Harmonic Powers NESN’s Next-Gen Sports Streaming

The New England Sports Network (NESN) is transforming its live sports broadcasting capabilities through a strategic partnership with Harmonic, deploying a cutting-edge primary distribution solution to deliver exceptional video quality and advanced advertising features. This collaboration, facilitated by Astound Business Solutions, enables NESN to reach millions of households with reliable, high-definition streams while creating new revenue streams through targeted ad insertion.

Kenny Elcock, NESN’s Vice President of Technology, emphasized the platform’s impact, stating, “Harmonic’s XOS media processor gives us a dependable backbone for distributing sports content across our affiliate network. This software-based solution not only supports our immediate operational needs but also allows for future expansion and feature integration. Its edge-based ad insertion technology is particularly transformative, opening up significant new monetization possibilities.”

The Harmonic system allows NESN to securely distribute live sports programming to a diverse range of affiliates, including cable operators, telecommunications providers, and streaming platforms. It leverages both managed IP networks and the public internet to ensure broad accessibility. Central to this setup is the XOS Advanced Media Processor, which uses AI-driven EyeQ™ encoding to reduce bitrates by as much as 50 percent without sacrificing visual fidelity. This efficiency supports formats up to 4K HDR, providing viewers with a crisp, immersive experience. The ProStream® X stream processor further enhances reliability by using the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol to distribute content across all affiliate endpoints.

A key innovation in this deployment is the use of Harmonic’s XOS Edge IRDs, which enable localized advertising to be inserted at the network edge. By processing advertisements closer to the audience, NESN improves the efficiency of ad delivery and stands to increase advertising revenue substantially. This approach minimizes latency and allows for more relevant, region-specific marketing.

Harmonic’s DMS X Distribution Management System complements the XOS processor by offering centralized control over critical functions. It manages ad insertion workflows, supports program localization, and handles remote playout operations. The system also enables the integration of HTML graphics, video clips, and custom playlists, while providing comprehensive monitoring of edge devices to maintain consistent performance across the distribution network.

Astound Business Solutions played an instrumental role in the rapid implementation of this new platform, helping NESN launch its upgraded distribution system in just two months. Astound supplies the underlying distribution network, manages video services end-to-end, and conducts ongoing network surveillance to ensure operational stability and service quality.

Gil Rudge, Senior Vice President of Solutions and Americas Sales for Harmonic’s Video Business, commented on the partnership, saying, “NESN stands as one of the premier regional sports networks in the country, and we are honored to support their technological evolution. Completing this deployment in such a short timeframe highlights the effective teamwork between NESN, Astound, and Harmonic. Our solution is designed to provide sports fans with outstanding viewing experiences while driving revenue growth for the network.”

Harmonic will be presenting its primary distribution solutions at the upcoming NAB Show New York.

(Source: Streaming Media)