Omneon Video Networks today announced that its Omneon Spectrum™ media server system is being used by Tokyo-based NHK Technical Services (NTS) to operate Mobile.n channel programming on Mobaho!, the world’s first multi-channel satellite service broadcasting to mobile viewing terminals.

Mobaho!, a fee-based service from Japan’s Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (MBCO), was launched Oct. 20, providing individual subscribers with almost 40 channels (seven video channels and 30 audio channels), plus 60 data services. Mobile.n is the all-around video channel delivering programs in a variety of genres. Programming includes NHK’s eight-hours-a-day offering of general news programs from Japan and overseas, sports, and documentaries, as well as the service’s own programs. MBCO has given NTS responsibility for the Mobile.n channel transmission system design and operation. Mobile.n’s content is being ingested and played out via NTS’s six-channel Omneon server and distributed to viewers through MBCO’s MBSAT satellite.

“When we were designing Mobile.n’s on-air transmission system, our systems integrator enthusiastically recommended the Omneon Spectrum™ media server, which offers excellent scalability and stability that meet with our essential specifications,” said Kenzo Muroi, director of digital technologies development for NTS’s Business Development Center. “Our Omneon system can be expanded in many ways without interrupting server operation, and we plan to take advantage of this capability in the future as the service grows. The Omneon Spectrum™ media server system is a good fit for our on-air transmission system, and the price/performance value is excellent. Actual on-air operation started Oct. 20, and the Omneon system has lived up to expectations and provided the best infrastructure for our efficient workflow.”

“We have been involved in various server integrations with automation applications since 1996, and none of our past experiences has been as simple as the installation of the Omneon system,”
said Yu Miyake, chief engineer from systems integrator Kondo Broadcast Systems Inc. “We believe it’s an easy-to-use system, and we are certain the installation will prove worthy of our customer’s confidence.”

The fully redundant Omneon Spectrum™ media server system at NTS features 438 gigabytes of storage, giving it a capacity of 120 hours MPEG-2 4:2:0 content at 8 megabytes per second, with three channels configured for ingest and another three for playout. The Omneon server system will ingest and store program contents in MPEG-2 format. News and live broadcast material are transferred directly to MBCO’s master control for playout to air, while scheduled programming is ingested to the Omneon server and played out to the master control at Mobile.n at broadcast time.

All content, including Mobile.n’s content is encoded to MPEG-4 (with MPEG‑2 AAC audio) in real time for airing via the MBCO master room. Mobaho! broadcasts are delivered at a much lower frequency – about 2.6 GHz, close to the 2.1‑GHz band used by 3G telephone services – than are conventional satellite broadcasts. MBCO estimates that within three years, 1.5 million subscribers will use handheld and in-car terminals to connect to Mobaho! for audio, video, and data services.

“The deployment of our media server system at NTS is another example of how broadcasters are using Omneon solutions for new services,” said Geoff Stedman, Omneon vice president of marketing. “The innovative services being provided through Mobaho! demonstrate the versatility of our server technology for leading-edge applications. We look forward to the continued growth of MBCO and to the ongoing success of this exciting new broadcast model.”

Learn more about Omneon's server solutions at www.omneon.com.

About Omneon
Omneon is a leading provider of flexible media server and active storage systems that optimize workflow productivity and on-air reliability for the production, distribution, and management of digital media. Omneon is a pioneer in the use of advanced IT technologies and open systems for broadcast applications, producing a modular and expandable video server architecture in the Omneon Spectrum. The company's MediaGrid active storage system delivers centralized content storage that is scalable in capacity, bandwidth, and media-processing power. The company has an extensive global presence with customers in 45 countries on six continents. Omneon is on the Web at www.Omneon.com.

About NHK Technical Service Corp.
NHK Technical Service Corp. (NTS) provides technical services for NHK TV/radio/FM program production in relation to operations in studio, outside relay broadcasting, on location, and post production; operation/transmission technology services for satellite broadcasting, international broadcasting, and radio broadcasting; and data broadcasting content production/transmission (including interactive service) for digital satellite and terrestrial broadcasting services.

NTS also provides comprehensive software, and hardware-related services, including content production of broadcasting programs and equipment rentals for program production-related equipment. Especially in relation to HDTV technology, the NHK Technical Services provides the best equipment and personnel in the industry, proving itself to the world to be at the forefront of super-reality 3D HDTV video production. The development of an “HDTV wireless camera” in conjunction with NHK, a 3D “virtual batting system” using 3D HDTV system, and the construction and implementation of “HDTV digital interface software” designed for general-purpose ICs (FPGA), which can realize desired functionalities with the use of programming.

More information about NTS is available at http://www.nhk-ts.co.jp/index-e.html.

About Mobile Broadcasting Corporation
Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBCO) was established in 1988 to provide cars and mobile terminals with digital satellite broadcasting for audio, video and data services throughout Japan. MBCO’s major shareholders are Toshiba, SK Telecom, NTT Data, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Toyota, Fujitsu, Nippon TV, and Panasonic. So far 88 Japanese companies are MBCO partners (as of October 2004). More information about MBCO is available at http://www.mbco.co.jp/english/index.html.

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