The Switch® and Eutelsat are joining forces to provide a new, independent offer delivering an unparalleled satellite and fibre video contribution network. The partnership will provide The Switch’s user community of over 800 of the world’s leading content producers and distributors with the ability to transmit feeds on a minute-by-minute basis to and from large parts of the globe. Simultaneously, broadcasters and content producers within Eutelsat’s satellite footprint will gain access to The Switch’s extensive global fibre network, including 53 physical points-of-presence, as well as connections to U.S. tech leaders, major global broadcasters and more than 180 sports organizations, venues and rights holders.
This partnership leverages the resources of three Eutelsat satellites (EUTELSAT 7B, EUTELSAT 10A and EUTELSAT 65 West A) covering Europe, Africa and the Americas, (further satellites may be added in the future to extend the reach of the solution) with The Switch’s global video transport network. Customers will be able to schedule transport to and from each region via SwitchIT™, The Switch’s patented award-winning customer-control software platform. The integrating of The Switch and Eutelsat systems will enable customers to deliver their content faster, more smoothly and to more regions around the globe.
“We have seen a huge increase in the demand for worldwide uplinking from our connected customers and venues,” said Keith Buckley, President and CEO at The Switch. “Partnering with Eutelsat allows us to combine our shared resources to bring a seamless, flexible offering to market.”
“We are delighted to partner with The Switch to offer customers seeking connectivity a more efficient and cost-effective way to move content,” said Michael Antonovich, CEO of Eutelsat Americas. “Having greater first-mile access to literally hundreds of additional broadcasters, venues and content producers in the U.S. and beyond greatly strengthens our position in the media landscape.”
Over the past year, The Switch has invested heavily in expanding its network, products, and services internationally. This includes the launch of The Switch Access™, a broadband IP connection enabling low-cost connectivity from anywhere in the world, the addition of strategic partnerships on several continents, and increasing its team to include dedicated personnel in key international locations.
Riedel’s MediorNet MicroN is an 80G media distribution network device for the MediorNet line of media transport and management solutions. As a software-enabled, app-based hardware device, MicroN can be many different things: It can be a throw-down signal processor, a simple point-to-point link for up to 12 bidirectional HD signals, or part of a large decentralized router. A MicroN device can even serve as a multiviewer or a bridge between MediorNet networks and IP networks.
“The decentralized routing approach of Riedel’s MediorNet makes it ideal for the rigors of live broadcasting, and it delivers great cost savings for 4K and UHD productions. MediorNet not only reduces single points of failure, but also creates powerful operational efficiencies by allowing us to place physical I/Os closer to where they’re needed. Then, integrated processing capabilities including embedding/de-embedding and up/down conversion reduce the need for single-purpose peripheral devices. These features result in significant weight savings that enable Qvest Media to exceed our expectations without exceeding the weight limit of 3.5 tons,” said Ahmet Cakan, Chief Technology Officer, Ruptly. “Our two new vans had their baptism by fire during a high-profile international football tournament in Russia, and the performance of MediorNet was more than satisfactory. We know we can count on MediorNet to deliver the perfect blend of high-quality output and reliability for even our most demanding live productions.”
