Satellite Internet - IPSTAR Broadband Satellite Operator

Channel 7 Uses IPSTAR, Rendering Broadcast Trucks Obsolete in Delivering Live Breaking News

The use of heavy news broadcasting systems that are difficult to transport and operate is well and truly over. Currently, news organizations are shifting towards a new generation of SNG system that is IP-based, easy-to-use and complete - capable of delivering live news reports not only via video streaming, but also through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video conferencing or the Internet.

Channel 7, a Perth-based TV news station, is currently using the Thaicom-4 (IPSTAR) satellite to cover live breaking news stories in Australia. In the by Balconi - had been deployed to provide coverage for news stories, such as the arrest of a woman who stole a baby in Northam, the bushfire incident in Southern Cross, and the court hearing and trial in Busselton.

In all 3 headlines, Channel 7 had been able to easily beat its competitors in reporting live breaking news from remote areas, while other news organizations were forced to drive their camera tapes to faraway feed points. Once at its destination, the IPSTAR-backhauled SNG system can be deployed rapidly and can enable broadcasting in just few minutes.

Roving production news teams are continually on high alert and close coordination is essential in news reporting. However, as soon as news teams set out on a field mission, they are oftentimes deprived of the broadcasting equipment and tools available at the newsroom.

Traditional Outside Broadcasting (OB) trucks continue to play an important role in the broadcasting arena, but as the 24-hour news cycle demands for more live contents, small drive-away and man portable SNG units are becoming the must-have tool for news broadcasting.

Using IPSTAR has distinct advantages over OB trucks in delivering news stories from a remote location. Basically an easy-to-use, IP-based system, IPSNG uses IPSTAR to quickly send live breaking news to the TV station's newsroom.

One advantage of using IPSTAR backhaul for SNG is its capability to support two-way communications - enabling reporters to feed live footage to Channel 7's headquarter, while at the same time, allowing them to download files at the news field. With this advantage, reporters not only send raw or edited news clips to the newsroom, but also accept any request for additional coverage or even download a text stream for an onsite teleprompter.

SNG via Thaicom-4 (IPSTAR) satellite enables field reporters to broadcast live or send reports anywhere in Asia-Pacific. The IPSTAR satellite dish can be mounted on top of a vehicle or can be in a fly-away setup, housed in a portable casing that can be carried on a helicopter or checked in as standard luggage on a commercial flight - allowing reporters to cover news on accidents, disasters or any important event as soon as they arrive at their destination.

Previously, field reporters underwent a very slow process whenever they need to take live footage. News broadcasters have to plug a tape at some dedicated fiber or satellite uplink location before news reporters can start broadcasting. Most of the time, they also need to call a satellite technician to turn on the equipment and to fix the polarization line-ups.

With the IPSTAR-powered SNG network, the system can be set up in less than 10 minutes and can start broadcasting few minutes after it is deployed. Moreover, news personnel do not need to call for any satellite booking, to make rigid configurations, or to wait for a transponder to become available - they just need to turn on the system.

With various advantages against other news broadcasting technology, IPSNG via IPSTAR satellite backhaul was chosen by Channel 7 as the preferred cost-effective SNG system that can enable video conferencing, Internet and VoIP for covering breaking news stories live on air or online from anywhere in Asia-Pacific.