24 April 2008
WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite based digital radio service, today announced its wholly owned subsidiary, WORLDSPACE Europe, received approval from Germanys Federal Network Agency, the Bundesnetzagentur, to use 12.5 MHz of spectrum in the L-band (1479.5 – 1492 MHz) on a nation-wide basis for the operation of a terrestrial repeater network in Germany. The repeaters will work in conjunction with WORLDSPACEs existing satellite network to provide German consumers with a subscription-based satellite radio service in automobiles.
This authorization from the Bundesnetzagentur, makes Germany the third European nation to enable satellite radio in automobiles. WORLDSPACE expects to secure licenses in additional countries before the end of the year. The Company continues to build solid momentum toward a pan-European mobile satellite radio service and has a plan to deliver its service to Germany, Italy and Switzerland with its existing in-orbit satellite network.
Germany has the largest automobile market in Western Europe, with an average of 3.4 million cars sold ever year over the past 16 years. Annual commercial vehicle sales exceed 200,000 units. In addition, it is the most populous nation in Western Europe with over 82 million people. This affluent, technologically advanced nation has the fifth largest economy world-wide, the largest GDP in Europe and has the largest revenue-generating European radio market as well.
This is a significant development for WORLDSPACE, said Noah A. Samara, Chairman and CEO, WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio. We are very happy to receive authorization for our mobile satellite radio services in Germany. This achievement confirms the remarkable recent trajectory of our business in Europe, and supports our current discussions with potential partners who have large commitments in these markets.
The German market is a critical market for us. Not only is Germany the largest country in Western Europe with the largest economy, it is home to a number of the worlds leading automobile manufacturers who are very familiar with satellite radio, having already integrated satellite receivers into their vehicle lines for the American market. We are working to extend that experience to their home base.
WORLDSPACE expects to launch its German satellite radio service shortly after its 2009 service introduction in Italy. The Company expects the funding required to launch its German service to be substantially reduced because of its new plan to use existing in-orbit satellite capacity to serve the Italian, Swiss and German markets. WORLDSPACE is currently in discussions with a number of potential strategic partners who have a strong interest in the German market.
Upon service launch, subscribers throughout Germany will have access to a wide range of exclusive content including commercial-free music as well as news, sports, talk and other entertainment content. WORLDSPACE also expects to provide other services beyond radio including traffic, navigation and personalized content such as music downloads directly from the satellite.
WORLDSPACE expects to obtain similar terrestrial repeater authorizations in other markets in Europe during the course of 2008 and 2009. It recently announced receipt of a repeater license in Switzerland, where approximately 65% of the population speaks German and about 10% speak Italian. In France, the European Telecommunications Standards Institutes (ETSI) satellite digital radio (SDR) standard, upon which WORLDSPACEs technology is based, was approved for deployment in the L-band in January 2008, and its licensing process is targeted for later this year. Other European countries are expected to address their licensing processes within a similar timeframe.
WORLDSPACE continues to execute against its business plan for Europe, with numerous milestones achieved. The Company recently selected Delphi to design the first WORLDSPACE satellite radio mobile receivers (aftermarket and OEM) for Europe; Fiat Group Automobiles has signed on as the first manufacturer to install and distribute WORLDSPACE satellite radio in Italy; Telecom Italia has designed and is installing the terrestrial repeater network for Italy; Sodielec has developed and is producing the terrestrial repeaters that comply with the European standard for satellite radio; Fraunhofer IIS is developing the receiver reference design for the radio; and Certicoms conditional access system has been selected for security of the Companys broadcast services. WORLDSPACE also participated in the development of the standard for satellite digital radio (SDR) adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in December 2006.
24 April 2008
RadioScape plc, the worlds leading developer of end-to-end digital audio broadcasting solutions, announced today that Hangzhou HuaShu Media Ltd, a major provider of Cable TV, IP TV and broadband internet services in the Greater Hangzhou area, will roll-out new digital radio and multimedia services based on RadioScapes latest broadcast system technology.
The Hangzhou project, won in conjunction with systems integrator partner Linfair Engineering, will be one of the most advanced digital broadcasting roll-outs for the Olympic Games with 30 DAB/DAB+ audio channels, multimedia channels and data services. Importantly this will be the first DAB+ ready installation in China as many broadcasters soon expect the regulator, SARFT, to endorse the DAB+ standard. DAB has already been chosen as the industrial digital radio broadcasting standard in China.
Hangzhou HuaShu Media undertook an extensive evaluation of the various head-end solutions available in the market. Key evaluation criteria included the flexibility of the system architecture for multi-city distribution, system reliability, technical support, proven data applications and Conditional Access system integration with third party companies.
