16 June 2005
Harris Corporation has announced the promotion of Cheng Fan to the new position of director, international channel development for the Broadcast Communications Division (BCD).
“This position is an important part of Harris Broadcast’s initiative to increase international business growth through a world-class distribution channel,” said Debra Huttenburg, vice president/general manager of BCD’s Radio Broadcast Systems business unit and head of international sales. “Cheng has the experience and the expertise Harris needs to broaden its worldwide presence in broadcast applications and software solutions. Among other things, he will spearhead programs that increase assistance to Harris’ regional sales organizations and support growth plans for every BCD product line.”
16 June 2005
Autocue has announced that it has sold its business in the UK and US, including QTV, to Root Capital, a London-based venture capital firm specialising in the technology sector.
Simon Philips, partner of Root Capital and Autocue’s new chairman, says about their investment: “We are delighted to be investing in Autocue’s future and are excited about the prospects for the business. The leading-edge technology, combined with a strong brand and customer base all provide an excellent platform for growth.”
Autocue’s strategy going forward will be to provide leading products and excellent service to its customers, and to grow through increased geographic coverage around the world.
Autocue has been serving the broadcast industry since the mid-1950s when Autocue in London and QTV in New York produced and patented the very first prompters. The two companies merged in 1984 and, with the introduction of the QSeries family of software, Autocue became the only company to offer the television industry a single solution for all transmission, newsroom, scripting and prompting requirements and unlike its competitors is the only company to work directly with its customers to optimise newsroom workflow. In the United States, QTV is part of the Autocue group and forms the US division of Autocue’s prompting services. Autocue is known worldwide for its service and dependability, serving such prestigious clients as Bloomberg, the BBC and MTV Europe. Autocue’s prompting solutions are compatible with all newsroom systems on the market and are used all over the world by broadcasters, production professionals, government facilities and corporate producers requiring excellence in prompting and newsroom automation solutions. For further information, please visit
16 June 2005
RadioScape, the world leader in Software Defined Digital Radio solutions, has launched the RadioScape RS500 module that can receive DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) as well as DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast), FM with RDS, LW, MW and SW to form the basis of the worlds first affordable, integrated, multi-standard, digital radio receivers. The RS500 is based on RadioScapes innovative radiOS architecture, enabling re-use of existing applications and features previously developed for the RS300L DAB/FM module. Many of the innovative features available on the RS300L have been directly implemented on this module, accelerating time to market for a fully featured receiver design. The RS500, for example, immediately supports capabilities such as the highly popular Pause, Rewind and Record to MMC card features as well as the ability to display and use Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) data.
Because we create our modules using radiOS — our own advanced Software Defined radio architecture, explained Andrew Moloney, Marketing Manager for Receivers at RadioScape, it has been possible for us to add DRM in an affordable and user friendly form to our existing range of receiver capabilities. The RS500 is size and pin compatible with our very successful RS300L enabling radio manufacturers to migrate existing designs to the RS500, rapidly bringing to market ranges of receivers, which include DRM-capable designs, in time to catch the pre Christmas 2005 sales.
The RS500 is based on the Texas Instruments TMS320DRM350 digital signal processor-based (DSP) baseband, the first integrated digital baseband that supports both DRM and DAB standards, for which RadioScape designed the DRM baseband stack. The radiOS architecture, which is only available on RadioScape modules, extends the DSPs basic capabilities, and seamlessly manages uploads of the appropriate RadioScape software stack and/or applications to change functionality to suit the requirements of the moment. This significantly improves the user experience, masking transitions between different broadcast standards by automatically listing all services alphabetically regardless of transmission type so that users select by content and avoiding the need for manual band switching.
Modules will be sampling in August of 2005, with volume production following shortly thereafter. RadioScape forecasts that multi-standard, multi-band receivers based on the RS500 could have end user prices below $250 — almost a quarter the price of existing DRM receivers in the market.
This is the breakthrough that DRM has been waiting for, said Peter Senger, DRM Chairman and Deutsche Welle COO. Until now there have only been a limited number of DRM receivers available. This new module from RadioScape will open up the market with easy to use, consumer priced, multi-standard receivers in the same way that the company helped open up the DAB market. The broadcasts are already in place with dozens of broadcasters currently transmitting around the world. WorldDAB and DRM have been co-operating for sometime, added Annika Nyberg, President of WorldDAB. There are synergies between DAB and DRM business models. These synergies will provide an added boost in many countries as multi-standard digital radios bought for DRM will also receive DAB providing broadcasters with large potential audiences.
