EBU selects Nevion’s HD video transport equipment for the Vancouver Winter Games

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has selected Nevion (www.nevion.com), formerly Network/VPG, a leading video transport solution provider for broadcasters, service providers and government entities worldwide, to provide video transport technology for the Winter Games in Vancouver from 12–28 February. High-quality HD signals have been transmitted using JPEG 2000 compression from EBU broadcast members at a range of sporting venues to EBU’s International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Vancouver.

Solutions from Nevion’s modular, carrier-class Ventura product family combine to provide unmatched quality, operational savings and efficiency for multi-venue live signal transmissions. Its JPEG 2000 compression solution, as well as multiplexing and system management modules support more than 30 HD links at the Games.

“With continuous live-action sporting events, we needed to find a reliable, innovative, value-based solution that would provide us with the high-quality video transport we were after,” said Oscar Teran, engineering manager of the EBU OPS Group of EBU. “Nevion products have helped us do just that, handling not only the contribution, but also the monitoring and management of the networks.”

Nevion’s advanced JPEG 2000 solution allows multiple cycles of signal compression and decompression without noticeable degradation of the original signal - ideal for the high-quality requirements of live events and sports contribution networks. JPEG 2000’s visually lossless quality and extremely low latency combine with time-division multiplexing to ensure maximum use of bandwidth and a high degree of flexibility. Due to strict adherence to standards, Ventura modules interoperate successfully with equipment from other vendors.

Nevion’s DataMiner, a complete network management system, has also been selected to monitor and manage video transport equipment utilised at the games. DataMiner interfaces with both Nevion and third-party element managers throughout the transport chain to create a high-level view and flexible central control. Nevion will be instrumental in the integration of the preconfigured system onsite in Vancouver.

Ventura equipment is widely used by large telecommunications service providers for global events such as Carnival in Brazil, the Academy Awards and Rose Parade broadcasts in the U.S., and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.