Fox Network Engineering and Operations Lab Deploys Video Clarity Real-time Monitoring Solution

By Jyothi Shanbhag, TMCnet Contributor

Fox Networks has recently deployed an RTM 3G real-time audio and video monitoring solution in its Network Engineering and Operations lab in Los Angeles.

The lab officials said that the new deployment is helping them test process equipment and sample network paths systematically for quality of adaptive bit rate audio and video streams.

RTM, the video monitoring solution detects and records all faults while monitoring a television signal or IP stream. This solution is in wide use with manufacturers as well as broadcast, cable and IPTV (News - Alert) operators to continually assess their product and service quality.

Yves Montane, director of research and development engineering for Fox Network Engineering and Operations said that they are now bringing content over the Internet to more number of devices and thus have to guarantee the quality of the viewing experience well beyond the TV set.

The RTM 3G is currently allowing Fox Networks  to compare HLS video streams, which is critical for ensuring quality on tablets and smart phones.          

Montane confirmed testing different profiles and different encoding processes for different scenarios to see which combinations introduce artifacts or otherwise reduce quality.

The RTM 3G is designed to be a full-reference monitoring device and is not influenced by the “artistic” quality of the source. This solution measures the video quality, audio quality, audio or video delay (offset), audio program loudness and VANC data accuracy.

If any of these present thresholds, then an alarm is activated and the sequences are saved. RTM protects valuable man-hours by alarming on all errors which affirms what the operator already has seen or alerts them to a potential problem which was missed.

"IP delivery is challenging, and it's hard to replicate that environment, but that's exactly what we have to do in order to create viable testing solutions. The Fox lab has the insight, equipment, and expertise to do it, so it has been a longstanding test bed for our products," said Blake Homan, president of Video Clarity (News - Alert).

Homan further added, " Thanks in part to our collaborative relationship with Fox, RTM 3G will help them do it."

Video Clarity was founded in 2003 with headquarters in Campbell, Calif., and distribution worldwide.

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