beIN Asia Pacific pivots to IP-centric Appear’s X Platform a strategic move

Multi-platform sports media network beIN Asia Pacific has turned to Appear to enable a significant modernisation of its broadcast infrastructure across APAC, and to enhance its international contribution capabilities.

Sabil Salim, Vice-President, Media Technology & Operations, beIN Asia Pacific, explained, “Our investment in Appear’s X Platform is a pivotal step in our strategic evolution towards an IP-centric broadcast infrastructure. The X20 platform provides the dedicated capacity and quality we need for our broadcast partners and remote editing platform, distinctly separate from our over-the-top (OTT) services and playout. 

“Coupled with the X10’s efficient SRT contribution, Appear delivers the performance, agility, and cost efficiency that are paramount for our operations, allowing us to overcome previous limitations, and innovate faster.”

beIN ASIA PACIFIC has deployed Appear’s high-capacity X20 encoder as part of a major broadcast feed distribution project. This dedicated system, configured in a robust 1+1 redundancy setup, handles 44 live feeds, drawing from a mix of IP and SDI sources. It is specifically designed to support services for non-traditional broadcast platform partners and external editing environments, providing beIN with the versatility to address changing business needs with ease.

beIN has also implemented Appear’s compact 1RU X10 chassis to establish a dedicated contribution link between its facilities in Doha and Singapore. This deployment features a 1+1 setup for 4 contribution feeds, utilising Advanced Video Coding (AVC) encoders, marking a strategic transition from traditional fibre to Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) over the public internet.

This move to SRT provides beIN with significant advantages, including lower costs, greater flexibility, and faster provisioning compared to conventional leased fibre circuits. Appear’s hardware-accelerated SRT capabilities ensure reliable, broadcast-quality video transport even over less predictable networks, optimising beIN’s international content acquisition and transport workflows.

Thomas Bostrøm Jørgensen, CEO, Appear, added, “Our X Platform is designed to empower broadcasters like beIN to achieve greater agility, flexibility, and significant cost efficiencies as they navigate the transition to IP.

“By enabling beIN to move away from traditional, less flexible infrastructures, we are helping it to optimise its content delivery and acquisition workflows, reinforcing its leadership in the industry.”