20 June 2006
The July 2005 launch of the world’s first high-power trial of digital video broadcast to handheld (DVB-H) technology marked an important milestone for digital television. Conducted over the past year by Broadcast Australia, Australia’s leading independent broadcast transmission provider, using an Atlas(TM) Digital DTV660L liquid-cooled DVB-T transmitter from Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), the DVB-H trial aimed to test the technical capability and commercial prospects for DVB-H applications in Australia and globally.
For this trial, Broadcast Australia worked with Harris, telecommunications provider Telstra, and wireless antenna and cable manufacturer Radio Frequency Systems (RFS). Comprising the delivery of 16 channels of live-streamed, diverse content to 400 trial users, the trial explored the technical aspects and usage patterns of multi-channel mobile media services.
“By selecting the Harris Atlas Digital DTV660L transmitters, Broadcast Australia has been able to achieve its objectives for two high-profile digital broadcasting trials,” said Clive Morton, Broadcast Australia broadcast services director. “In addition, the transmitters have reduced operating costs through efficient energy consumption, along with compact and quiet operation, while permitting easy monitoring and control of the system from anywhere at anytime.”
Broadcast Australia selected The Bridge Networks to supply a Harris Atlas Digital DTV660L liquid-cooled DVB-T transmitter (operating in DVB-H mode) for the task. The transmitter provides 3.4kW of power from a single cabinet into an existing, multi-coupled UHF antenna system, delivering 80kW effective radiated power (ERP), covering the major part of the Sydney metropolitan area.
Key benefits of the Harris transmitter are its compact design and quiet operation. Being liquid-cooled, it presents a single-cabinet footprint, while the cooling system, pump module and heat exchanger are located conveniently away from the main cabinet. This made it an ideal fit into Broadcast Australia’s newly built transmitter hall at the Gore Hill broadcast site.
Based on these attributes, Broadcast Australia also decided to upgrade the transmission system of its digital datacasting trial. This involved installing an identical Harris 3.4kW liquid-cooled transmitter (operating in DVB-T mode) in the same transmitter hall.
Since both systems now use the same model transmitter, Broadcast Australia can employ common spare components across both the DVB-H and datacasting trials, and enjoy streamlined operations and maintenance procedures. The front-access, modular design and redundant amplifier system provide the ability to service the power amplifier modules on-air without service interruption. The transmitter front-end user interface is common for low- and high-power operation.
The transmitter has been readily integrated into Broadcast Australia’s existing 24×7 Network Operations Centre (NOC) for monitoring and forward control purposes. The SNMP, GUI and Web browser interface make it easy for the NOC team to interrogate the transmission system from the NOC or any other location.
19 June 2006
NEW: Pharos Mediator Enterprise
Making its UK debut at Broadcast Live 2006, Pharos Mediator Enterprise is one of the most innovative new developments in broadcasting. Developed from the field-proven Mediator media management system, Mediator Enterprise enables television network staff to concentrate on content rather than kit. It automatically tracks content flow from initial acquisition to playout and post-transmission storage. Configurable for large or small networks, Mediator Enterprise includes ingest tools, browsing, quality-control processing and management of tape, near-online and archive libraries. On signing in to the system, individual operators are presented with a familiar web-based control screen matching the specific roles they perform within the organisation. As content progresses towards and beyond transmission, it is automatically presented to the appropriate user. Combining media asset management and workflow management, Mediator Enterprise offers a step-change increase in the efficiency of broadcast network operation.
NEW: Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder
Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder enables rich media files to be converted quickly and easily from a wide range of telco-specific formats such as the 3GPP and 3GPP2 standards used in high-speed wireless networks. Source files are displayed on a browser-driven control screen. Transcoding is activated by dragging and dropping files between source and destination format folders. Files can be converted in any order between MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DV, 4:2:2, 4:2:0 and uncompressed. Output bit-rate is user-assignable. Applications of Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder include downconverting broadcast-quality content for internet-based distribution, upconverting internet-delivered ENG feeds, and a wide variety of file-format interchange tasks in programme production, post-production and playout. The unit occupies a compact 1U x 600 mm chassis and is controlled via a standard browser.
