TS Splicing

The Splicing function in MK.IO Beam enables you to seamlessly insert, replace, or switch MPEG-TS content within a live workflow. It supports common operational scenarios such as alternate content and blackout management as well as linear ad insertion, ensuring smooth transitions while maintaining stream continuity and standards compliance.

You configure this functionality through the corresponding service in the MK.IO Beam interface, where you can define input sources, splicing rules, triggers, and output parameters. MK.IO Beam manages the real-time switching and timing alignment behind the scenes, allowing you to perform TS splicing operations without handling low-level processing details.

Alternate content & blackout

TS Splicer utilizes linear stream switching inline with CableLabs* ESAM specifications to manage alternate content and blackout scenarios. A couple of illustrative use cases include:

• Sport blackout: Here, a sports channel is replicated based on the number of geographical areas being served. Although each area receives an identical stream, unique ESAM parameters characterize each. Based on the pre-determined schedule, certain regions will enable blackout to adhere to any rights restrictions or regional viewing guidelines.
• Content Regionalization: At specific times during the day, a national channel might distribute localized content, catering to different regions.

Content substitution can be initiated in two different ways:

• Time-based: Here, the POIS (Placement Opportunity Information Service) system directs TS Splicer to transition to blackout or regional content at a specified time. In this mode, known as "ESAM out-of-band", the POIS does expect an ESAM request.

• Signal-based: Triggered by SCTE-35 detection, TS Splicer will ends an ESAM request for each configured output (group). As each output (group) has distinct ESAM parameters, the POIS reviews its schedule, cross-referencing it with the SCTE-35 signal contained in the request. If there's a match, the POIS directs the output (group) to switch to blackout or alternate content as detailed in the schedule.

*TS Splicer implements CableLabs version 2013.

Linear ad insertion

"Linear ad insertion" generally refers to local ad placement. Similarly to the blackout mechanism, an input channel is duplicated based on the number of geographical zones it serves, known in the US as DMA (Designated Market Area). While the traditional management standard has been SCTE-30, TS Splicer offers a more streamlined approach to linear ad insertion.

TS Splicer supports SCTE-30 communication with legacy ad servers and introduces two alternative modes:

• VAST: Unifying workflows for linear ad and DAI (Dynamic Ad Insertion) in OTT, TS Splicer can connect directly to a digital ADS (Ad Server System), harmonizing the ad insertion environment for both broadcast and OTT scenarios.

• ESAM (extended): In this setting, TS Splicer goes beyond the standard ESAM format. Instead, it utilizes a unique MediaKind extension which enables it to return a content list, rather than a single alternate content ID. This mode combines at-the-edge functionalities such as linear ad schedule ingest with splicing. MKIO Beam Control oversees the linear schedule ingest, while TS Splicer is responsible for splicing.