Background: G&L has been a service provider and strategic partner for Bavarian Broadcasting's multimedia division since 2001. We ensure that the audio and video content is broadcast in the Internet in the quality expected from BR.
Example of projects that have already been implemented for BR include:
Transcoding service: The "convertible" transcoding farm
We operate a transcoding farm for the Bavarian Broadcasting Service that converts the audio and video reports in streaming formats. Our system is based on the Carbon Coder, a transcoding unit from the Rhozet company.
The reports to be processed can either be imported into the system by the editors. They are then automatically transcoded and the editors receive a link to the created file by e-mail. Or the system extracts the reports from the Media Asset Management (MAM), where all videos of the online editorial staff are managed. In both cases, the metadata is automatically processed.
Thanks to the continuous redundancy, downtimes are minimised and the system provides maximum operating reliability. The transcoding jobs are distributed to several transcoding engines, several processors, and cores, which optimises performance. Since the transcoding jobs can be processed through automated processes as well as a web interface, the system is extremely flexible. Both the number of servers as well as the number of transcoders are scalable, thus the transcoding farm can be expanded to meet any requirements. We have already successfully implemented the first expansion.
Radio encoding – Audio live streaming – Internet radio
We created an infrastructure for the live encoding of all radio waves of the Bavarian Broadcasting Service. This infrastructure allows the eight radio waves to be centrally received by the Astra satellites system, to be switched using controllable cross bars, and to be converted by encoders into the specified Internet formats.
In addition to the eight broadcasting signals received, we also receive eight alternative signals – one for each radio wave, thus guaranteeing a high level of fail safety as required by the Bavarian Broadcasting Service.
If specific broadcast content may not be transmitted as streams for legal reasons, the alternative signals are switched on by the cross bars. Switching is browser-based and can be performed from any location regardless of location using our own web interface, which has been used since 2001 and has been continuously enhanced according to BR specifications. The web interface is operated ad-hoc or in a time-controlled manner by creating browser-based switching systems.
The entire system offers an exceptionally high level of operational reliability, since it operates redundantly on two functional, decoupled production tracks. In fact, two redundant broadcasting operations are used for transmitting the radio live streaming.
All ARD recommendations are implemented for the streaming qualities.
TV Encoding – Live Video Streaming – Event Streaming
Our live video event streamings are either used for the Bavarian Television Service, (e.g. special programmes on elections, Pope visits, Nockherberg fasting sermons, etc.), or for the Bavarian Radio Service in the ARD network (e.g. for heavily used broadband transmission of ARD special programmes for the 2008 European Football Championship).
Since programmes may not be transmitted outside of the event broadcasting time, an alternative signal is fed in through a cross bar. We realise the redundant reception and the encoding in our data centre in Cologne. We encode in Windows Media, Real, or Flash formats, each in two bandwidths according to the new ARD standards.