Solution Sp tlightoSolution Sp tlightoHYBRID SOFTWARE-HARDWARE APPLIANCETRANSCODING FOR LINEAR VIDEO DELIVERY

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Solution Spotlight

Hardware-based Transcoding for Optimal Linear Video Delivery

Today’s subscribers expect a wide array of premium channels

for their entertainment and information, whether they're

watching on the living room TV or using one of the many

devices at their ngertips. However, the dynamics of linear

bbroadcast video are much different from those of stored

content, especially when it comes to transcoding. Unlike

VoD and DVR applications, linear broadcasting places a

steady, heavy workload on the transcoder–24 hours a day,

7 days a week, 365 days a year. With the evolution from

standard denition (SD) to high denition (HD) to 4K and

Ultra HD (UHD), subscribers continue to demand the highest

qualiquality linear video experience and service providers must

continue to deliver it.

The Challenge: Efficiently Delivering the Optimal Linear Video Experience

Service providers are tasked with delivering a premier quality of experience (QoE) in a cost-effective

way while not exceeding the available capacity within their networks. This strategy is critical to

attracting and retaining subscribers and supporting the overall business model. The right transcoding

technology is the key to being able to run channels at lower bit rates, especially with HEVC. For a given

bit bit rate, service providers have to deliver a better, crisper picture with no artifacts to meet today’s

subscriber expectations. They can also decide to use the added capacity that results from lower bit

rates to free up bandwidth for other high-demand services. Most likely, service providers will end up

using both approaches to varying degrees, depending on their needs at that time.

ARRIS Solution: The Best of Both Hardware and Software

As service providers evaluate the solutions that best address this challenge, there is an industry trend toward a virtualized transcoding architecture. This approach leverages pools of general-purpose servers

ththat run video compression software. However, when it comes to the steady-state demands of live linear

1

• Less power and space required

• Improved video compression efficiency

• Increased reliability

• Higher quality of experience

• Lower TCO

BENEFITS FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

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broadcasting, hardware-based systems work

best. Their specialized processors are nely

tuned for the computations involved in video

processing, providing the consistently high

performance it takes to transcode high

quality video in real time. The ME-7000 takes

adadvantage of hardware-based compression

but capitalizes on software systems to provide

exibility and rapid time to market, combining

the best of both worlds.

ARRIS uses a dedicated encoding chip

designed for video compression with special

rmware for high quality broadcast video. The

ME-7000 also distME-7000 also distributes software processes

across multiple CPUs so there are no bottle-

neck issues, even with hundreds of channels.

This approach enables service providers to

efficiently scale up or down as needed.

In addition to its performance capabilities,

the ME-7000 consumes less power and space, resulting in a reduction in operational expenses. Due

tto the low space consumption, the service provider isn’t forced to put the equipment in a data center.

It can reside in a head-end facility which gives the service provider more control and therefore, better

performance reliability. Service outages or impairments are more easily and more quickly managed

with an integrated, hybrid hardware/software system than having to coordinate across different

hardware and software application supplier and across the video and IT groups within the service

provider’s organization.

The Opportunity: Delivering High Quality Linear Video at a Lower Cost

BBecause the ME-7000 uses an integrated hardware/software approach that best supports the steady, heavy workload of linear broadcasting, it has a long lifecycle of more than ve years.

ME-7000Pure software alternative

Power Costs

$47,304

$157,680

A Savings of

70% 12

364

5123

50%improvement

Modules/Bladesper Chassis

56% less

$1,575,000

$3,585,000

Software Costs

THE RIGHT SOLUTIONFOR IMPROVED ROI

AVC Costs over a Five-year Period (300 Channels)

Power Costs

$69,379

$441,504

A Savings of

84% 12

364

512

67%improvement

Source: ARRIS TCO Model

Modules/Bladesper Chassis

77% less

$2,310,000

$10,038,000

Software Costs

HEVC Costs over a Five-year Period (300 Channels)

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Software-based systems that use COTS (common off the shelf) server hardware have to be routinely replaced about every two years due to early failure of components, such as the CPU, for the live linear broadcast use case. This has a signicant impact on replacement costs and total cost of ownership (TCO). Contributing to the lower TCO of the ME-7000, service providers can reduce power expenditures and real estate space which yield additional cost savings.

The low TCO combined with the ability to deliver higher quality video at lower bit rates and the exibility to free up network capacity, puts service providers in a strong position to keep pace with linear video's ever-evolving needs and efficiently respond to subscriber demand.

For more information on the ME-7000,please visit http://www.arris.com/products/me-7000