NEW: Pharos Reflection
Pharos will also be demonstrating a new MPEG4-based browse system, Pharos Reflection, which allows incoming video to be viewed by up to 20 users simultaneously on existing PC or Mac desktops. Reflection is compatible with video servers handling MPEG2, DV25, DV50 and uncompressed signal formats. Source material can be accessed via FTP or streaming.
NEW: Pharos Pilot Ria 2
A powerful update to the Pilot Ria web-based intranet control system will be introduced by Pharos. When launched at IBC2004, Pilot Ria set new levels of operational flexibility for broadcast staff by enabling full reactive control of routing equipment from any web browser via local or secure-coupled intranet. It can be deployed quickly and easily throughout a single-site or multi-site facility and, when necessary, enables engineering staff to reconfigure a system from home or while travelling. Pharos Pilot Ria 2 adds to the existing feature set major enhancements including salvo/macro functions, destination locking, and destination grouping. Full details will be released at the exhibition.
NEW: Pharos first to implement Isilon storage into Media Asset Management
Pharos will exhibit a major innovation in Media Asset Management, being the first to implement Isilon intelligent clustered storage into a MAM system. This enables broadcasters to benefit from Isilon’s ‘pay as you grow’ storage solutions, expandable up to 528 terabytes of capacity and 7 gigabit/s data speeds.
19 June 2006
Who is the Rembrandt of our time? How does the great Dutch master inspire contemporary artists worldwide? To find out, Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) is launching an international competition under the title Inspired by Rembrandt. Artists around the globe are invited to submit their entries via the official website rembrandt.rnw.nl. They will compete for a special workshop at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, a leading Dutch art institute. The best submissions will be shown at an exhibition in the Netherlands.
The Inspired by Rembrandt competition will be officially launched tonight at a special ceremony in the Rijksmuseum by Dutch photographer and jury member Corbino (Maarten Corbijn).
Radio Netherlands Worldwide will invite artists all over the world to take part in the competition through its international transmissions and websites (in nine languages). It will also approach thousands of radio stations and art institutes around the world. Artists can enter their paintings or photographs until 30 September 2006. A jury of experts will then select 10 semi-finalists, whose entries will be posted on rembrandt.rnw.nl. A voting form on the website will allow the general public to pick the winning piece of art from 15 October to 30 November.
Interest
Radio Netherlands Worldwide has already received some entries. One is from Josep Agus Tomo who’s from Jakarta and says he has drawn inspiration from Rembrandts use of colour: He paints colour on colour. The layers are painted in such a way that theyre in harmony with each other. Which is perfect! In my work, Im also looking for the right balance between light, colour and focus.
Jury
The judging panel consists of Ad s Gravesande (Chairman of the Art and Culture Broadcasting Organisation), renowned international photographer Maarten Corbijn (Corbino), Ernst W. Veen (Managing Director of the Nieuwe Kerk and the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam), Mavis Albertina (Editor-in-Chief/ Publisher of MAVIS magazine), Cathy Spierenburg (Channel Coordinator of Z@pp childrens TV) and Joop Daalmeijer (Editor-in-Chief, Radio Netherlands Worldwide). The public jury is headed by Ms Nolly A. van Berge, notary public in Amsterdam. More details about the competition are available at: rembrandt.rnw.nl.
Cultural ambassador
Celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Rembrandts birth will be held in the Netherlands throughout the year. In its capacity as an ambassador of Dutch culture, Radio Netherlands provides an international multimedia platform for this Rembrandt Year through radio, television and the internet. Earlier this year Radio Netherlands Worldwide released the radio drama The Edges of the Night Watch in Dutch, English, Spanish, Indonesian, French and Italian.
19 June 2006
Rear Admiral Rees Ward, Chief Executive of the Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA), has opened the hub of a rationalised and enhanced High Frequency (HF) communications service for the UKs Armed Forces at Forest Moor in North Yorkshire. The refurbished Defence High Frequency Communications Service (DHFCS) Network Control Station (NCS) is at the centre of a multi-million pound investment by VT Communications as part of a 15-year PPP (Public Private Partnership) contract valued at £220 million.
The DHFCS contract was awarded in 2003 to modernise the HF beyond line of sight communications capability for UK armed forces and other authorised users. The contract has enhanced the quality, availability and reliability of the worldwide network of HF communications assets used by all three UK armed forces, with a programme of improved operational arrangements and new technology introduced by VT. This includes new transmitters, receivers, antennas, and an integrated control system to provide new data services offering Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) and Automatic Link Management (ALM).
