beIN Asia Pacific invests in Appear’s X platform

beIN Asia Pacific has partnered with Appear to modernise its broadcast infrastructure and enhance its international contribution capabilities.

beIN selected Appear’s X platform for its performance, reduced ecological footprint, and competitive pricing, says Appear.

The broadcaster has deployed Appear’s high-capacity X20 encoder as part of a major broadcast feed distribution project. This dedicated system (configured in a 1+1 redundancy setup) handles 44 live feeds, drawing from a mix of IP and SDI sources.

It is specifically designed to support services for non-traditional broadcast and external editing environments, providing beIN with “the versatility to address changing business needs with ease,” says Appear.

The X20 platform operates separately from beIN’s OTT and playout services to overcome any operational limitations and capacity constraints experienced when shared encoders handled diverse workflows.

The system also supports broadcast features like 1080i to 1080p conversion with logo insertion and is hardware 4K ready.

beIN has also implemented Appear’s compact 1RU X10 chassis to establish a dedicated contribution link between its facilities in Doha and Singapore.

This deployment features a 1+1 setup for 4 contribution feeds, utilising AVC encoders, and marks a transition from traditional fibre to secure reliable transport (SRT) over the public internet.

This move to SRT provides beIN with advantages including lower costs, greater flexibility, and faster provisioning compared to conventional leased fibre circuits.

Appear’s hardware-accelerated SRT capabilities ensure reliable, broadcast-quality video transport even over less predictable networks, says Appear.

“Our investment in Appear’s X Platform is a pivotal step in our strategic evolution towards an IP-centric broadcast infrastructure,” said Sabil Salim, vice president, media technology and operations at beIN Asia Pacific. “The X20 platform provides the dedicated capacity and quality we need for our broadcast partners and remote editing platform, distinctly separate from our OTT services and playout. Coupled with the X10’s efficient SRT contribution, Appear delivers the performance, agility, and cost-efficiency that are paramount for our  operations, allowing us to overcome previous limitations and innovate faster.”

“beIN ASIA PACIFIC is a true innovator in sports broadcasting, and its precise requirements for dedicated broadcast distribution highlights the versatility and power of the Appear X Platform,” said Shakunt Malhotra, vice president APAC at Appear. “We are proud to provide beIN with high-density, energy-efficient solutions that not only meet its current needs for specialized broadcast workflows and robust contribution, but also position the company for future growth in the dynamic media landscape.”

“Our X Platform is designed to empower broadcasters like beIN to achieve greater agility, flexibility, and significant cost efficiencies as they navigate the transition to IP,” added Thomas Bostrøm Jørgensen, CEO at Appear. “By enabling beIN to move away from traditional, less flexible infrastructures, we are helping it to optimize its content delivery and acquisition workflows, reinforcing its leadership in the industry.”