Stadium signage and media streaming can provide a platform to connect fans of course; but these platforms can build other connections as well. The Minnesota Vikings have successfully installed the VITEC EZ TV IPTV and Digital Signage Solution for Sports Venues at a state-of-the-art practice facility, Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. Using the features-set of the platform, the staff gained the ability to centrally manage and stream HD, low-latency, in-house video feeds and cable channels, as well as signage distribution to all displays and menu boards.
The cutting-edge practice facility provides over 277,000 square feet of space, including administrative offices, an indoor practice facility, a team auditorium, a media center, locker rooms, and several specialized fitness zones. The site houses five outdoor practice fields, including a 6,500-seat practice stadium. More than 300 displays of various sizes are installed throughout. The EZ TV Solution delivers a wealth of content to the organization, including providing access to a broad range of TV channels, live camera feeds, and digital signage content such as workout schedules, nutritional information, and human resources content.
The platform’s modular architecture suits the ever-changing video, marketing, and sales requirements of today’s sports venues. It distributes live video content from various sources, including cable, satellite, off-air TV channels, and locally generated private video. VITEC’s hardware-based IPTV and signage end-points, allow the organization to remotely control content, access rights and scheduling to any TV, allowing the Vikings to support its staff and players as well as create a new fan experience during team events. With centralized creation, distribution, and monitoring of live and on-demand video content and digital signage, the platform streamlines the process of linear and non-linear video workflows. For example, teams can record any live stream and review it back, adding a sophisticated, in-depth layer to their practices. Players and staff can enjoy a professional TV experience, choosing live-action footage, VOD movies, or game highlights via a user-friendly interface.
For managing satellite/cable TV content, VITEC’s approved AES content protection capability enabled the facility to quickly receive approvals from the team’s chosen service provider using the Com2000 IP gateway as a source for dozens of channels. Streams from the gateway are processed in real-time by VITEC’s Ocaster DRM server and streamed fully encrypted from the server room to any desktop and physical end-point. EZ TV’s end-to-end encryption architecture provides a major advantage for venues as they discuss IPTV distribution with their content providers.
“VITEC’s IPTV and Digital Signage Platform has enabled us to connect every layer of our organization — from our staff, administrators, coaches, players, and fans —and creates an amazing user experience on each screen,” said John Penhollow, Vikings vice president of corporate and technology partnerships.
