Exclusive interview with award-winning teleport STN in Slovenia
STN’s teleport based in Slovenia relies on PlayBox Technology EU’s (PBT EU) bespoke turnkey solutions to meet highly complex challenges.
Find out what STN’s Technical Director Jurij Blazin has to say about what PBT EU do, including his views on cloud computing, PBT EU’s services and EXEcutor™ broadcast server solutions, and how it all fits into their vision to meet client demand.
Jurij Blazin, Technical Director at STN
Q: Outline some of the challenges your company faces that PBT EU solves.
A: “STN’s teleport in Slovenia currently handles several hundred TV channels being received from and transmitted to, all parts of the globe via DTH platforms in Europe, Middle East, Africa and North America and strategic partners for Asia and Latin America. Many of our channels are simply turned around from satellite, fibre or public IP connection. However, a significant number of customers have a need to use our playout services, where they can upload their content, add graphical detail and set a playlist schedule for transmission. We’ve seen significant growth for playout facilities in recent years and STN offers several levels of service dependent on the customers’ requirement. Finding the right equipment to meet their needs at a cost that works within their business case requirements is always a challenge. PBT EU helps us to do just that, matching capability with affordability and offering the best opportunity for our customers to grow their business.”
Q: Expand briefly on how PBT EU’s turnkey services bring advantages to your business.
A: “From a technical point of view, the PBT EU EXEcutor™ broadcast server equipment is easy to install and operate for our clients and we already have quite a number co-located in our facility. Also, PBT EU provides our customers with a training course which serves to enable them to come to terms with the operation of the equipment in a very short time. This enables users to work much quicker with our service offering. For example, one of our clients uses more than 25 units for their SD and HD playout systems with virtually no interaction required from our operational team on a day to day basis. The system is fully operated remotely by the client with STN purely providing hands and eyes for support.”
Q: What made you choose PBT EU in the first place?
A: “Many of STN’s clients are based around the Middle East and PBT EU is exceptionally well known amongst that community. By listening to our clients and their requirements we introduced them to the PBT EU’s EXEcutor™ broadcasting product line. Although other playout systems are very capable, they didn’t always match the business case requirements of our customers – PBT EU did though! STN received great support from PBT EU and its distributors in terms of delivery times and ongoing support.”
Q: From your viewpoint what makes PBT EU stand out from other companies?
A: “Like all teleports around the world, STN is a 24/7 operation. It’s absolutely vital to us, our customers (and their customers) that we have a full-time support when it is needed. STN delivers services globally which means that the business day changes from client to client. Not only is it important to establish the service easily and swiftly, but ongoing technical support must be available at all times. PBT EU provides this for us.”
Q: What are your thoughts on cloud services and also the pros and cons of using turnkey services compared to software/hardware-only solutions?
A: “There is no doubt that cloud services are coming. STN are only too aware of the ‘soft’ nature of services. But I’ve heard it said that the cloud is simply a computer being used somewhere else. In many ways, that’s what we bring through the physical equipment at our teleport, to our customers – it appears just like a cloud service to them. Of course, from this question’s point of view you’re interested in the actual processing of the information in the cloud and of course STN is already prepared to manage such approaches. We do foresee a future where physical equipment is still required but any short term expansion requirements might be covered by the cloud as an interim service. To STN, turnkey will mean both physical and cloud offerings for the future.”
MCR
Q: Any other thoughts?
A: “We have a great relationship with the PBT EU team, from the manufacturing to the distribution. We always take the opportunity to discuss forward projects and to see what the best solution might be for the customers. It’s great to work with such a flexible and collaborative team.”
Since its inception in 2004, STN, the Satellite Telecommunications Network, has significantly grown to become a leader amongst teleports on a global scale. STN is a provider of solutions for broadcast over satellite and celebrated for its quality of services that include multiple solutions, satellites and platforms and is a trusted partner of choice to hundreds of channels to date. Its specialty is tailoring services to ideally suit individual customer’s requirements, making it a single state-of-the-art emporium. STN’s range of expertise is diverse, enabling the company to facilitate single channel start-ups as well as transmit multiple top-tier direct-to-home satellite platforms. STN has earned a reputation that is punctuated by reliability, trustworthiness, high quality and an unrivalled turnaround time. STN is able to maximise the broadcasting possibilities by utilising the most effective technology available on the market. It is STN’s cutting-edge technical infrastructure that affords complete peace of mind, as reliable, uninterrupted high-quality services are ensured.
