India's Doordarshan Selects Harris Broadcast for Nationwide Digital Transition

NEW DELHI, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Harris Broadcast, a market share leader of content management and network infrastructure solutions serving the global broadcast, communication service provider, government and enterprise markets, today announced it has been selected by national broadcaster Doordarshan to deploy a new DVB-T2 transmission infrastructure across the country.

The government of India is pushing ahead with plans to complete the move from analogue to digital television transmission by 2017. As the leading public service broadcaster in India, Doordarshan has an obligation to cover the whole country and to reflect the diversity of Indian society, including content in the more than 40 languages. At the same time, it is promoting a boost in quality and viewer engagement by rolling out high definition channels, as well as delivering its multi-lingual content across multiple platforms including mobile devices in the future.

"This is not only a large-scale project for Doordarshan, but it is also one of the most high profile and important projects the broadcaster has undertaken," said Joe Khodeir, senior vice president Asia at Harris Broadcast. "Our DVB-T2 solution maximises spectrum capacity, allowing Doordarshan to roll out multiple channels serving different communities as well as offer multiple HD channels. For a project of this scope and significance, Doordarshan looked for a partner with a strong local service commitment and presence along with best-in-class technologies that delivered the lowest lifecycle costs.  Our Maxiva™ ULX architecture provides the best power efficiency in the market, which was a critical consideration for Doordarshan when energy consumption is such a large part of the operating cost."

The first of two transmission contracts awarded to Harris Broadcast adds HD channels to digital multiplexes in four major metropolitan areas. Each facility will be served with a new 6kW Harris Broadcast Maxiva ULX DVB-T2 transmitter. The second contract is for 19 Maxiva ULX transmitters, which will be used to roll out digital transmission to the regions of India. In the first instance, these will carry standard definition channels in their multiplexes, but the flexibility of the transmitter and infrastructure design allows for an easy upgrade to HD when the time comes.

The Maxiva ULX is a liquid-cooled, solid-state transmitter built on a modular architecture for maximum flexibility in inputs, transmission standards and power outputs. By incorporating Harris Broadcast PowerSmart® technology, the Maxiva ULX uses the minimum energy for the radiated power, produces less heat and occupies the smallest footprint in the industry. Together, this provides simplified installation, easier maintenance and reduced total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the transmitter.

About Doordarshan

Doordarshan, the Indian national television network devoted to public service broadcasting, is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of infrastructure (studios and transmitters), the variety of software and the vastness of the viewership. About 92 percent of India's population receives Doordarshan programming through a network of 35 channels, 67 studio centers and 1415 terrestrial transmitters. For further information, visit http://www.ddindia.gov.in/.

About Harris Broadcast

For more than five decades, Harris Broadcast has been an innovator of market-leading media content and network infrastructure technology serving the world's most prestigious broadcast, communications service providers, governments and enterprises across 140 countries. From creating to Delivering the Moment, Harris Broadcast's business management software and end-to-end audio and video solutions are enhancing the user experience, improving workflow efficiencies and generating revenue for its customers. For more information, please visit harrisbroadcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @HarrisBroadcast.

SOURCE Harris Broadcast