PBS and IDC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) launching the “alpha” phase of the project, which includes the installation and configuration of head-end transmission equipment and deployment of an initial group of receive sites. The next phase, roll-out to the 177 Public TV downlinks in the field, is expected to move forward in the first quarter of 2009. Content, including file-based HDTV programming, will be distributed using IDC’s SuperFlex broadband DVB/S2-IP satellite datacasting system and the Datacast XD Content Management and Distribution software. IDC will also be providing expanded Network Attached Storage (NAS) servers as part of the receive site kits.