Mr Zhou Hong, Vice President, Technical Department of Hangzhou HuaShu Media commented: RadioScapes track record in providing advanced DAB and DAB+ based solutions was a major factor in our selection. In particular, as we are planning to roll-out DAB/DAB+/DMB services in the other cities in Zhejiang province, we believe RadioScapes IP distribution solution is key to enabling a cost effective, technology proven, and reliable large scale set up for the future.
John Hall, RadioScapes CEO added: 2008 is proving to be a year of increasing activity in the international radio market as more countries roll-out DAB and DAB+ services. We are delighted to be working closely with Hangzhou HuaShu Media and our partner Linfair Engineering, to implement this installation that will provide a major showcase of new services in time for the Olympics.
RadioScape is the primary supplier of DAB and DAB+ broadcast systems in China. The Company has recently expanded its installed base of DAB broadcast and monitoring systems, and is enabling audio and multimedia services in Foshan, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Yunnan, Shenzheng and now Hangzhou.
22 April 2008
Central London MCR and playout center being completely refurbished.
Content management and delivery company GlobeCast is updating and enlarging its playout center and MCR in London to increase the capacity of services offered and to provide multi-platform solutions on a worldwide scale.
GlobeCast launched its existing playout system in the summer of 2007. The response from the companys broadcast customers was overwhelmingly positive, increasing demand and leading to this significant investment which will see its London infrastructure double in capacity.
The new multimedia center will be IPTV and Mobile TV capable, and will provide improvements in graphics and flexibility. GlobeCast can offer clients customized packages which will allow them to combine tapeless digital technology with more traditional formats.
The state-of-the-art system will be completed by June, when existing customers such as Arsenal TV and the Poker Channel will be upgraded.
In addition, the upgraded Media Management suite will create an improved, dedicated, purpose-built space to streamline workflows, which allows additional channels to be added more easily and quickly.
This upgrade, together with its growing experience and reputation in this field, demonstrates GlobeCasts commitment to playout services, providing international customers with turnkey packages from traditional linear playout to new multimedia
services, web, IPTV and transcoding.
GlobeCasts office in the heart of London is one of 18 international locations providing worldwide delivery of permanent channels, coverage of news and sporting events and a range of value-added services.
GlobeCast also offers Media Management solutions from its facility in Sunrise, Florida which it shares with HBO Latin America.
22 April 2008
EuroNews begins broadcast via MHz Worldview to over 15 million households in the USA.
EuroNews and MHz Networks announced today that the European news channel airs two news blocks in English on the broadcasters national channel MHz Worldview beginning April 1. The 30-minute newscasts are featured at 8:30 AM and again at 2 PM EST each weekday.
The EuroNews programmes on MHz Worldview are available throughout the US to over 15 million households via broadcast, cable, telecoms operators and satellite.
As an independent, non-commercial TV channel based in the USA, MHz Worldview provides its globally-minded viewers with the best international programmes on one channel, in English or with English subtitles. MHz Worldview is featured via broadcast and/or cable affiliates throughout the nation in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Utah state, Richmond, VA; Flint, MI; Charleston, IL; Charlottesville, VA; St. Paul, MN; Stanford, CA. and nationwide to viewers via DirecTV and WorldTV satellite.
EuroNews is the leading news channel in Europe covering world news from a European perspective. EuroNews is broadcast simultaneously in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. Arabic will become EuroNews’ eighth fully-fledged language, and the service will be launched by the channel’s newsroom in 2008.
Philippe Cayla, Chairman and CEO of EuroNews said: “In the USA, EuroNews is already broadcast 24/7 to 2.3 million homes via cable and satellite. With MHz Worldview, 15 million households are now able to discover the channel twice a day; this is a huge opportunity for EuroNews’ development in the US.”
22 April 2008
Hot on the heels of signing KBCS in Washington state, WRN, the international London-headquartered TV and radio transmission company has partnered with WHRV 89.5 FM, a public radio station in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, to re-broadcast its 24 hour news and current affairs channel overnight.
WHRV 89.5FM is part of WHRO, a regional media company that promotes education, culture and citizenship to the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia through two television stations, two public service radio stations and four digital radio stations.
Marina Lois, Product Development & Distribution Manager at WRN, says “It’s always a pleasure to team up with stations that promote world views. WHRV is a leading speech radio station in Virginia and WRN is very happy to be able to provide its listeners with news and current affairs programming from its North American network.”
WHRV will now have access to programming from reputable international broadcasters like KBS (Korea), RCI (Canada), RNWI (Netherlands), Channel Africa, Radio Romania, Radio Poland and many others.
WHRV has already had a great listener response to its new programming.
Heather Mazzoni, Programme Director at the station, says “WRN brings our listeners world wide news and public affairs, something that was missing from our market. We have the largest concentration of military personnel in the United States so there’s a keen interest in world wide coverage in the Hampton Roads market.
WRN has over 75 radio stations around the world that take programming from one of its nine news and current affairs networks broadcasting in English, French, German, Russian or Arabic.
