Ateme’s ATSC 3.0 encoding technology plays a crucial role in a significant broadcast advancement. Collaborating with Heartland Video Systems (HVS) and lingopal.ai, Ateme has facilitated New Mexico PBS (NMPBS) in implementing live AI language translation directly within its ATSC 3.0 NextGenTV OTA transmission chain, a pioneering move for a U.S. public broadcaster.
Seamless Integration of Encoding and AI Multilingual Translation
Central to this initiative is the Ateme Titan Live encoder, initially installed during KNMD-TV’s conversion in 2021. This encoder manages two HD and three SD program streams, simulcasting KNME-TV content over the ATSC 3.0 platform. Ateme’s adaptable software architecture and adherence to open standards allowed the broadcast system to expand and improve without necessitating hardware replacements or disrupting OTA operations.
For the live multilingual translation process, the existing Ateme encoder was set up to produce a 5.1 English audio stream. This stream was sent to lingopal.ai, where it was automatically translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean.
The AI-generated audio tracks, provided as 2.0 downmixes and synchronized with the original video, were reintegrated into the Ateme encoder’s ATSC 3.0 multiplex. Subsequently, the station broadcasted the KNME-HD service with the additional language tracks instead of the original English-only stream. This entire setup maintained end-to-end timing accuracy, a crucial aspect for real-time ATSC 3.0 applications.
Ateme’s Contribution: Facilitating Extensibility Based on Standards
The success of this project highlights the importance of an open and interoperable broadcast infrastructure. By building on standards-based systems, the implementation demonstrates how advanced encoding technology spurs innovation within the ATSC 3.0 ecosystem, fostering seamless integration that elevates both accessibility and viewer engagement.
The Ateme encoder suite is inherently designed to support ATSC 3.0 signaling and IP-based transport layers such as ROUTE/DASH. This enables broadcasters to add new features, including multi-language audio and dynamic metadata insertion, without the need for disruptive system overhauls. In this deployment, precise audio and video synchronization ensured that translated audio maintained frame accuracy, even after processing by a third-party cloud service.
Efficiency and Reliability in Implementation
A notable outcome of this project was its simplicity. The entire configuration was completed in about an hour. This ease was made achievable by Ateme’s software-defined modularity, enabling broadcast operators to adjust output profiles, include or remove audio elements, and update transport settings without needing to alter the underlying encoder firmware or restart operations, a critical capability in continuous OTA environments.
Bridging Innovation with Accessibility
While the technological stack is impressive, its impact reaches well beyond technical achievements. Multilingual broadcasting represents a major step forward in serving the community, allowing stations to interact with audiences in their native languages and ensuring that the full viewership can be reached, something especially important during emergencies or critical events.
This integration establishes a new model for ATSC 3.0 broadcasters, showing that localized and accessible content is achievable not through expensive re-encoding solutions, but through smart coordination between Ateme’s encoder and advanced cloud-based AI technologies.
Future Prospects
Ateme’s involvement in the NMPBS deployment showcases how forward-looking encoding infrastructure can unlock AI-driven advancements in live broadcasting. As more ATSC 3.0 markets evolve, Ateme’s open APIs, containerized deployments, and dynamic IP workflows will continue to empower broadcasters to explore, integrate, and expand, transforming concepts like real-time multilingual translation, customization, and emergency communications into operational services.
About the Author
VP Media and Monetization at Ateme
Jean-Louis offers over 25 years of media, entertainment, and broadcast industry knowledge. Focusing on the customer experience, he brings a consultative approach to solutions delivery, focusing on everything from business transformation through cloud strategy and SaaS to a manage-by-exception media supply chain principle plus contribution and primary distribution and monetization with DAI to VoD-to-Live. Prior to joining Ateme, Jean-Louis managed a major service provider in Amsterdam offering video-on-demand and linear playout services for international blue-chip media companies.