SkyConnect
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Skyconnect was a startup originally in downtown Boulder, CO that was working on a cable ad insertion product using satellite connectivity to distribute the individual ads to the headends or hubsites. Hence, the name Skyconnect as the ads were distributed via satellite as there was little terrestrial connectivity. At that time most cable ad insertion was based on analog video and used Umatic or VHS tape machines typically with a controller from Channelmatic. Companies such as Seachange and Digital Equipment Corporation had begun using computers to store and play digital video and SkyConnect started working on a system to do that as well. The files were digital video but were converted back to analog for ad insertion. In 1996 DEC convinced SkyConnect to become the sole distributor of its' Digital Ad Insertion (DAI) product based on the DEC Alpha processor. This system also used SCSI MPEG decoders from Vela and switches from Digital Video Communications (DVC). At this time the company had moved to a location at 63rd and Lookout road in Boulder.
SkyConnect eventually took over Development of the DAI product and developed an integrated MPEG decoder and analog switch with DVC called the MDS420 using the Alcor and Maverick AlphaStation finally settling on the AS800 for the largest amount of shipments. Working with DVC they then developed the MDS410 cost optimized decoder and the MDS480 that had 4 decoders that drove a matrix switch for 8 channels.
SkyConnect developed a management system for DAI called SkyVision that handled having multiple distributed headends managed from a common GUI. It managed,
- importing and sending schedules out to the headends
- Encoding ads from video to MPEG2
- monitoring and billing ad playback
With newly announced digital video platforms for cable from General Instrument and Scientific Atlanta, SkyConnect had to transition from Digital in to Analog video to Digital in to Digital video. SkyConnect contributed to the SMPTE 312M standard for splicing and signaling MPEG2 content. They then transitioned that work to SCTE assisting with the SCTE 35 standard. They worked with a company in Santa Cruz CA called Cogent who had developed a PCI card that allowed video to be streamed with the new DVB-ASI standard. They also worked with Imedia (acquired by Terayon) to develop a server-splicer interface between the SkyConnect server and the Imedia splicer. The first demonstration of Digital in to Digital MPEG2 splicing was done at the Western Show in Anaheim, CA in 1997 (Need to check this year) and was later deployed to the (MediaOne/ATT?) headend in Los Angeles. SkyConnect contributed the Server/Splicer interface to SCTE which eventually become the SCTE 30 standard.
SkyConnect was then interested in entering the cable Video On Demand market and started to partner with nCube and developed the management software that was deployed to the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.
SkyConnect then merged with nCube, which then merged with CCor, Arris and eventually CommScope.
References[edit]
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