Telecom Italia Media Broadcast (TIMB) has launched Italy’s first HD Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service, carrying live 3D content, through its LA7 channel brand.

Using the Thomson Video Networks ViBE EM3000 to achieve the required picture quality for 3D, TIMB’s infrastructure for the new service also includes Thomson’s NetProcessor transport stream processor and XMS Network Management Systems. ‘For this flagship 3D service, we chose the best possible encoding solution so that our viewers would experience outstanding clarity,’ says Crescenzo Micheli, CTO of TIMB. ‘The EM3000 integrates with the rest of the Thomson equipment installed across our network to provide very efficient delivery of this exceptional image quality.’

With Thomson’s video compression architecture, HD content can be achieved at bit rates as low as 4Mbps. TIMB’s ViBE EM3000 HD installation is integrated with the NetProcessor transport stream processor and XMS Network Management System. Combined, these components form a complete and efficient system, allowing broadcasters to deliver more channels within the same fixed-bandwidth satellite or terrestrial connection.

Available on DTT and digital satellite, TIMB owns Italy’s third major network, serving digital terrestrial audiences nationwide with news, sports, and entertainment programming. TIMB’s strategy for the channel has seen major investment in infrastructure, and the recruitment of Italy’s most popular anchor as news editor-in-chief in a push for audience share.

‘It is always exciting to contribute to a pioneering event in broadcasting,’ said Eric Louvet, VP of Worldwide Sales & Services at Thomson Video Networks. ‘LA7’s 3D launch is another welcome milestone in the channel’s consistent growth, and in Thomson’s excellent relationship with TIMB.’

More: www.thomson-networks.com