Abstract :
It has been technically possible to provide the programme links by satellite for a number of years. The attractions of this approach are that the link can be much more firmly under the broadcasters control, in principle with the only accessible hardware at the outside broadcast (OB) location and the studio centre. In addition, the link costs are broadly independent of OB venue, giving procedures freedom to broadcast from where they want to without being constrained by circuit difficulties. A properly set up satellite circuit also has the advantage of predictable performance and, provided sufficient margins are available, a high quality circuit can be guaranteed. A satellite link of audio signals can be used for both programme exchange and to allow contributions from outside broadcasts. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has leased transponders for television programme exchange for some time and saw the opportunity to extend the operation to include radio. The EBU agreed that the system would only be economical if the hardware was also available for national use by the broadcasters who owned it, and it was agreed that space segment capacity would be made available for this application
