19 January 2004
Omnibus Systems, the award-winning provider of comprehensive automation and asset management solutions to the broadcast industry, has received a capital injection of $12.5m (approximately 10m) from majority shareholder Palamon Capital Partners. The new funding is earmarked for further development of G3 technology and further US expansion, as the company positions itself to address the needs of the growing automation and asset management market for digital television operations.
It follows the completion of a market study conducted on behalf of Palamon by the management consultants McKinsey & Company which indicated that OmniBus’ groundbreaking G3 architecture shows enormous potential in the broadcast market. OmniBus G3 technology offers a unique implementation of micro-modular design, delivering integrated units of functionality, each of which addresses the precise requirements of individual users. In sharp contrast to the “one-size-fits-all” approach of traditional software development, G3 provides tailored, task-specific modules that share a common interface. Because this flexible, scalable architecture is based on standard, open-IT protocols, it allows broadcasters to use a single, consistent interface to integrate, control and configure OmniBus products and third-party equipment for smooth content-flow management throughout entire operations.
To guide the company through this new chapter in its development, Mike Oldham – previously the CEO of OmniBus Systems’ North American subsidiary – has been appointed Chief Executive Officer with worldwide responsibilities. “We go into 2004 in great shape. As a result of a significant increase in orders during 2003, we have our strongest-ever order book and we have attracted important growth funding from our biggest shareholder,” said Oldham.
Omnibus Systems is a member of the AIB.
19 January 2004
On 3 January, the Italian public broadcaster RAI unveiled its two DVB-T multiplexes, which will carry eight TV channels produced by RAI, two run by third-party content providers, and four radio channels.
RAI general director, Flavio Cattaneo, announced that RAI’s digital offer will include simulcasts of its three analogue terrestrial TV networks RaiUno, RaiDue, RaiTre, its satellite services RaiSport, RaiNews 24 and RaiEducational, plus new community channel RaiUtile and new culture/arts channel RaiDoc. Negotiations are currently going on with third-party content providers, including Sat2000 and Euronews.
Italy’s Communications Ministry estimates that 60,000 digital boxes have already been sold, in addition to the 2,000 households in Turin, Rome and Palermo that RAI has equipped with digital boxes to test interactive and multimedia applications. RAI’s digital multiplexes currently cover 50 per cent of the population although coverage will expand to 76 per cent by the end of the year. Receivers currently on the market cost 200-300 euro, but prices are expected to fall as they become more widespread.
19 January 2004
Radio Romania International (RRI), Romanias radio voice to the world, has dramatically expanded its availability via digital satellite to listeners around the world with the conclusion of an agreement for transmission services with World Radio Network (WRN), the London-based international broadcaster and transmission service provider.
The agreement covers the distribution of RRIs daily English, French, German and Russian programmes via WRNs various international news networks. Via WRN, RRIs programmes can also be heard on local cable services and local AM/FM stations in many countries and as on-demand archived audio files via the WRN website.
Romania International is tasked with informing the world about both the modern, democratic Romania as well as looking at the countrys rich cultural and historical traditions. The daily English programme, produced by a dedicated team of English-speaking journalists, producers and editors at RRIs headquarters in Bucharest, covers all aspects of life in the country including national and international news, commentaries and special reports focused on Romania and its geographical neighbourhood, all delivered by a broad network of correspondents.
Karl Miosga, WRNs Managing Director said: RRIs programmes will be more widely available to both new and existing listeners around the world in crystal clear digital quality. We hope for a long partnership with RRI and we warmly welcome them to the family of international broadcasters that make up WRN.
World Radio Network is a member of the AIB.
15 January 2004
Universal Domestic Television (UDT) has become the first major studio to sign an agreement with Teletrax to electronically monitor the broadcast of promotions for its entertainment shows by television stations across the United States.
“Universal is in the vanguard of the programming marketplace and we believe that others will soon follow its lead,” said Andy Nobbs, Managing Director of Teletrax.
Teletrax is the first and only global digital video monitoring service. Its patented technology embeds an imperceptible digital watermark into video that is robust enough to survive aggressive editing and special production effects such as picture compression. Additionally, Teletrax can detect usage with granular precision, down to one second of video.
As the first entertainment-programming client to adopt the one-of-a-kind service, Universal joins other Teletrax charter clients including leading news organizations Reuters and NBC News Channel.
Teletrax is a member of the AIB.
15 January 2004
Harris Corporation announced on 9 January that it has been awarded a one-year, US$96 million contract by the Defense Contracting Command-Washington, on behalf of the Coalition Provisional Authority, for developing an existing but antiquated media network into a modern media organization for the Iraqi people.
Harris Corporation created an Iraq Initiatives Office in July 2003 headed by Managing Director Youssef Sleiman. The initiative leveraged the products, capabilities, and resources of the company’s five communications businesses to address opportunities related to the rebuilding of Iraq. “We created a focused organization to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq and to apply the unique capabilities that Harris has to offer in both commercial and government communications systems. The extensive experience of our Broadcast Communications Division on international projects, combined with the large integration programs expertise of our Government Communications Systems Division, will ensure the success of this initiative,” said Howard Lance, chairman, president, and CEO of Harris Corporation.
The goal of the IMN contract is to create from the existing organization a first class, integrated media network that will include two national radio channels, two national television channels, and a national newspaper, “Al Sabah.”
Harris will lead this project and provide all of the necessary transmitters, integration and automation broadcast equipment with support from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), a Middle Eastern media network, and Al Fawares, a Kuwaiti company with Iraqi ownership.
As the UK’s Financial Times reported on 10 January, Iraq’s communications minister said he was not consulted about the contract and threatened to overturn it when the US-led administration hands power to a sovereign Iraqi government in July. “We very much welcome the help of others to reshape our media, but to relinquish our responsibilities and to give control to foreign media is politically and socially wrong,” said Mr Abadi. He called the contract “temporary”. If the handover goes to plan Iraqi ministers will have responsibility for deciding the fate of the licences.
Harris Corporation is a member of the AIB.
15 January 2004
French broadcast regulator CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel) has fixed the date for the launch of terrestrial digital television as between 1 December 2004 and 31 March 2005. The precise date of start of transmissions will be announced six months in advance, with the Council deciding on a coverage target of approximately 60 per cent of the population by the end of 2005 and a final objective of reaching 85 per cent.
Viewers will be able to receive about fifteen national television channels, as well as local programmes, with the possibility of another fifteen subscription stations.
The CSA has published a list of 88 planned transmitter sites on its web site at www.csa.fr/pdf/frequences_tnt_191203.pdf.
