Headend in the Sky
Encyclopedia
Headend in the Sky is Comcast's
satellite multiplex
service that provides cable channels to cable television
operations.
At a traditional cable television headend
, multitudes of satellite dish
es and antenna
s are used to grab cable stations from dozens of communication satellites. In contrast, HITS combines cable stations into multiplex
signals on just a few satellites; cable television companies can then pull in hundreds of channels at the local headend with relatively little equipment; the HITS feed effectively replaces the more complex traditional headend operations.
HITS was founded in 1994 and its namesake product is commonly recognized as the pioneer of digital television
in the United States. HITS was launched by TCI
before their later 1999 merger with the old AT&T
, then became a part of Comcast
in 2002 as part their purchase of AT&T Broadband
. The HITS headquarters in Centennial, Colorado
, formerly known as the National Digital Television Center, is now called the Comcast Media Center.
As of 2010, HITS offers 6 standard-definition multiplexes
on SES Americom's
SES-1, 12 standard-definition multiplexes and 8 HD
multiplexes on AMC-18, 1 standard-definition multiplex on AMC-10, and 1 standard definition multiplex on Intelsat
's Galaxy 17. As of 2010, HITS delivers more than 280 digitally compressed video and audio television programming signals to more than 2000 cable operation sites across the US.
On January 30, 2007, HITS introduced HITS Quantum, which launched later in the year. HITS also announced the shutdown of its older HITS2Home service which allowed small cable companies to provide customers with digital service through satellite dishes at each home because they needed to move their signals off of the Ku satellite band to the C satellite band because too many cable operators were complaining about rain fade and providing the HITS2Home customers with the larger dishes for C band was impractical.
As of January 1, 2011 HITS2Home service became available to home users via two third party vendors Satellite Receivers Ltd (SRL) and Skyvision. The home user is responsible for obtaining and maintaining their own C Band satellite dish and Motorola DSR-922, DSR-905, DSR-920, or DSR-410 satellite receiver.
The Indian Government on November 12, 2009 approved guidelines for Headend In The Sky (HITS) broadcasting service. The approval comes several months after the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry had first sent the HITS policy draft to the Cabinet.
HITS players have been allowed a foreign direct investment (FDI) of up to 74%, on par with the telecom sector. They can operate on either C band or Ku Band (till now reserved for direct-to-home).
YOU Broadband & Cable India Pvt Ltd, a Citigroup owned broadband player and MSO will soon announce its plans regarding HITS.
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
satellite multiplex
Multiplex (TV)
A multiplex or mux is a group of TV channels that are mixed together for broadcast over a digital TV channel and separated out again by the receiver...
service that provides cable channels to cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
operations.
At a traditional cable television headend
Cable television headend
A cable television headend is a master facility for receiving television signals for processing and distribution over a cable television system. The headend facility is normally unstaffed and surrounded by some type of security fencing and is typically a building or large shed housing electronic...
, multitudes of satellite dish
Satellite dish
A satellite dish is a dish-shaped type of parabolic antenna designed to receive microwaves from communications satellites, which transmit data transmissions or broadcasts, such as satellite television.-Principle of operation:...
es and antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
s are used to grab cable stations from dozens of communication satellites. In contrast, HITS combines cable stations into multiplex
Multiplex (TV)
A multiplex or mux is a group of TV channels that are mixed together for broadcast over a digital TV channel and separated out again by the receiver...
signals on just a few satellites; cable television companies can then pull in hundreds of channels at the local headend with relatively little equipment; the HITS feed effectively replaces the more complex traditional headend operations.
HITS was founded in 1994 and its namesake product is commonly recognized as the pioneer of digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
in the United States. HITS was launched by TCI
Tele-Communications Inc.
Tele-Communications, Inc. or TCI was a cable television provider in the United States, for much of its history controlled by Bob Magness and John Malone....
before their later 1999 merger with the old AT&T
American Telephone & Telegraph
AT&T Corp., originally American Telephone and Telegraph Company, is an American telecommunications company that provides voice, video, data, and Internet telecommunications and professional services to businesses, consumers, and government agencies. AT&T is the oldest telecommunications company...
, then became a part of Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
in 2002 as part their purchase of AT&T Broadband
AT&T Broadband
AT&T Broadband was the name of AT&T's cable operations, which were composed of the assets of TCI and MediaOne, Prime Cable, as well as two Comcast cable systems AT&T acquired later in a system swap. Formed in 1999, AT&T Broadband was the largest provider of cable television services...
. The HITS headquarters in Centennial, Colorado
Centennial, Colorado
The city of Centennial is a Home Rule City located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States, and part of the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area. The city was to have a total population of 100,377 in 2010 census. Centennial is the tenth-most populous municipality in the state of Colorado and its...
, formerly known as the National Digital Television Center, is now called the Comcast Media Center.
As of 2010, HITS offers 6 standard-definition multiplexes
Multiplex (TV)
A multiplex or mux is a group of TV channels that are mixed together for broadcast over a digital TV channel and separated out again by the receiver...
on SES Americom's
SES Americom
SES Americom was a major commercial satellite operator based in the United States. Formerly RCA Americom and GE Americom, the company became one of the principal parts of SES S.A.....
SES-1, 12 standard-definition multiplexes and 8 HD
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
multiplexes on AMC-18, 1 standard-definition multiplex on AMC-10, and 1 standard definition multiplex on Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
's Galaxy 17. As of 2010, HITS delivers more than 280 digitally compressed video and audio television programming signals to more than 2000 cable operation sites across the US.
Services
HITS offers the following services:- HITS Quantum, which expands the legacy HITS channel lineup for digital systems, packaging in additional HDTVHigh-definition televisionHigh-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
channels and introducing several advanced services such as video on demandVideo on demandVideo on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
and other interactiveInteractive televisionInteractive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...
applications. - HITS Quick Take+, which provides an even lower-cost but still digital service for small cable systems.
- VOD In a Box, which provides a low-cost, remote, access to a video on demand library operated by Comcast.
- HITS AxIS, which provides a solution to launching EBIF and/or tru2wayTru2WayTru2way is a brand name for interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network, for example interactive program guides, interactive ads, games, chat, web browsing, and t-commerce. The brand also appears as “'” and is used to market cable services, applications, and devices...
based applications on set-top boxes. - HITS Broadband, which provides hardware solutions for starting broadband operations.
On January 30, 2007, HITS introduced HITS Quantum, which launched later in the year. HITS also announced the shutdown of its older HITS2Home service which allowed small cable companies to provide customers with digital service through satellite dishes at each home because they needed to move their signals off of the Ku satellite band to the C satellite band because too many cable operators were complaining about rain fade and providing the HITS2Home customers with the larger dishes for C band was impractical.
As of January 1, 2011 HITS2Home service became available to home users via two third party vendors Satellite Receivers Ltd (SRL) and Skyvision. The home user is responsible for obtaining and maintaining their own C Band satellite dish and Motorola DSR-922, DSR-905, DSR-920, or DSR-410 satellite receiver.
The Indian Government on November 12, 2009 approved guidelines for Headend In The Sky (HITS) broadcasting service. The approval comes several months after the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry had first sent the HITS policy draft to the Cabinet.
HITS players have been allowed a foreign direct investment (FDI) of up to 74%, on par with the telecom sector. They can operate on either C band or Ku Band (till now reserved for direct-to-home).
YOU Broadband & Cable India Pvt Ltd, a Citigroup owned broadband player and MSO will soon announce its plans regarding HITS.
External links
- Comcast Media Center — official website