By Hyungouk Sheen, General Manager, CNW, South Korea
Mr Hyungouk Sheen works closely with all major broadcast networks in South Korea to deploy leading IP audio solutions for major broadcast events and infrastructure upgrades. He is also a Tieline dealer.
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) is the national broadcaster in South Korea and a leading television and radio broadcaster. I have worked closely with KBS and Host Broadcasters in delivering cutting edge IP commentary and communications solutions for major events in recent years, including the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the 2018 ISSF World Shooting Championships.
In 2022, KBS approached me seeking a new IP communications solution to replace their Telco-provided 4-wire comms system used between OB vans and studios at KBS headquarters. This 4-wire system required an additional control room in KBS’ headquarters and a reservation was required every time prior to use. The solution was also expensive and impossible for KBS engineers to manage independently, which added a layer of risk. Therefore KBS decided to replace the existing 4-wire system with an audio codec solution using IP over the public internet.
KBS purchased six Bridge-IT codecs and a 16 channel Gateway. The Bridge-IT XTRAs were installed in six KBS OB vans, including a high-end KBS OB truck. Each Bridge-IT XTRA dials into the Gateway in order to create a very high quality, low latency connection over the public internet to the KBS studios. The Gateway is installed in the Network Quality Control room and is connected to an RTS OMI intercom system using AES67 and Dante in order to send and receive IP audio sources. Communications are then routed throughout the KBS network as required.
Each OB van is configured to connect using Music PLUS encoding in stereo at 128Kbps with a 150ms fixed jitter buffer. The Gateway is capable of receiving up to 8 stereo streams has a fixed jitter buffer of 250ms, which works very reliably for internet IP communications applications.
Testing of the new IP communications system has been a great success and KBS is very satisfied with the updated technology solution. KBS plans to fully implement the IP audio codec transition by next year. There is also scope for KBS to expand the system to other OB vehicles in their fleet over time.
Want to know more?
For more information on Gateway and other Tieline codecs visit www.tieline.com/products or contact Tieline sales:
- For USA, Canada & Latin America contact: sales@tieline.com
- For Australia and International: info@tieline.com
(“KBS Deploys Tieline Codecs for IP Intercom Solutions” first published in InBroadcast Magazine, September 2023)
