TANDBERG scores yet another video head-end deal as Horizon Chillicothe Telephone, an Ohio communications company, has selected the TANDBERG iPlex for a major expansion of the channel line-up for its pioneering TV over VDSL ATM network. Leveraging the high-density encoding, turnaround and transrating (bit rate reduction) capabilities of the TANDBERG iPlex video head-end, Horizon will expand its integrated voice, Internet and digital television service by adding more than 45 new video channels, in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD), for delivery to its video subscribers in Ohio.

The new TANDBERG Television solution will enable Horizon to add new high definition channels including The Outdoor Channel, Food Network, Starz, ESPN and National Geographic and standard definition channels via the video turnaround and transrating capabilities of the iPlex platform. Horizon will also replace the video processing on more than 20 existing 130 SD channels from its legacy provider with MPEG-2 encoding and transrating from TANDBERG Television.

The TANDBERG iPlex video head-end is a 1RU (rack unit) compact solution designed specifically for regional distribution, headend expansion and smaller-scale IPTV deployments. It provides a cost-effective video turnaround solution for telcos looking to deliver high definition programming from primary sources or aggregators for re-broadcast over IP or ATM networks without the need for decoding and re-encoding.

"TANDBERG Television’s compact, multi-function head-end system supports our existing platform and provides us with the flexibility and scalability to cost-effectively expand our service offering," said Ed McKell, vice president of business development for Horizon Chillicothe Telephone. "We have invested in an advanced VDSL network to ensure that we can deliver high-quality multi-channel, television service and add other exciting services like HD programming for our subscribers to enhance their television-viewing experience."

"Horizon Chillicothe Telephone was an early pioneer of telco TV in the United States, and we are honored to be selected by such an innovative company to supply the next generation of IPTV video headend technology, including HD, for delivering more advanced services to its subscribers," said Jim Olson, Executive Vice President, TANDBERG Television, Inc.