NPR Satellite Services Launches New Service, THE HUB @ NPRSS
Oklahoma-based KOSU Signs Up as First Customer
June 22, 2015 – Washington, DC – NPR Satellite Services (NPRSS) has launched a new offering called THE
HUB @ NPRSS, a full content distribution service that allows networks to send programming to stations
without the need or expense of operating a local head-end. NPRSS, which has more than 30 years
providing C band and Ku band satellite transmission services, has signed KOSU, a member-supported
public radio network serving Oklahoma state-wide, as its first customer of THE HUB @ NPRSS.
NPRSS created THE HUB for broadcasters with a need to distribute their live or file-based content to
geographically diverse sites, particularly those interested in customizing both network and local avails
using file delivery and spot insertion.
“We created this service to allow our broadcasters to take advantage of the rich ‘Head End’ feature set - network management website, IP streaming, and store/forward -- at a fraction of the cost.” said
Darlene Holmes, Director of NPR Satellite Services. “A network administrator using THE HUB @ NPRSS
will have total control over his or her receivers and programming schedules.”
Holmes pointed out that one compelling feature is that networks can have some sites take programming
live off the satellite or via terrestrial IP streaming while another site might delay that broadcast for a
later playback time. “Also, clients that have more than one top-of-the-hour ID can specifically target
those announcements to their local market. And of course, regionalized ad insertion is a proven way to
grow revenues for your network,” she said.
THE HUB @ NPRSS operates by broadcasters sending their audio to the Network Operations Center
(NOC) located at National Public Radio’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Clients are issued a website
that they manage, and with it, they can determine where and when their content plays, either through
satellite uplinks or terrestrial IP streaming. The result is that customers can send programming to their
stations without purchasing an expensive head-end system while taking advantage of NPR’s 24x7x365
operational support along with all the features of THE HUB @ NPRSS.
“Before we committed to THE HUB @ NPRSS, we were operating an old uplink with unsupported
equipment and were tired of the ongoing maintenance and repair,” said Ken Boyd, Chief Engineer at
KOSU. “Now, instead of paying a large capital expense to replace our aging equipment, THE HUB @
NPRSS offered a low entry point and put our network on a robust technology. This is an ideal, low-cost
solution for networks on aging equipment or for someone thinking about starting a network.”
THE HUB @ NPRSS was created by NPR Satellite Services in partnership with XDS Pico Digital. “We have
been incredibly pleased with the high technical knowledge that NPRSS offers on integrating these radio
distribution systems,” said Jose Rivero, Pico Digital Vice President of Network Technology. “The folks at
NPRSS deeply understand radio broadcasting and have a lot of experience in helping small and large
networks advance their technology and reach their goals. They’re very easy to work with and they handhold their customer from design to full deployment. The combination of Pico Digital’s X-Digital radio
platform and NPRSS' knowledge and compelling services is going to be a very powerful and costeffective offering for many networks.”
“This service was created particularly for network owners looking to take their regionalized program
content and localization to another level,” said Matt Walther, Operations Architect at NPRSS who
helped create THE HUB @ NPRSS. “There might be a religious broadcaster who has stations spread
across two states who desires to have market-specific content from local churches and organizations.
Another prospect could be a state network looking for a better means of content and file delivery to
their interconnected stations.”
“Once content is in the system, group owners can then choose where and when they want to air that
show,” Walther said. “In one market it might be on Saturday at 8am while another it might be at 10am.
With spot insertions, they can then deliver custom sponsorships directly to that markets receiver, which
can be triggered to play directly from that same receiver.”
-About NPR Satellite Services
NPR Satellite Services has been providing comprehensive satellite solutions to commercial broadcasters
and networks for more than 30 years. NPRSS offers C-band transponder space on Intelsat's Galaxy 16
satellite, which provides complete geographic coverage of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii,
and Puerto Rico. Our unique array of services includes satellite services, a 24/7 state-of-the-art Network
Operations Center (NOC), a Satellite Equipment Maintenance and Repair Depot, and THE HUB @ NPRSS,
a full distribution service that allows networks to send programming to stations without a local head
end. Email us at linkup@npr.org or visit our website at www.nprss.org.
About Pico Digital
Pico Digital is an international telecommunications technology company serving radio and television
broadcasters, content providers, hospitality, and commercial markets in more than 50 countries.
Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company is privately held and dedicated to developing bestin-class communication products, systems, and services. Pico Digital products are designed and
manufactured in San Diego, California. Additional information about Pico Digital Inc. is available at
www.picodigital.com.
About KOSU
Established in 1955, KOSU is a member-supported public radio network that operates 91.7 KOSU in
central Oklahoma including Stillwater and Oklahoma City and 107.5 KOSN in northeast Oklahoma
including Tulsa, Bartlesville and the Grand Lake area. KOSU can also be heard at 107.3 in south Tulsa and
at 94.9 in Ponca City. Reaching thousands of listeners every week, KOSU features local music with The
Spy and distinguished public radio news and information service with award-winning local news
coverage and NPR news content.