1 April 2005
Quantel today unveiled Picturebox sQ a brand new addition to the world-leading sQ server range that provides an integrated approach to the creation, playout and management of graphics. Picturebox sQ is the perfect partner for Paintbox. In keeping with the modern approach to graphics, Picturebox sQ plays out moving sequences in the form of clips as well as stills. Picturebox sQ is also HD upgradeable, making it a totally futureproof investment for broadcasters looking to solve all of their long-term graphics playout and management needs.
The management facilities of Picturebox sQ bring a new dimension to the editorial control of graphics creation and playout. On the same network as both Paintbox and Picturebox sQ, there can be a number of independent viewing and editing stations. In this way creative, content and legal approvals can all be achieved on-line, playlists can be updated and new graphics added while the system is literally on-air.
To the on-air operator the QPlay panel will feel instantly and reassuringly familiar, based as it is on the much loved, highly ergonomic control panel from the original Quantel Picturebox that found so much favour with thousands of broadcasters worldwide. However the new software behind the new panel provides even more flexibility for the input, output and rundown processes.
The addition of an optional slo-mo lever also makes Picturebox sQ a natural fit for live events, as does its compact size. In addition, the speed and positive simplicity of the picture management provides the confidence so essential in live applications.
The brain of the system is an IGA (Integrated Graphics Architecture) computer that manages the database. The new IGA marries seamlessly with the ISA (Integrated Server Architecture) computer in sQ server systems, ensuring total transparency of data between the graphics server and the broadcasters main production system. Quantels unique Frame Magic technology ensures optimum performance and storage utilisation.
We have drawn on all our many years experience in the field of close-to-air graphics creation and playout to ensure that the reliability, performance and facilities of the new Picturebox sQ are ideally matched to the needs of todays broadcasters workflow and efficiency requirements, says Quantel Marketing Manager – Graphics, John Woodhouse. As a result, Picturebox sQ feels instinctively absolutely right for the modern broadcast environment.
22 March 2005
The AIB is pleased to announce its first Awards programme – the AIB International Broadcasting Awards 2005.
The AIB International Broadcasting Awards are open to any organisation involved in cross-border broadcasting with three distinct categories covering television, radio and technology:
Category One Best radio documentary or current affairs programme for an international audience (30 or less)
Category Two Best childrens or youth TV programme for an international audience (30 or less)
Category Three Most innovative use of technology in international broadcasting
Entries for the awards must be submitted by 21 March 2005.
The 2005 AIB International Broadcasting Awards will be presented during the Gala Evening at the AIB Global Media Business Conference taking place in Montreal, Canada, on 6th and 7th June.
Complete information and details of the entry procedure can be downloaded here.
Download the official entry form here.
18 March 2005
Harris Corporation’s Broadcast Communications Division (BCD) will showcase its support of the Tomorrow Radio Project, spearheaded by National Public Radio (NPR), through a continuous Tomorrow Radio demonstration at NAB2005. Tomorrow Radio, currently in the midst of a multiyear testing phase, enables radio stations to broadcast multichannel services, including secondary audio and data channels, as part of the HD Radio platform. The secondary services are delivered over the same transport stream as a station’s main analog channel services, taking full advantage of existing bandwidth. Harris has been providing HD Radio transmission equipment for NPR’s testing since the project’s inception in 2003.
“Tomorrow Radio is a shining example of HD Radio’s capabilities,” said Debra Huttenburg, vice president and general manager of the Harris BCD’s Radio Broadcast Systems business unit. “The ability to divide an HD Radio signal into two independently programmed channels is a huge forward leap for terrestrial radio. Harris has proven it can deliver a complete HD Radio transmission solution that allows broadcasters to deliver two high-quality channels over existing bandwidth. This demonstration will clearly illustrate Harris’ efforts in bringing to market flexible, end-to-end transmission solutions that drive the adoption of digital radio.”
At NAB2005, Harris will provide a continuous Tomorrow Radio demonstration featuring its Mini-HD(tm) Series of separate amplification transmitters, FLEXSTAR(tm) HDI-100 importer, and DEXSTAR(R) HD Radio exciter. Visitors to the booth can learn how the HDI-100 importer multiplexes supplemental audio and data services together en route to the DEXSTAR exciter, which modulates the multiplexed signal and controls the Mini-HD transmitter to drive the multichannel services to the receiver. The cost-effective Mini-HD Series provides low-power FM HD Radio systems with the same benefits that distinguish Harris’ market-leading, higher-power transmitters from the competition.
The Mini-HD Series offers four models with different power levels (ranging from 10-600 watts) to serve the varying needs of different customers and market sizes. All Mini-HD transmitters integrate the Harris DEXSTAR HD Radio exciter with a highly linear RF amplifier in a single rack cabinet. Other standard features include rack-mount UPS and
ePAL(R) audio routing systems. The ePAL exciter/program audio interface automatically ensures audio path integrity and provides terminal gear applications for synchronization, distribution and sample rate conversion. Options include Harris’ NeuStar(tm) HD/FM pre-codec processor, which maintains the cleanest possible digital audio, even at reduced bit rates. All four transmitters meet FCC and iBiquity HD Radio standards for use in the United States.
The HDI-100 importer is part of the new FLEXSTAR family of radio products, which also includes the HDE-100 exporter. While the importer enables data services and the supplemental audio chain, the HDE-100 exporter multiplexes the main channel audio with feeds from the importer en route to an STL system.
