Switched Digital Video

Switched digital video (SDV) offers great opportunity for cable operators seeking to make more effective use of their network bandwidth. By sending specific programs only to those subscribers who request them, MSOs can deliver significantly more programming and other new, revenue-generating services to subscribers. Operators can also offer many separate tiers of programming without substantially reallocating their bandwidth, therefore boosting their competitive advantage. Plus, the switch to SDV helps cable operators move closer to a fully addressable, on-demand environment and eases migration to an end-to-end, IP-based video delivery architecture.


Implementing an open SDV architecture enables the construction of a more reliable network that can easily be expanded. In addition, an open architecture offers a scalable environment with high performance and availability without corresponding high cost. Moreover, this type of infrastructure is easier for cable operators to manage, monitor and operate than one based on proprietary systems.

The use of RGB's Broadcast Network Processor (BNP) as a bulk transrater/staging processor for rate clamping brings further benefits to the SDV environment. In this case, the BNP offers the best video quality for each video stream that it outputs as constant bit rate (CBR) or capped variable bit rate (VBR) streams.

While operators can continue to use CBR or capped VBR streams in an SDV environment, the SDV environment can be further enhanced if the video streams are delivered at their native VBR rates and as they were received from the original content distributors. The use of native VBR instead of CBR or capped VBR allows operators to realize better bandwidth savings, offer better video quality to subscribers and easily integrate with other new and existing services, including targeted advertising. RGB's Dynamic Bandwidth Manager (DBM) allows operators to distribute and manage the video streams at their native VBR rates in an SDV environment.

Click here to learn about the use of RGB's DBM in the switched digital video environment.

At the network edge, RGB's Universal Scalable Modulator (USM) expedites deployment of advanced digital video services in many environments, including switched digital video.

By deploying an open SDV architecture utilizing RGB's advanced video processing and modulation products, cable operators can make the most out of their increasingly bandwidth-clogged networks with minimal disruption to their operations and without costly nodes-splits or waiting to get to all-digital.

RGB's Products in the Switched Digital Video Environment

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What people are saying:

“The Diamonds judges who reviewed RGB's Broadcast Network Processor were very impressed by the power of this 1RU product. They felt the company had put a great deal of thought into the processor, from supporting MPEG-2 and H.264 to ensuring integration with SCTE 18."

  • Laura Hamilton,
  • Editor-in-Chief
  • Broadband Gear Report