs of each individual broadcaster. That’s why we o�er both a centralized headend architecture and one designed to push more processing to the edge of the network. Centralization allows broadcasters to create and manage the distribution of all the localized streams from the main headend, simplifying the receive devices to be deployed. Edge of network processing reduces backhaul requirements and headend costs, but increases the complexity of the receive devices, which are now localizing services from pre-positioned content based on commands from the headend.

Some want to start with what they know, but with flexibility built in to migrate to newer architectures as technologies mature. And still others want to be the first on air with the latest solutions to maximize ROI.

This is why Cygnus is the right choice for next generation distribution solutions. Headends can be built with field proven and feature rich hardware technology centered around AVP 4000 encoders. Or broadcast-ers can choose to adopt MediaKind Encoding Live so�ware-based solutions with no loss in video quality and the ability to choose on premises or cloud-based architectures. Either solution provides MPEG-4 AVC or HEVC encoding up to 4K UHD with HDR for the highest quality video possible. And either solution works over satellite or IP or a combination of the two for truly redundant links.

Content security is accomplished with MediaKind’s nCompass Director platform, which provides the ability to encrypt content, schedule events, control receive devices on an individual and/or group basis, and verify the status of a receive device for the highest level of confidence that the correct content is being transmitted at the correct time.

Distribution Headend

Distribution headend distributes national content and regional ads to local broadcasters, leveraging satellite, IP or cloud

Reduces complexity and bandwidth requirements at distributiion headend, while adding backhaul reception and reporting requirements from local sites for ad placement confirmation

Localization of national content handled atreceive location

Receive devices become more complex, but handle reception/content replacement/decoding/transcoding in a single device

Local Broadcast

Edge Localization