Comcast Media Center debuted HITS Central, a centralized headend management solution that lets smaller cable operators deploy customer-premises equipment without having to run multiple conditional-access management systems.
For example, CMC recently entered into a deal with Evolution Digital LLC allowing HITS Central to support Evolution's SD and HD digital-to-analog converters as well as devices using CableCards with Conax's Digital Video Broadcast Conditional Access (DVB-CA) encryption systems.
Campus TeleVideo, which provides cable television services to college and university campuses, is the first operator to deploy HITS Central services using Evolution Digital HD DTAs with integrated Conax conditional access on its cable plant. CTV will first use the DTAs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, N.Y.
"DTAs that can be centrally managed via HITS Central are a great solution for delivering a competitive lineup of digital television programming," CTV CEO Brian Benz said in a statement. "In addition to representing a very effective means for controlling our capital and operating expenses, the solution also addresses the security requirements of our content providers."
Multichannel Newsreported this week that CTV's owners are exploring a sale of the company.
HITS Central provides remote management capability for several headend functions and services, including: channel-map changes, code object downloads, encryption, automated provisioning of CableCard host devices and management of nonlinear video operations, such as switched digital video, VOD and interactive TV.
"HITS Central represents a centralized content management solution for cable system operators," CMC chief operating officer Gary Traver said in a statement. "With HITS Central, cable operators can implement a variety of customer premises equipment, from lower cost DTAs to HD DVRs selling in retail stores. This enhances their ability to offer competitive video services capable of generating additional revenue."
The HITS Central announcement was timed for the Independent Show in Baltimore this week.