Images Courtesy STN
About STN
Since its foundation in 2004, STN, the Satellite Telecommunications Network, Slovenia, has significantly grown to become a leading global teleport. With world-class facilities that elevate industry standards, it provides a vast array of modern broadcast solutions. STN’s clients are from all around the world, and receive superior quality services that include multiple solutions, satellites and platforms. By using the most effective technology on the market, STN is able to maximize the broadcasting possibilities and deliver cost-effective solutions. STN serves regional markets in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Visit them at http://www.stn.eu
About PBT EU
Industry-leading manufacturer of the innovative EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers and global systems integration specialist of broadcast, multimedia and production hardware and software solutions, PBT EU brings a fresh and flexible approach appealing to both partners and customers alike. The dynamic company offers an unparalleled bespoke service that meets its customers’ specific requirements head-on across broadcasters, production and post-production organisations. Visit them at www.pbteu.com
About EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers
The EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers also provide a customisable, robust and reliable backbone for broadcast and production installation. By providing facilities for ingest and media management, titling and graphics, as well as playout and scheduling, the EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers can provide a complete "TV channel-in-a-box" solution, or be configured to provide any combination of component services using world-renowned PlayBox software, to enable very efficient, scalable and flexible production pipelines to be created. These incorporate traditional, streaming and hybrid workflow models, even the cloud and private cloud. Content can achieve output into a multitude of IP-streaming formats or via traditional SDI connections. Resolutions from SD to 4K are all supported, including the ability to stream multiple channels simultaneously. The EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers are also designed to interface seamlessly with many types of routers, and can be activated with LTC timecodes and GPI triggers.
PBT EU Media Contacts
Alexander Stoyanov
PlayBox Technology EU
marketing@pbteu.com
+359 2 439 21 90
www.pbteu.com
STN’s teleport based in Slovenia relies on PlayBox Technology EU’s (PBT EU) bespoke turnkey solutions to meet highly complex challenges.
Find out what STN’s Technical Director Jurij Blazin has to say about what PBT EU do, including his views on cloud computing, PBT EU’s services and EXEcutor™ broadcast server solutions, and how it all fits into their vision to meet client demand.
Jurij Blazin, Technical Director at STN
Q: Outline some of the challenges your company faces that PBT EU solves.
A: “STN’s teleport in Slovenia currently handles several hundred TV channels being received from and transmitted to, all parts of the globe via DTH platforms in Europe, Middle East, Africa and North America and strategic partners for Asia and Latin America. Many of our channels are simply turned around from satellite, fibre or public IP connection. However, a significant number of customers have a need to use our playout services, where they can upload their content, add graphical detail and set a playlist schedule for transmission. We’ve seen significant growth for playout facilities in recent years and STN offers several levels of service dependent on the customers’ requirement. Finding the right equipment to meet their needs at a cost that works within their business case requirements is always a challenge. PBT EU helps us to do just that, matching capability with affordability and offering the best opportunity for our customers to grow their business.”
Q: Expand briefly on how PBT EU’s turnkey services bring advantages to your business.
A: “From a technical point of view, the PBT EU EXEcutor™ broadcast server equipment is easy to install and operate for our clients and we already have quite a number co-located in our facility. Also, PBT EU provides our customers with a training course which serves to enable them to come to terms with the operation of the equipment in a very short time. This enables users to work much quicker with our service offering. For example, one of our clients uses more than 25 units for their SD and HD playout systems with virtually no interaction required from our operational team on a day to day basis. The system is fully operated remotely by the client with STN purely providing hands and eyes for support.”
Q: What made you choose PBT EU in the first place?
A: “Many of STN’s clients are based around the Middle East and PBT EU is exceptionally well known amongst that community. By listening to our clients and their requirements we introduced them to the PBT EU’s EXEcutor™ broadcasting product line. Although other playout systems are very capable, they didn’t always match the business case requirements of our customers – PBT EU did though! STN received great support from PBT EU and its distributors in terms of delivery times and ongoing support.”