16 June 2005
VT Communications (VTC), part of VT Group plc is providing a ground breaking AM broadcast pilot service using the Digital Radio MondialeTM (DRMTM) system. Several UK commercial broadcasters are participating, including Virgin Radio, Asian Sound Radio, Classic Gold Digital, Premier Christian Radio and CVC.
The commercial trial, which runs for two months, is the first of its kind targeting the UK. It allows commercial broadcasters to assess the benefits of the exciting new digital AM technology, including real time text and data based information services, in addition to demonstrating the superb quality of reception that is now available on the AM bands.
The programming is being broadcast from transmission facilities in Western Europe reaching the whole of the UK as well as North West Continental Europe, demonstrating the exceptional coverage offered by the AM (SW, MW & LW) DRM technology platform which enables broadcasters to reach mass audiences cost effectively from one single transmitter.
VT Communications owns and operates three DRM capable transmitters in the UK. Following successful service trials in 2004, these transmitters already carry programming for several international broadcasters into Europe.
VT Communications will be demonstrating these UK trials at the Digital Radio Show in London from 1-2 June 2005, providing conference delegates with the opportunity to listen to the broadcasts and expose them to the future of AM digital radio. DRM Chairman and Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Welle, Peter Senger will address the conference in a session titled An Overview of Global DRM Implementations, at 10:30am on 1 June.
Bryan Coombes, General Manager for Broadcast at VT Communications commented: VT Communications is delighted at being able to offer our customers the opportunity to evaluate the benefits of DRM technology on their home territory. This really is an exciting taste of the future of radio, today.
Virgin Radio’s Development Director Jason Bryant said: “Virgin Radio is committed to making its programme services available on a wide variety of platforms. We believe that DRM is an exciting, and potentially wide appeal new platform and have been impressed with the technology on this trial”.
John Baish, Managing Director at Classic Gold Digital commented: Were all excited by the opportunities that DRM will create, and this trial has given us a lot of encouragement about the potential of the platform. This is a groundbreaking initiative, and VT Communications have worked with great professionalism on the trial.
Asian Sound Radio’s Shujat Ali, Managing Director commented: “We see DRM and other digital radio platforms as an excellent means for covering the ethnic and Asian community niche markets, enabling us to stay at the forefront of this key market area.”
10 June 2005
OMNIBUS SYSTEMS is enhancing its support services to meet the needs of a growing customer base for the company’s broadcast automation and content management technologies. Service teams in key regions of North America, Europe, and Asia are being expanded through new hires and office openings, and the company is launching a new interactive online service designed to support clients worldwide.
In addition to an increase in technical support staff at the company’s European support headquarters in the U.K., OmniBus’ North American and Asian support operations have expanded with the addition of new project engineers, technical support staff, and regional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Singapore.
Just appointed to lead the North American support team is Brian Chavez, who transitions from the role of sales manager to take the position of director in customer support and operations. With 18 years’ experience in the broadcast industry, Chavez has an extensive background in customer support, project management, sales, and finance with Novus Development, Encoda Systems, Geocast Network Systems, and several major market television and radio stations. Brian will also retain responsibility for maintaining key account relationships.
Beyond office and staff expansion, OmniBus has invested in new support
technologies with the launch of a completely redesigned Web site that delivers new services to broadcasting and cable customers and offers advanced interactive features designed to broaden the company’s customer support services. Available to
all customers who participate in the Omni Care warranty program, the site
enables OmniBus customers anywhere in the world to log and update calls,
review the progress made in resolving issues, talk to one another about
OmniBus technology, and have access to an extensive knowledge base across
an Internet connection, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The site features quick and easy access to software and hardware
datasheets, reference guides, and other technical information pertaining to all released OmniBus products. New and enhanced features include direct
access to all folders within OmniBus’ FTP area, a support forum, a “Notice
Board” with the very latest technical announcements, and the facility for
multiple email addresses that will notify customers of software releases or information updates.
“OmniBus is committed to providing truly unrivalled support services to
broadcasting and cable operations around the world through the right
combination of personnel and the latest technologies,” said Mike Oldham, CEO of OmniBus. “We’re confident that these new efforts will make it even easier for our customers to access valuable product information and the depth of expertise available 24/7 through our very experienced technical support staff.”
OmniBus also offers an extensive consultancy program that addresses
training requirements, changes in workflow practices, skills development, and technology recommendations. A dedicated team of support staff and engineers are on permanent call to answer questions and resolve any issues that may arise at OmniBus installations.
OmniBus customers can access the support website via the password-protected area of the main OmniBus website (www.omnibus.tv) or directly via http://support.omnibus.co.uk.