Admiral Rees Ward commented: The opening of the Network Control Station marks another major step towards the delivery of the new DHFCS but more importantly demonstrates the strong partnership between the MoD and VT Communications. This successful relationship helps to promote the DCSA’s Vision of Industry/MoD partnering to deliver assured, integrated information services to the UK’s Armed Forces.”
VT Communications Managing Director Doug Umbers added: DHFCS has produced considerable benefits for the users by streamlining and modernising the use of HF communications for ships and aircraft and other users.
The programme is a great example of industry and Government working together. Our partnership with the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA) and, in particular, the Strategic Terrestrial Radio Systems (STRS) Integrated Project Team has delivered one of the most advanced HF communications systems used by any military in the world.
VT has achieved significant cost savings by utilising modern technology. This has led to the rationalisation of the number of UK sites delivering the service from 14 to six, allowing the return of surplus land. Overseas, four sites provide services to both air and surface platforms. In addition, the global rationalisation programme has led to the release of approximately 200 military personnel to other higher priority duties
Under DHFCS, Terrestrial Air Sea Communications (TASCOMM) is available for use by RN, RAF and the Army. TASCOMM is a ground-air-ground, ship-shore and ground-to-ground HF radio communications service designed for NATO and National use. Previously known as STCICS, TASCOMM has its control centre at the NCS at Forest Moor with an alternative network control centre (ANCS) located at RAF Kinloss. Both the NCS and ANCS will control, transmit and receive assets around the world to provide an efficient and responsive service to the users.
Combined with the introduction of new RAF and RN platform HF communications equipment supplied under separate contracts, DHFCS will take full advantage of the modern high-speed waveforms to provide rapid data throughput, eventually including HF email. ALE, ARQ and ALM techniques both simplify and speed up the process of establishing HF communication channels.
19 June 2006
Audiences in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East can now enjoy a range of BBC radio programmes in two streams – Arabic and English. Both languages are available in digital quality sound, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to a renewed partnership between the international radio and online broadcaster BBC World Service and the satellite operator Arabsat.
Simon Kendall, Business Development Manager, BBC World Service, said: We are delighted to be renewing our already long standing relationship with Arabsat. This agreement will ensure that substantial audiences across the Arab world will have easy access to both our English and Arabic radio services.
Khalid Balkhyour, Arabsat President & CEO, welcomed the expansion of BBC Arabic and English broadcasts on Arabsat, wishing them every success: BBC World Service radio enjoys a well established reputation throughout the Middle East for high quality news coverage, and we are proud to be their partner in delivering their services to our audience of 130 million listeners. We are honored by their trust in our system and their confidence in the extensive penetration of Arabsat’s constellation of BADR satellites at our 26° East primary fast growing DTH neighborhood.
Khalid Balkhyour also confirmed Arabsats strong commitment to contribute to its customers’ success by supporting their growth throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Recent reconfiguration of the Arabsat bouquet means that established BBC listeners via Arabsat will need to retune their receivers. The BBC services are available on the multiplex operating frequency 11.861 MHz, FEC 3/4 Symbol rate 27 500. The channel IDs are 20 for BBC Arabic and 21 for BBC English.
19 June 2006
Reporters Without Borders yesterday reiterated its condemnation of the arbitrary detention of Sudanese assistant cameraman Sami Al-Haj of the pan-Arab TV station Al-Jazeera, who on Monday completed his fourth year in the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Arrested by the Pakistani army on the Afghan border in December 2001, Al-Haj was handed over on 7 January 2002 to the US military, who initially held him in Afghanistan. The fourth anniversary of his transfer to Guantanamo on 13 June 2002 comes as the controversy about the detention centre has been revived by the suicides of three prisoners on 10 June.
According to his British lawyer, Clive A. Stafford-Smith, he has been questioned more than 130 times during the past four years in Guantanamo, in the course of which his interrogators have voiced threats against his family, especially his daughter. The interrogations have for the most part aimed at getting him to say there is link between Al-Jazeera and Al-Qaeda. His detention is targeted at Al-Jazeera and is an expression of the US governments open hostility towards the Qatar-based satellite news station.
