Net Insight combines encoding and transport

Net Insight will use ANGA COM as the European launchpad for its Nimbra VA 220 video appliance, a platform that combines video transport with MPEG encoding and decoding.

The VA 220, originally launched at the NAB Show, is targeted a MSOs looking to use the internet and best-effort network as a less costly media transport alternative to leased lines and satellite contribution.

Thomas Wahlund, head of business segments at Net Insight, said that operators are seeking new alternatives as they compete with low-cost OTT providers and with each other’s TV everywhere services and seek to add new, niche content to their programming line-ups.

“We are seeing in the MSO market a shift from satellite content ac quisition to a more terrestrial or fixed line transport,” he said. At the same time, to compete with OTT providers, MSOs are looking to deliver more niche offerings and need to do transcoding in the headend.

“The VA 220 comes into play by delivering satellite quality over the internet by using selective retransmission and content-aware error correction,” he said.

Net Insight previously launched the VA 210, which requires encoding and decoding to be performed externally. By combining software-based encoding/decoding and transport within a single box, the VA 220 provides additional flexibility for operators, said Wahlund.

For higher-end channels, operators are likely to continue to look for higher-quality encoding solutions such as JPEG-2000 or uncompressed video, but for OTT and niche channels the encoding capabilities of the box are sufficient, he says.

“The VA220 is a way for MSOs to cost-effectively bring in channels that have been too expensive for a niche audience. It is perfect for OTT,” he said.

Net Insight will be exhibiting in Hall 10.1 on Stand S31.