Development of optical video/audio signal distribution network of Fuji Television's new broadcast center

Fuji Television's new broadcast center facilities have recently been installed and are now fully operational. The broadcast center employs a newly developed optical video/audio signal distribution network. This paper describes the system structure and performance of the optical network. A wavelength-division and time division hybrid multiplexed (WD/TD) optical network has been used in the broadcast center. This type of optical network is attractive for a broadcast center application, because of its large capacity, multiple format handling, and flexible operation capabilities. The optical network utilizes 16-channel wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology and 16-channel time division multiplexing (TDM) technology for 143 Mb/s NTSC composite video signals (TDM high-way speed: 2.29 Gb/s). By using these technologies, the optical network distributes about 150 digital NTSC composite video signal combined with audio signals, together with about 15 HDTV signals (1.5 Gb/s), to 20 studios and control rooms. This new system of operation has drastically reduced the operator work load in the signal distribution center.