Harris Corp. said this week it will supply its NetVX HD video networking equipment to DBS firm DirecTV for HD “contribution encoding” and transport. NetVX HD is designed to permit broadcasters to install multiple encoders in a single chassis with a common signal output, further reducing equipment costs by providing an all-in-one device for encoding, multiplexing and network adaptation.
The DBS firm said it will use NetVX HD’s MPEG-4 video encoders based on its feature set and performance levels, along with the satellite operation’s need for platform flexibility. (DirecTV first began using NetVX three years ago to backhaul local market programming content.)
DirecTV is in a spirited competitive race with DBS rival Dish Network, as well as cable players Comcast, Time Warner and Cox, to ramp up as much HD content on as many channels as possible, as soon as possible.
