DirecTV is modernising its US direct-to-home platform with Harmonic’s VOS Media Software, as the operator looks to reduce costs and streamline linear channel delivery.
Harmonic said its cloud-native software will power DirecTV’s playout-to-delivery workflow, replacing siloed systems with a unified software-based platform running in the operator’s private data centre.
The system covers ingest, playout, ad insertion, branding, encoding and statistical multiplexing for satellite distribution of linear channels.
DirecTV said the move will simplify operations and create a more scalable foundation for its nationwide DTH service, while also improving monetisation through support for ad insertion across premium linear and occasional-use channels, including live events and pay-per-view programming.
Jeffrey Seto, vice president of satellite and software engineering at DirecTV, said continuing to work with Harmonic is critical to delivering high-quality entertainment experiences, adding that the software-based platform helps centralise key functions across the video chain.
Gil Rudge, senior vice president of solutions and Americas sales for Harmonic’s video business, said the deployment positions DirecTV to deliver strong video quality while minimising bandwidth use and operational costs.
The deal extends the long-running relationship between the two companies as pay TV operators continue shifting core broadcast workflows towards software-based architectures.
