The Omneon SPECTRUM system in place at KLCS allows the Los Angeles Unified School District to expand I/O ports, bandwidth, capacity, and redundancy, either simultaneously or independently, without interrupting system operation.
Omneon Video Networks' Spectrum media server system is being deployed by Los Angeles PBS station KLCS to stream video to public school classrooms in the city.
KLCS is integrating a 28-channel Spectrum server within a comprehensive digital content distribution system that provides near-video-on-demand (NVOD), streaming specialty channels, and other video and data content to the desktops of nearly one million students and teachers at Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) campuses.
“We created this new broadcast model with the goal of optimizing our bandwidth use to provide more resources to the classroom,” said Alan Popkin, KLCS director of technical operations and TV engineering. “Through what we call ‘daypart bandwidth management,’ we plan to change the paradigm of the way digital content interacts with the classroom.”
From the start of the school day until 4 p.m., KLCS will broadcast its main over-the-air DTV channel while delivering four to 10 streaming specialty channels directly to students’ and teachers’ desktops. Then from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the facility will shift from streaming channels to four traditional over-the-air broadcast channels, delivered through the cable system.
From 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., KLCS will offer a traditional DTV channel plus an HD channel, and then from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. will shift to a regular DTV channel and a heavy data push for delivery of near-video-on-demand to the LAUSD campuses.
Teachers will be able to browse the entire contents of the KLCS and LAUSD media library, which includes not only video and audio, but also PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, and other resources that will be searchable by grade level, subject matter, and state and federal standards. After previewing available material as low-res thumbnails on the WAN/LAN, teachers can request digital content for overnight datacast to the school server, where it is accessible for playout at any time.
For more information, visit: www.omneon.com and www.klcs.org.
