How we receive TV

TV distribution itself can come in many different shapes and sizes, but there are three main
types of delivery models:

1) Satellite Direct-to-Home
2) Terrestrial networks (e.g. Cable, IP and DTT distribution)
3) OTT (Over-the-Top)

Satellite Direct-to-Home (DTH):

This is one of the more direct modes of distribution when we refer to ‘satellite TV’. Satellite Direct-to-
Home achieves video delivery via radio waves received through a satellite dish, usually placed on top of
your house.

Satellite Direct-to-Home enables broadcasters to directly beam their channels to the viewer’s TV set.
This means that viewers have no need for a separate cable connection to access the TV channels.

The biggest advantage of satellite television for broadcasters is its unique reach.
 The disadvantages for viewers largely depend on the region and prevailing business models. In some
regions, viewers can access thousands of free TV channels with just a low-cost satellite dish and set-top
box, and no monthly fees, while elsewhere, setting up the receiving apparatus can be more costly and
require time and effort.

Terrestrial networks:

Terrestrial networks receive channels at the network headend and redistribute the television signal to
subscribers. The channels are often sent to the network headend via satellite. This is known as headend
feeding.

Three of the main types of terrestrial networks:

 Cable: a term used to describe the video delivery via coaxial cable connection
 IP: a term used to describe video delivery over the internet via a privately managed network
 Digital terrestrial: video delivery via radio waves received via a digital set-top box, TV gateway or an
integrated tuner included with a television set

For viewers in areas where cable, IP or terrestrial networks are deployed, access is easy and there is a
reliable stream of content. However, this is not the case for everyone, especially in areas where the
coverage does not extend to. Depending on where viewers are located, bandwidth availability and
content can be restricted.

Over-the-Top (OTT):

OTT is a term used to describe video delivery over the public internet. Essentially, this is provided via a
high-speed internet connection rather than a cable or satellite provider - however, OTT does not mean
free, as the term encompasses services such as Netflix, Amazon, iTunes and HBO Now.
The primary advantages of OTT are its relatively cheap price point for viewers and its on-demand
service. However, for broadcasters, the pay-per-user model inevitably reaches a tipping point the more
successful they are with the platform, as CDN costs rise in line with audience growth. This is contrasted
with satellite services, where costs don’t rise as viewer numbers increase. Therefore, OTT distribution
becomes more expensive than satellite at a certain point.
Block diagram of a typical receiver:

The part of the receiver that actually receives the analog signal and converts it into a stream of
bits

 Two main components, the tuner and the front end.

The tuner:
– Receives a signal on the frequency specified by the rest of the STB
– Demodulates the signal
– Turns the analog signal into a digital bitstream
 The Front End:
• Performs first level of error correction
• Removes the first level of packetization in the stream
• Outputs an MPEG-2 transport stream in digital format

The Descrambler:
A descrambler is a device that restores the picture and sound of a scrambled channel. A
descrambler must be used with a cable converter box to be able to unencrypt all of the premium
& pay-per-view channels of a Cable Television System.

The Demultiplexer:
• Takes an MPEG-2 transport stream and locates those elements that the STB is interested in
• Passes these streams on to other parts of the system
• Other data from the transport stream is thrown away

The MPEG Decoder:

The CPU:
• Handles all of the other tasks in the system
Conditional access (CA)
• Anti-piracy system for pay-TV
• Each STB usually has one CA system integrated
 Middleware:
• Provides a common software platform for application development

SDRAM:
SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) is a generic name for various kinds of dynamic random access
memory (DRAM) that are synchronized with the clock speed that the microprocessor is
optimized for. This tends to increase the number of instructions that the processor can perform
in a given time.

Flash Memory:
Flash memory is a long-life and non-volatile storage chip that is widely used in embedded
systems.

It can keep stored data and information even when the power is off.

Graphic Processor:
A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is a chip or electronic circuit capable of rendering graphics for

display on an electronic device.