SBS utilizes Intraplex for constructing an HD2 broadcasting network
In the realm of broadcasting, the thrill of discovery is palpable when technology is utilised to its full potential. For longtime fans of radio, this is especially true with HD Radio subchannels, as demonstrated by Spanish Broadcast System (SBS).
SBS, a leading broadcaster serving a multicultural audience, has leveraged GatesAir's Intraplex IP Link codecs to distribute its diverse programming across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. One such example is La Privada, a hybrid regional Mexican and urban format, which is delivered to eight other markets using these advanced IP-based audio transport solutions.
The heart of this network is the Intraplex IP Link codecs, which provide SBS with scalable multi-channel operation, redundancy, and support for secure transport protocols like SRT. These features ensure high-quality, low-latency audio delivery across multiple sites, even in a complex, geographic broadcast environment.
Key benefits of the Intraplex IP Link codecs include scalability and multi-channel support, allowing SBS to distribute multiple program feeds simultaneously. Redundancy enhances reliability by minimising downtime or audio loss, while secure, low-latency transport protocols like SRT help maintain audio quality and security over public IP networks.
In the specific application for the La Privada program feed, the Intraplex IP Link codecs enable high-quality audio distribution over SBS's multisite infrastructure, ensuring consistent program delivery with localised content adjustments. This setup allows SBS to effectively manage and deliver distinct programming for its multicultural audience via converged IP networks, leveraging GatesAir’s Intraplex platform for optimal audio fidelity and network flexibility.
The IPL-100n codecs, deployed to all nine transmitter sites, including KLAX, replaced the IPL-100c. Each station can trigger local IDs using the design of the IP Link, which is able to take in a contact closure from SBS' automation. The La Privada program feed is kept on HD2 to maintain consistent branding in each market.
For the Puerto Rico feed, SBS uses Opus due to fiber being ten times the cost compared to the U.S. mainland. The Opus feed is compressed for transport over public internet while maintaining audio quality.
SBS launched La Privada in two phases, with a local broadcast on KLAX in 2024, and additional stations added as funding for the operation was approved. SBS plans to fill the 10th slot with a Chicago feed at a new transmitter site. The IPL-200n codecs, installed at the origination point, allow for 10 destination points.
In summary, GatesAir’s Intraplex IP Link codecs are pivotal in SBS’s multisite network, enabling reliable and flexible distribution of the La Privada program feed, through features such as scalability, redundancy, secure IP transport, and market-specific content adaptation. This partnership underscores the power of technology in shaping the future of broadcasting.
[1] GatesAir Press Release, "GatesAir's Intraplex IP Link Codecs Enable Spanish Broadcast System's Multisite Network for La Privada Program", [Link to Press Release] [2] GatesAir Technical Documentation, "Intraplex IP Link Codecs", [Link to Technical Documentation] [3] Spanish Broadcast System Website, "La Privada", [Link to La Privada Page on SBS Website] [4] GatesAir Case Study, "Spanish Broadcast System Leverages Intraplex IP Link Codecs for La Privada Program", [Link to Case Study] [5] GatesAir White Paper, "IP-Based Audio Transport for Broadcast Applications", [Link to White Paper]
- In the multisite network of Spanish Broadcast System (SBS), GatesAir's Intraplex IP Link codecs are instrumental, facilitating the reliable and flexible distribution of the La Privada program feed, via features like scalability, redundancy, secure IP transport, and market-specific content adaptation.
- The Intraplex IP Link codecs deployed by SBS provide multi-channel support, allowing the broadcaster to distribute multiple program feeds simultaneously, ensuring consistent program delivery with localized content adjustments.
- To maintain audio quality and security over public IP networks in Puerto Rico, SBS uses Opus for the Puerto Rico feed, compressing it for transport over the internet.
- The partnership between SBS and GatesAir showcases how technology plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the broadcast industry, particularly in data-and-cloud-computing and finance, as demonstrated by the converged IP networks leveraged by SBS for optimal audio fidelity and network flexibility.
