March 2024 – Oslo, Norway – Appear, the global leader in live production technology, has been selected by Peak Uplink to modernize the encoding equipment used in its satellite uplink trucks for live sports contribution. The initiative is part of Peak Uplink’s comprehensive fleet expansion and upgrade strategy. Deploying Appear’s award-winning X Platform, Peak Uplink is replacing its conventional legacy encoding equipment, enhancing its satellite contribution capabilities across its fleet of trucks.
As one of the foremost satellite uplink providers for major sports broadcasters in North America, Peak Uplink manages satellite contributions for some of the most prominent live sports productions. Its reach extends throughout the continent, covering pivotal sports production hubs like Colorado, New York, Las Vegas, Houston and Detroit to name just a few. In pursuit of advanced encoding capabilities and operational efficiency for its uplink trucks, the company turned to Appear’s industry’s leading solution – the X Platform.
“We opted for Appear’s X Platform due to its high-capacity compact design, which optimizes space within our trucks and reduces energy consumption, all while maintaining the high-level encoding performance our clients expect,” said Bruce Fauser, Owner of Peak Uplink. “Following successful tests of the X Platform during major live sports productions, we are confident in its ability to deliver high-efficiency encoding with the flexibility to deliver a sustainable, long-term investment.”
Appear’s X Platform equips Peak Uplink with the versatility to deliver AVC and HEVC, encoded video via ASI, TSoIP, and SRT and even offers encrypted modulation and demodulation in the same chassis, all while providing the flexibility to expand their services to include JPEG-XS. The solution’s density allows a single Appear 1RU X10 Platform to replace legacy systems with considerable power, weight, and spatial efficiency.
Ed McGivern, General Manager North America at Appear, commented: “The decision to invest in Appear’s X Platform reflects the industry’s shift from single function equipment to more elegant and modular encoding and transport solutions. We are thrilled to offer Peak Uplink a streamlined, future-ready solution that addresses current challenges in live sports contribution while having the flexibility to deliver a sustainable future. From football to baseball to basketball, our X Platform is primed to handle encoding demands at any scale, empowering our customers to meet all the needs of today’s live sports enthusiasts.”
The X Platform includes Appear’s ECx110 modules for HEVC ultra-low latency encoding and decoding. It is the only compression solution on the market to offer ultra-low latency, HD, and UHD compression with SDI and ST-2110 uncompressed I/O, at scale and with 1RU or 2RU short-depth chassis options.
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About Appear
Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Appear is a leader in live production technology, specialising in high-capacity, sustainable solutions for media processing and content delivery. Our portfolio is designed to support the most complex scenarios of live event contribution, adapting seamlessly to the ever-evolving dynamics of the media, entertainment, and sports industries.
Over the past 20 years, Appear’s world-renowned team of experts made us the most progressive and forward-thinking company in the industry. Our relentless emphasis on modularity and functional versatility places us at the forefront of driving innovation in live production technology.
We proudly count the world’s leading content creators amongst our esteemed list of customers who trust our solutions to deliver the highest profile live media with integrity and efficiency.
Appear’s global operation includes centres of excellence in London and Los Angeles.
About Peak Uplink
Peak Uplink, incorporated in December 1999, is a full-service satellite transmission company specializing in providing a wide range of communication services. The company serves a broad spectrum of telecommunication needs across North America. Their services are designed to support media tours, teleconferencing, web casting, internet connectivity, corporate, educational, medical teleconferencing, video news releases, news and sporting event coverage.
Peak Uplink’s commitment to excellence and adaptability has made them a trusted partner in the industry, dedicated to connecting people and organizations no matter the distance or complexity of the project.
Spanning the continent, Peak Uplink’s coverage includes critical sports productions in Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Orlando and Washington DC, showcasing their unparalleled expertise in live event broadcasting and robust network capabilities.