Q: From your viewpoint what makes PBT EU stand out from other companies?
A: “Like all teleports around the world, STN is a 24/7 operation. It’s absolutely vital to us, our customers (and their customers) that we have a full-time support when it is needed. STN delivers services globally which means that the business day changes from client to client. Not only is it important to establish the service easily and swiftly, but ongoing technical support must be available at all times. PBT EU provides this for us.”
Q: What are your thoughts on cloud services and also the pros and cons of using turnkey services compared to software/hardware-only solutions?
A: “There is no doubt that cloud services are coming. STN are only too aware of the ‘soft’ nature of services. But I’ve heard it said that the cloud is simply a computer being used somewhere else. In many ways, that’s what we bring through the physical equipment at our teleport, to our customers – it appears just like a cloud service to them. Of course, from this question’s point of view you’re interested in the actual processing of the information in the cloud and of course STN is already prepared to manage such approaches. We do foresee a future where physical equipment is still required but any short term expansion requirements might be covered by the cloud as an interim service. To STN, turnkey will mean both physical and cloud offerings for the future.”
MCR
Q: Any other thoughts?
A: “We have a great relationship with the PBT EU team, from the manufacturing to the distribution. We always take the opportunity to discuss forward projects and to see what the best solution might be for the customers. It’s great to work with such a flexible and collaborative team.”
Since its inception in 2004, STN, the Satellite Telecommunications Network, has significantly grown to become a leader amongst teleports on a global scale. STN is a provider of solutions for broadcast over satellite and celebrated for its quality of services that include multiple solutions, satellites and platforms and is a trusted partner of choice to hundreds of channels to date. Its specialty is tailoring services to ideally suit individual customer’s requirements, making it a single state-of-the-art emporium. STN’s range of expertise is diverse, enabling the company to facilitate single channel start-ups as well as transmit multiple top-tier direct-to-home satellite platforms. STN has earned a reputation that is punctuated by reliability, trustworthiness, high quality and an unrivalled turnaround time. STN is able to maximise the broadcasting possibilities by utilising the most effective technology available on the market. It is STN’s cutting-edge technical infrastructure that affords complete peace of mind, as reliable, uninterrupted high-quality services are ensured.
Images Courtesy STN
About STN
Since its foundation in 2004, STN, the Satellite Telecommunications Network, Slovenia, has significantly grown to become a leading global teleport. With world-class facilities that elevate industry standards, it provides a vast array of modern broadcast solutions. STN’s clients are from all around the world, and receive superior quality services that include multiple solutions, satellites and platforms. By using the most effective technology on the market, STN is able to maximize the broadcasting possibilities and deliver cost-effective solutions. STN serves regional markets in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Visit them at http://www.stn.eu
About PBT EU
Industry-leading manufacturer of the innovative EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers and global systems integration specialist of broadcast, multimedia and production hardware and software solutions, PBT EU brings a fresh and flexible approach appealing to both partners and customers alike. The dynamic company offers an unparalleled bespoke service that meets its customers’ specific requirements head-on across broadcasters, production and post-production organisations. Visit them at www.pbteu.com
About EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers
The EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers also provide a customisable, robust and reliable backbone for broadcast and production installation. By providing facilities for ingest and media management, titling and graphics, as well as playout and scheduling, the EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers can provide a complete "TV channel-in-a-box" solution, or be configured to provide any combination of component services using world-renowned PlayBox software, to enable very efficient, scalable and flexible production pipelines to be created. These incorporate traditional, streaming and hybrid workflow models, even the cloud and private cloud. Content can achieve output into a multitude of IP-streaming formats or via traditional SDI connections. Resolutions from SD to 4K are all supported, including the ability to stream multiple channels simultaneously. The EXEcutor™ Broadcast Servers are also designed to interface seamlessly with many types of routers, and can be activated with LTC timecodes and GPI triggers.
PBT EU Media Contacts
Alexander Stoyanov
PlayBox Technology EU
marketing@pbteu.com
+359 2 439 21 90
www.pbteu.com