Harmonic has announced that CentralCast, the primary centralized master control facility for U.S. public media, is significantly enhancing its media processing and video delivery capabilities. By integrating Harmonic’s XOS Advanced Media Processor, CentralCast is now delivering content to more than half of the U.S. public media viewership. This collaboration focuses on maintaining high video quality and reliability while drastically reducing the physical system footprint and lowering overall operational expenses. The transition to a more software-defined architecture allows CentralCast to support a growing number of PBS stations with increased agility.
Massive Scaling: CentralCast now supports more than 170 public media channels using Harmonic’s media processing technology.
Higher Channel Density: The XOS processor offers superior density compared to legacy platforms, reducing hardware requirements.
Operational Savings: Cloud-native software streamlines equipment needs, leading to lower power and cooling costs.
Bandwidth Optimization: Lower per-channel bitrates allow stations to add more services within fixed ATSC bandwidth limits.
Advanced Audio Handling: Support for automatic switching between 5.1 and 2.0 audio ensures a seamless viewer experience.
Rapid Deployment: Harmonic provided comprehensive professional services for configuration and testing to speed up implementation.
The integration of the XOS media processor allows CentralCast to unify all media processing and distribution functions, managing 176 transport streams from a centralized location. This software-defined approach is critical for public broadcasters who need to preserve local control of their branding and scheduling while benefiting from a shared master control model. By reducing the reliance on extensive physical hardware, the system embodies a modernized broadcast operation that is both scalable and sustainable.
One of the primary advantages for CentralCast is the ability to maintain pristine video quality while optimizing spectrum usage. The XOS processor enables stations to fit additional services into their existing bandwidth, a vital feature as public media expands its digital offerings. Furthermore, the specialized audio support handles complex requirements automatically, ensuring that transitions between different audio formats are invisible to the audience. This technical foundation ensures that member stations can meet evolving viewer expectations without a corresponding spike in overhead.
"We support a rapidly growing number of PBS stations. Partnering with Harmonic gives us a solid media processing foundation for easy scaling to meet the evolving needs of member stations," said Steve White, chief technology officer at CentralCast. "The unique design of the XOS media processor features a higher channel density than our previous encoding platform, lowering our operational costs while maintaining the pristine video quality our member stations expect."
As Harmonic prepares to showcase these advancements at the 2026 NAB Show, the partnership highlights a shift toward efficient, energy-conscious broadcast solutions. By delivering more services with less hardware, CentralCast is setting a new standard for public media distribution in the digital age.
About Harmonic
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in virtualized broadband and video delivery solutions, enables media companies and service providers to deliver ultra-high-quality video streaming and broadcast services to consumers globally. The company revolutionized broadband networking via the industry's first virtualized broadband solution, enabling operators to more flexibly deploy gigabit internet services to consumers' homes and mobile devices. Whether simplifying OTT video delivery via innovative cloud and software platforms, or powering the delivery of gigabit internet services, Harmonic is changing the way media companies and service providers monetize live and on-demand content on every screen.
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