How to become your own broadcaster

Just read a great article on David Hayne's Sixteen-Nine blog where he discussed a new solution for "micro-broadcasting" from a US company called West Pond Enterprises.  The company sells a technology that lets network operators broadcast video signals inside retail spaces and large facilities (think convention centers, arenas, and similar venues).

Up until now, remote content updates required a hard wire or WiFi connection and neither solution is ideal in large facilities.  

Laying out network cabling is expensive and once it's done you don't really want to move it around.  WiFi is much more flexible than cables but environmental factors can impact it's reliability.  Then there are the  potential security issues, interference from radio and electronic equipment...  The list goes on.

In many cases, IT folks don't want you near their networks.  They don't want your data to eat up their bandwidth and they certainly don't want their LAN exposed to security breaches. 

This is when a "white space" broadcast delivery system becomes interesting.

The system is designed to provide low-power transmission of a digital TV compatible signal over a limited area.

And it gets better...

• In many situations you only need a single digital signage player (meaning one software license and PC or other dedicated hardware) per location to feed multiple screens.
• You can use any TV screen with a digital tuner.

Pricing puts it between cabled installations and WiFi but when you factor the need for one PC and signage player license per site, you're looking at a very cost effective option.

As David says in his post, we've all be told consumer grade screens is a big no-no in this business and  most commercial screens lack a tuner but in some applications.  However I'm sure there is a retailer out there who would love to mount inexpensive digital TVs on top of their end-caps.  Not to mention QSR locations and other environments that are less than PC friendly.


photo credit: x-ray delta one via photopin cc