Scripps Networks Selects Cisco’s Bandwidth-Saving HD Encoding and Transcoding Technology

ATLANTA, GA.- Cisco today announced that Scripps Networks’ leading lifestyle brands HGTV HD and Food Network HD will use Cisco infrastructure equipment to transition from Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-2 high-definition (HD) video delivery to MPEG Advanced Video Coding (AVC) HD distribution. The new advanced Cisco® MPEG AVC HD Encoder, Cisco Advanced Receiver Transcoder and Cisco Digital Video Broadcast (DVB)-S2 modulation platform will help Scripps Networks expand the number of channels it can deliver over a single satellite transponder by delivering the bandwidth-saving capabilities of both AVC encoding and DVB-S2 modulation.

In addition to converting the incoming MPEG AVC HD signals to MPEG-2 HD for reception by the installed base of MPEG-2 set-tops already deployed, the Cisco Advanced Receiver Transcoder (Model D9858) supports the delivery of two MPEG AVC HD channels in a single device, reducing the number of receivers needed by 50 percent when compared to single-channel equipment.

“This is a major technology inflection point for Scripps Networks to help drive the expansion of our programming to support the HD-rich video environment our affiliates and their customers want,” said Mike Donovan, senior vice president, engineering and distribution technology, Scripps Networks. “Using the most advanced MPEG AVC, transcoding and DVB-S2 network technologies from Cisco enriches our leadership position in the marketplace and prepares us to respond quickly and efficiently to the rapidly changing video environment.”

The satellite bandwidth efficiency supported by the Cisco MPEG AVC HD Encoder (Model D9054) and new equipment that incorporates DVB-S2 modulation will provide Scripps Networks with the ability to deliver HGTV and Food Network plus an estimated six to 10 additional channels over the satellite bandwidth now used for the two programs. Cisco is providing logistics and shipping services to help Scripps Networks’ affiliates acquire the new Cisco Advanced Receiver Transcoder for reception of the new incoming MPEG AVC HD encoded signals.

In addition to transcoding two MPEG AVC HD programs to two MPEG-2 HD programs to support the Scripps Networks’ application, the versatile, award-winning, space-saving one-rack-unit Model D9858’s dual-channel output can also support additional down-conversion transcoding services: two MPEG-2 HD to two MPEG-2 standard definition (SD); two MPEG AVC HD to two MPEG-2 SD; one MPEG AVC HD to one MPEG-2 HD and one MPEG-2 SD; and two MPEG AVC SD to two MPEG-2 SD.
About Scripps Networks

Scripps Networks is comprised of the lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network and country music network Great American Country (GAC). Scripps is the dominant media and marketing company in the home, food and lifestyle categories, developing content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming is complemented with an array of broadband video, social media areas and e-commerce components on companion Web sites that attract more than 15.5 million unique visitors each month.

In addition, Scripps Networks has launched HGTV and Food Network in high definition and is aggressively developing its emerging media platforms for broadband and video on demand. Scripps Networks also acquired popular recipe Web site Recipezaar.com and Incando Corp. in order to deepen its user-generated content capabilities. Scripps Networks’ brands collectively are available in more than 175 countries and territories on all seven continents. They also are distributed to more than 1,000 outlets on U.S. military bases and U.S. embassies around the world via the American Forces Radio and Television Service.

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville and San Francisco, Scripps Networks is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks and interactive media. Scripps operates daily and community newspapers in 17 markets, 10 broadcast TV stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media, Shopzilla.com and uSwitch.