Heartland Video Systems Configures New Mexico PBS With AI Language Translation For Live ATSC 3.0 OTA Broadcast

Heartland Video Systems, a video systems integration, consulting and ATSC 3.0 implementation firm, has recently completed configuration of the New Mexico PBS encoding system, powered by Ateme’s advanced encoder technology, with live artificial intelligence language translation solution for the station’s ATSC 3.0 OTA broadcast signal. The process is completed virtually in real time through cloud translation services from LingoPal. 

New Mexico PBS operates two OTA stations, KNME Albuquerque and KNMD Santa Fe. New Mexico PBS created its own ATSC 3.0 lighthouse when KNMD transitioned to ATSC 3.0 in June 2021. That conversion included a full solution from HVS, including an Ateme encoder that processes 2x HD programs and 3x SD programs, which is a simulcast of programming available on KNME.  New Mexico PBS and HVS have continued to evolve the functions and capabilities of the ATSC 3.0 OTA system over the last several years, most recently to provide AI-powered language translation.

The existing KNMD-TV Ateme ATSC 3.0 encoder was reconfigured by the HVS engineering team to send an SRT English-only audio stream to LingoPal’s cloud-based service. The 5.1 English audio track (no need to send SAP audio) was processed through the AI system, which live translated the original audio into Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean tracks. These new audio streams, delivered in 2.0 downmix mode and lip-synced with the video, were returned to the TV station’s ATSC 3.0 Ateme encoder. HVS then published a copy of the KNME-HD service with the extra audio tracks, replacing the original KNME-HD with only English. Once configured, this solution provided seamless end-to-end audio translation services, enhancing the NextGenTV OTA broadcast experience for viewers.

Mike Schmidt, HVS ATSC 3.0 technologist, said: “Sometimes technology advances enough to unlock features that previously could not be imagined. The hope, in that case, is that the process isn’t too complex or require so many resources so that it can’t be readily used. I was very pleased to find that neither drawback applied to this feature set. The entire configuration took about an hour, not including the work LingoPal did to prep the service beforehand. And worked as advertised the first attempt.”

Jason Quinn, New Mexico PBS director of engineering, added: “New Mexico PBS is proud to be working with Heartland Video to advance the technology around delivering emergency messaging. The benefit to our viewing audience with this project can’t be overstated. The ability to communicate with our viewers in their native language gives us the chance to serve our complete audience with all of the important details they need in times of an emergency.”

“We’re proud that Ateme’s encoding technology continues to enable ATSC 3.0 innovation,” said Robin Herin, Ateme director of technology & standardization. “This collaboration with HVS, and LingoPal demonstrates how open, standards-based systems can integrate seamlessly to bring new levels of accessibility and engagement to viewers.

Heartland Video Systems will be exhibiting at NAB Show New York (Oct. 22-23 in the Javits Center) in Booth 465.

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