GO Malta taps Imagine Communications for new playout and media management system

Service provider GO Malta has installed a complete playout and media management architecture from Imagine Communications. The new system has enabled GO.

GO is the leading quad-play provider in Malta, offering mobile, fixed line, internet and IPTV/OTT television services to more than 500,000 customers. Since the acquisition of Multiplus in 2007, GO has rapidly grown its TV properties and premium sports rights, which now include the English Premier League, UEFA Champions’ League, Serie A from Italy, Ligue 1 from France and Formula 1. In 2018, GO and rival Melita pooled their sports rights and began operating the TSN (Total Sports Network), with channels made available to subscribers of either platform.

Last year GO decided to commission an all-new playout architecture to support the increased line-up of channels.

The platform has been built on Imagine’s Versio integrated playout platform and ADC automation. Material is managed and workflow control is provided by Versio Content Portal, including the capture of live programming onto Imagine’ Nexio video server. Also included in the new system is SDI routing via an Imagine Platinum router.

The system at GO is designed with 10+4 channel redundancy, where four backup Versio channels protect the 10 main programme outputs. The two most important commercial channels each have their own dedicated backup, with the remaining two redundant Versio engines capable of automatically taking over any of the other services should it become necessary.

“The playout solution that Imagine proposed not only addressed the challenges we had defined, but delivered more benefits than we expected. Imagine’s playout architecture efficiently supports multiple channels, so we are able to operate our channels with fewer servers. Their client-server approach gives us far better control and easier playlist management, particularly during live events. We also benefit from enhanced graphics and animated pop-ups, automated archiving and retrieval, and much better redundancy management,” said ,” said Martin Abela, senior manager of video operations for GO.

“While the new playout solution has significantly improved our operational efficiency, our ultimate goal is to deliver a better customer experience, and thanks to Imagine, we have achieved this.”

Mathias Eckert, SVP & GM EMEA/APA at Imagine Communications, said: “What the GO project demonstrates is that even broadcasters serving a small community ― the population of Malta is little more than half a million ― expect to be able to deliver premium experiences for their audiences, with the most efficient of modern, automated workflows. With the Imagine philosophy of supporting our customers with their technology transitions at their own pace, we were able to supply GO with proven technology that meets their requirements today and provides a platform for future growth.”