Alaskan PBS Station Chooses Tektronix Sentry to Ensure Picture and Audio Quality for Viewers

BEAVERTON, Ore., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tektronix (www.tektronix.com), the market leader in broadcast video test, monitoring and analysis solutions, today announced that the company's Sentry® video quality monitor has been selected by KAKM TV, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) station serving Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, to help ensure that its programming is broadcast with exceptional quality. 

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After evaluating several solutions, KAKM TV selected Sentry for its comprehensive approach to ensuring its viewers always enjoy the best possible viewing experience. Sentry's advanced monitoring capabilities enable the early detection and diagnosis of video and audio errors, which can help broadcasters like KAKM TV to fix the underlying issues.  

KAKM TV has deployed Sentrys at is main broadcast facility in Anchorage where via satellite it ingests PBS programming in both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD).  Sentrys monitor the ingested content to identify any video or audio errors before broadcast.  Additional Sentrys have been installed at KAKM TV's transmission sites in Fairbanks and Juneau. At these locations Sentrys monitor for audio and video errors that may have occurred during transport from Anchorage by fiber.

Sentry's ability to continually monitor all of KAKM TV's programming has already paid dividends as the station was able to diagnose a serious recurring issue that its previous monitoring solution was unable to identify.

"As a viewer supported station we always strive to provide the highest quality programming content and to deliver it to our viewers with the best possible picture and sound quality," said Bob Wyatt, Chief Technology Officer.  "With Sentrys deployed at key locations we're able to proactively ensure quality by keeping a round-the-clock eye on all of our programming, which is something we couldn't do before."

"Like all PBS stations, KAKM TV prides itself on service excellence and deploying Sentry as their content monitoring solution demonstrates their dedication to broadcasting programming with the best possible picture and sound quality," said Eben Jenkins, general manager, Video Product Line, Tektronix.  "Sentry's proven ability to identify the most elusive video and audio errors is ideal for broadcasters like KAKM TV which view quality as never ending commitment."

Sentry is the industry's premier content monitoring solution, proven in deployments with top broadcasters and cable operators worldwide. 

About Sentry
Sentry is an award-winning line of comprehensive content monitoring solutions for cable, telecom, IPTV and other video service providers. Sentry enables the early detection and diagnosis of video and audio issues (i.e., video freeze, macro-blocking, loss of audio, etc.) whenever or wherever they occur in the network, so service providers can deliver services with excellent quality, thus ensuring an optimal QoE for subscribers.  Sentry accomplishes this insight through its unique combination of an unprecedented visibility into network anomalies at the IP and content layers, scalability to monitor every program in the network, and its real-time, 24/7 operation. 

For more information about Sentry visit http://www.tek.com/video-quality-monitors or call 310.227.8620.

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About Tektronix
For more than sixty five years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test equipment for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at www.tektronix.com.

Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Tektronix