BURBANK and MARKHAM — Top Rank boxing returned to TV recently for the first time since pandemic restrictions were eased thanks to PSSI Global Services and Toronto’s Nextologies.
PSSI is providing a full complement of traditional and IP-based transmission services for Top Rank’s series of live fights from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the company is leveraging Nextologies equipment to deliver the primary pathways via IP transport.
This collaboration marks the first all-IP origination for a major boxing event, says the PSSI press release, as well as the first IP live international distribution to several countries. “To help minimize the overall on-site presence of talent and staff PSSI, in close partnership with Nextologies, also engineered a solution to integrate ringside commentary remotely over a customized IP network.
“Our primary objective is to present events with the safety, health and well-being of everyone on the ground in Las Vegas in the forefront, and we have accomplished that goal,” said Top Rank chief operating officer, Brad Jacobs, in the release. “Our next priority is to deliver a terrific-looking program to our fans watching across the globe. We are thrilled as always to partner with PSSI to deliver the signals worldwide in new and exciting ways.”
For each fight, PSSI has been generating an IP feed to production company Paragon Media, where the company’s engineering team is on-site providing two-way remote ringside commentary services. A separate feed goes to a Nextologies server for IP distribution to several worldwide broadcast partners. This approach builds on the company’s longstanding international satellite distribution model, expanding Top Rank’s reach and flexibility, says the release.
