25 February 2004
The Canadian market for DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) is poised to take off and will be helped by CBC Radio Canada’s programme of upgrading its DAB broadcast infrastructure. The national public service broadcaster has chosen RadioScape’s innovative Professional DAB Broadcast System for the first multiplex in this upgrade rollout which will be located in Vancouver.
The Professional DAB Broadcast System from RadioScape consists of a series of software modules, connected by a unique IP-based architecture that controls and delivers audio and data from the studio together with any external service providers, taking care of encoding and multiplexing to provide a complete baseband DAB broadcasting solution. RadioScape’s easy to use scheduling software enables users to maintain what has traditionally been a complex task. The software runs on standard industrial PCs so that hardware maintenance is straightforward. New software updates and enhancements can be easily uploaded to provide system improvements.
Nigel Oakley, RadioScape’s VP of Marketing, said, “Our Broadcast System is used for over 90% of commercial DAB broadcasts in the UK and more than 40 overseas DAB broadcast systems. This sale into Canada is the first of many more that we are working on all around the world as countries accelerate their roll out programme for DAB. Our unique solution offers superb flexibility and quality at a very competitive price with the guarantee of being future proof by virtue of being software-based unlike rival solutions that are hardware-based.”
25 February 2004
New agreements with Media Review International Pty. Ltd. (MRI), a provider of proprietary broadcast monitoring solutions based in Australia, and Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. (IBS), a leading U.S.-based local news provider on the Web, have launched Teletrax into the international advertising marketplace.
As the first and only global digital video monitoring service, Teletraxs patented technology embeds an imperceptible and indelible digital watermark into video whenever it is edited, broadcast or duplicated. A global network of decoders, or detectors, then captures all occurrences of the embedded video being broadcast via satellite, cable or terrestrially and generates tracking reports for the original content owners. Additionally, Teletrax can detect usage with granular precision, down to one second of video.
MRI and IBS each strive to offer unique solutions for their respective target audiences and Teletrax is pleased to help both companies measure advertising delivery effectiveness in a way never before possible, said Andy Nobbs, managing director of Teletrax. The watermarking technology can be similarly harnessed by other advertising content providers whose broadcast quality standards require the best-of-breed service provided by Teletrax.
MRI is launching a new comprehensive broadcast monitoring service designed to provide full monitoring and reporting services of advertising and music content broadcast on radio and free to air and pay television. MRI will use the Teletrax technology to service the highly competitive advertising marketplace in Australia and New Zealand.
On 19 January, Teletrax announced the deployment of its digital monitoring network to Latin America (Argentina, Brazil and Mexico). Teletraxs worldwide reach now extends to nearly 50 countries and more than 700 channels in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Leading entertainment, news and media organizations that have contracted with Teletrax to track broadcasts of news video or promotional content, either in the United States exclusively or globally, are Universal Domestic Television, Reuters Television and NBC News Channel. The U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is using Teletrax to assess distribution and usage of its news bulletins by television broadcasters around the world.
Teletrax is a member of the AIB.
24 February 2004
The BBC has won a major international award in recognition of its commitment to environmental issues around the world the biennial Zayed International Prize for the Environment. It is considered to be the largest and most valuable award of its kind. In its citation, the jury says it considers that the BBC stands apart for its commitment, breadth of coverage, and dedication to addressing global, regional and national environmental concerns.
It singles out Earth Report, which has been broadcast on BBC World since 1997, as a television programme that has not only shocked and entertained but brought about real change by inspiring businesses, NGOs [non-governmental organisations] and governments to adopt more environmentally friendly technologies, lifestyles and policies.
The jury also recognises the work of BBC World Service radio, which broadcasts to at least 150 million regular listeners in 43 languages, and BBC News Online, which receives more than 206 million page impressions per month at www.bbcnews.com.
BBC Worlds Editorial Director, Sian Kevill, attended the award ceremony in Dubai on 23 February to collect the prize on behalf of the BBC. The prize money (US$500,000) will be donated to the BBC World Service Trust, a registered charity. BBC World Service Trust Director Stephen King says: The Trust is an important part of the BBCs work. This prize will make a big contribution to helping us continue our work, bringing benefit to communities in the developing world.
BBC Global News, incorporating BBC World and BBC World Service, is a member of the AIB.
23 February 2004
Asia’s leading satellite operator AsiaSat and the Peoples Republic of Bangladeshs national broadcaster Bangladesh Television (BTV) announced on 23 February the signing of a lease agreement for the use of C-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S to broadcast BTV World, a television channel for overseas service across the Asia Pacific region.
This Bangla-language satellite channel will commence broadcasting on AsiaSat 3S from early March, providing daily broadcasts of news and current affairs, drama, entertainment, cultural and educational programs from Bangladesh that serve overseas audiences in the region.
“We are excited to announce the launch of our overseas television services on AsiaSat 3S. We chose AsiaSat 3S because of its excellent channel neighbourhood and strong audience penetration. AsiaSat 3S offers the regions most attractive platform for South Asian channels, as well as numerous other regional and international channels. In addition, the region-wide coverage of AsiaSat 3S enables us to extend our reach to whole of Asia and Australasia with the latest news from our country, to introduce our culture and economy, trade and tourism to the rest of the world, said Mostafizur Rahman, Director General of BTV.
BTV World is available on AsiaSat 3S in C-band with the following reception parameters: Transponder: 3V, Frequency: 3725 MHz, Polarisation: Vertical, Modulation: QPSK, Symbol Rate: 4.45 Msym/sec, FEC: 3/4
23 February 2004
Al-Hurra, a new Arabic-language satellite television network, began broadcasting to millions of viewers in 22 countries across the Middle East on 14 February 2004.
Al-Hurra (Arabic for “The Free One”) is devoted primarily to news and information. In addition to reporting on regional and international events, the channel broadcasts discussion programmes, current affairs magazines and features on a variety of subjects including health and personal fitness, entertainment, sports, fashion, and science and technology.
Al-Hurra is operated by The Middle East Television Network Inc., a non-profit corporation funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors BBG (a federal agency that supervises all US non-military international broadcasting). The channel broadcasts from studios in Springfield, Virginia and bureaux throughout the Middle East.
Norman J. Pattiz, chairman of the BBG’s Middle East committee who spearheaded development of Al-Hurra, said, “Al-Hurra will present fresh perspectives for viewers in the Middle East that we believe will create more cultural understanding and respect.”
Al-Hurra is available to viewers in the Middle East on the region’s two major satellite systems, Arabsat and Nilesat. The broadcast schedule is posted on the channels web site.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is a member of the AIB.