18 March 2005
Quantel has today announced a partnership with DayPort, a leader in video streaming, workflow infrastructure and convergence technologies.
DayPort will integrate its Carbon suite of products including Web publishing Content Management tools, Production Workflow Solutions and Broadcast Content and Asset Management applications with the Quantel sQ Production and Playout solutions. DayPort applications will complement Quantel solutions by providing an enhanced layer of integration, which enables the seamless publishing of metadata and video content to a broadcasters web site or content delivery over IP to client users.
The combination of these tools provides additional functionality to all content production teams to view metadata content remotely over the web or via their desktops. These tools enable staff to search, view, comment, and make editorial decisions relating to the archiving of content, online metadata and assets. The result is industry leading production systems with capabilities and operational efficiencies unmatched by any current alternative approaches.
We are extremely excited about the partnership and are looking forward to adding to the comprehensive production solutions offered by Quantel, said Andy Ioannou, DayPort Vice President of business development.
DayPort will also provide the tools to allow one station to view anothers assets within the same group and as a result share content over an enterprise wide operation without the manual overhead typically experienced.
Our partnership with Quantel allows more clients to seamlessly publish their content to other destinations while enhancing the production process. The combination of these industry-leading technology solutions advances both Quantels and our position as market leaders, said Glenn Miller, CEO of DayPort.
Quantel Marketing Manager, Norman Rouse, added, Our partnership with DayPort enables us to offer our broadcast customers even more flexible teamworking, as well as access to new delivery channels and importantly, new revenue streams all without adding to the complexity of their systems. Broadcast content from our sQ systems can, for example, be quickly re-purposed for web or PDA viewing with DayPorts Carbon Publish solution. Were very much looking forward to exploring the full potential of this synergistic collaboration between our two companies.
18 March 2005
Midi TV, which owns “etv,” South Africa’s only privately owned free-to-air terrestrial television channel, has turned to Harris Corporation for a new automation system at its Johannesburg studio complex. The new automation system will control two new transmission areas for new channels to be introduced this year.
“We use Harris automation in our Cape Town transmission centre, and etv’s existing channel has run on Harris automation since September 1999,” said Dave Stewart, technical director at Midi TV. “The features, stability and ease of use, together with technical support that we have received in the past, were the main factors in choosing Harris for the expansion of our Johannesburg operation.”
ETV has purchased the Harris ADC-100 automation system together with Harris’ Air Client 2.1(TM) toolsets, an intuitive device control package developed to enhance the mission-critical, play-to-air capabilities of both systems. ETV also will utilize the new Harris Production Client(TM) for its news department to control the recording of incoming satellite feeds into the news video server, as well as the play-out of edited clips during news bulletins.
Harris’ Air Client 2.1 provides broadcast operators with a dedicated interface to the device server that allows flexibility in on-air control to receive real-time updates and streamline basic functions. The ability to control devices in real-time is key to broadcasters who want to maximize flexibility. It also enables operators to import, edit and create transmission lists seconds before events air or as they air, as well as instantly refresh a pull list. Production Client controls play-out of live news programmes, and is designed to control up to three independent video switcher channels.
UK systems integration specialists Megahertz Broadcast Systems completed the design and integration of the new control centres at the Johannesburg studio complex. Identical in design, the two control centres use the Harris system to drive an Omneon video server for ingest and play-out of all programme titles, commercials and promotions.
18 March 2005
Quantel today announced the details of its ground-breaking Pay as you Go HD facility for the eQ editing/effects/grading/mastering system. This highly innovative concept brings risk-free HD to the industrys most powerful post production system.
The concept of Pay as you Go is already well established in the mobile phone industry, and Quantel has adapted this concept to meet the needs of the post production industry as it transitions from SD to a multi-resolution, HD world. Hence an eQ purchased with Pay as you Go HD is a fully equipped system, but ingest and playout is limited to SD until a password is loaded into the system. Weekly or monthly passwords can be purchased from Quantel.
At Quantel we know that the quality and increased creative potential of HD is a fantastic driver for the industry, said Quantel Executive Chairman, Richard Taylor. Understandably though, many customers feel that HD remains a big financial risk. Pay as you Go HD means that Quantel carries that risk. From day one a customer has all of the power and performance of an eQ but only needs to pay for the HD input and output as and when they need it.
Pay as you Go also eliminates the temptation for customers to put up with cheap, low performance HD systems that will ultimately disappoint clients, potentially putting them off HD altogether, adds Steve Owen, Quantel Marketing Manager.
An eQ purchased in Pay as you Go HD configuration costs 60% of the price of the standard always on system. A one week Pay as you Go HD password is priced at just $2250 (£1250). At any time an always on password can be purchased as the HD usage on the system climbs.
In summary, Pay as you Go HD means:
Customers can afford the best HD system around
No need for compromise on quality, performance or toolset
Customers only pay for HD capability as they need it
Reduced risk for the post houses business and increased ROI
Customers can buy the best HD system for the future even if they only want SD today
Customers dont pay extra for HD capability they wont use
eQs four revenue streams (editing, effects, grading, mastering) now great for SD too
Pay as you Go HD from Quantel is believed to be the first example in the industry of this exciting and novel approach. It represents a win-win situation for customers since they get the performance, quality and all round capability of an eQ with risk-free HD.
