Rai Way Ensures Digital Terrestrial Network Quality with Tektronix Advanced MPEG Monitoring

Rai Way Ensures Digital Terrestrial Network Quality with Tektronix Advanced MPEG Monitoring

MTM400 Ensures Content Quality and Adherence to HD and SD Specifications for Audio and Video

BEAVERTON, Ore., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE:TEK), a leading worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring solutions, announced that Rai Way, which owns and operates Italian public broadcaster RAI Group's broadcasting division, has installed 13 Tektronix MTM400 MPEG Transport Stream Monitors to monitor transport stream quality in its digital terrestrial television (DTT) network.

Digital terrestrial television provides a terrestrial-transmitter-based over-the-air video service. Broadcasters stand to benefit from DTT in several ways, according to ABI Research's principal broadband analyst, Michael Arden. "Not only does digital broadcasting allow them to do targeted local advertising more easily, it also allows them, using their existing spectrum license and allocation, to add extra sub-channels, which could contain specialty content or HDTV programming."

Rai Way has completed an aggressive programme to convert RAI's existing transmission and broadcasting network into a timely and cost-effective implementation of digital terrestrial. Rai Way succeeded in achieving the challenging objectives imposed by Italian law. The resulting DTT network now offers several free-to-air television program services.

"We chose to use the MTM400 in numerous locations for our DTT program to monitor incoming satellite signals, which are then re-multiplexed to feed local DVB-T broadcast networks," said Marcello Cianfa, Rai Way Transmission Network Engineer, Transmission Network Planning. "The MTM400 proved to be the most capable and cost-effective option in the market for its reliability, ease of installation and ability to monitor all of the needed parameters at both transport and RF levels."

"Rai Way has long played a leading role in Italian broadcasting and we are honored to be selected as a key technology provider for their DTT program," said Todd Biddle, vice president, Video Product Line, Tektronix, Inc. "Their deep technical heritage has enabled RAI to offer to Italian citizens a first class public radio and television broadcasting service. The MTM400s assist RAI to offer more programming and services utilizing the latest digital technologies, further enhancing their reputation for quality, reliability, and technical excellence."

About the MTM400

The MTM400 is an MPEG transport stream monitor for broadcasters and network operators who need a scalable solution to detect signal degradation caused during transmission and distribution. The platform includes a robust embedded real time operating system (RTOS) designed for 24/7 reliability and offers software options to extend to a solution that provides diagnostic and preventative monitoring capabilities. Tektronix also provides offline in depth analysis tools enabling detailed analysis of streams remotely captured using the MTM400.

About Rai Way

Rai Way is responsible for RAI's signal transmission and broadcasting network, and has played a leading role in Italian broadcasting since the outset of radio and television. Rai Way owns the technical heritage, know-how and infrastructures which has enabled RAI to offer to the Italian citizens a first quality public service of radio and television broadcasting. Rai Way is also capable of enabling professional customers to improve their business opportunities by providing them with support for network planning, implementation, extension and management.

About Tektronix

Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement and monitoring products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer electronics, education and a broad range of other industries worldwide. With 60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build, deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, advanced and pervasive technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix' Web address is http://www.tektronix.com/.

Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: beth.woodward@tektronix.com

Source: Tektronix, Inc.

CONTACT: media, Gary Grossman of Tektronix, Inc., +1-503-627-1097,
gary.grossman@tektronix.com

Web site:

http://www.tektronix.com/

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