Hong Kong uplink partner
APV Hong Kong
Tandberg demodulator for US cable market
Tandberg Television will launch a multi-channel 8VSB demodulator for cable headends at this year’s Cable-Tec Expo in Philadelphia, starting May 11. The TT6330 MediaLink is a cost-effective, compact solution designed to take off-air 8VSB digital television (DTV) signals and demodulate them into individual ASI streams for remultiplexing and remodulation prior to transport through a cable network. The multi-channel capacity of the TT6330 allows cable operators to feed existing off-air transmissions while adding newly established DTV channels to their systems.
Designed as a scalable solution, cable networks can start small and expand the quantity of demodulators as the network’s number of channels is increased. Up to 13 channels of demodulation can be realized in one 3RU chassis, thereby saving valuable rack space over other currently available solutions. When positioned at a central headend or local network hub, the demodulator accepts transmissions directly from the antenna and demodulates them to an ASI format. Those ASI output signals are then forwarded either to a cable headend multiplexer or directly to a digital cable modulator.
Omnibus to develop BBC playout
The UKs BBC Broadcast Limited has confirmed ambitious plans for its new London based headquarters, The Broadcast Centre, which will be the most advanced of its type in the world. It will retain broadcast automation solutions provider, OmniBus Systems to help develop extended playout automation functionality.
OmniBus will develop software by expanding its Colossus multi-channel, multi-delivery control system. The OmniBus new G3 technology, unveiled at NAB2003 will be at the heart of the project.
From the Broadcast Centre it will provide playout, promotion and media access for all BBC public service channels and in addition, BBC Broadcast will offer its considerable range of skills and services to commercial broadcasters. Its 1,000 employees will migrate to the new facility, with plans for first services out during spring, 2004.
France 3 Chooses Thomson
Major French broadcaster France 3 has made the transition to a server-based infrastructure for its new state-of-the-art national master control room with four Grass Valley PVS 1000 Profile XP Media Platform standard-definition (SD) servers from Thomson. As part of a multi-million Euro deal, the equipment will be installed at the network’s national facility in Paris and immediately help it streamline the handling of programme and commercial material.
Once the new playout system is installed by Thomson, the France 3 master control room will be able to access files stored on the Profile servers from anywhere inside the facility via a high-speed Fibre Channel network, allowing greater than real-time transfer speeds and the capability to play a clip on-air while it is being digitised onto the network. Two PVS 1000 servers will be used for ingest and system monitoring while two will distribute programmes directly to air.
CNBC to partner Shanghai Media Group
CNBC Asia Pacific is to announce a strategic partnership with Shanghai Media Group (SMG), a deal intended to give the US-owned business news broadcaster a foothold in the fast developing but tightly controlled Chinese television market. For SMG, a state-owned media conglomerate with interests ranging from TV and radio stations to art troupes and football clubs, the link is expected to offer access to CNBC programming and international experience.
The two groups are expected to initially share footage and financial information, with CNBC likely to make content available for SMG to edit into a daily programme to be broadcast on the group’s own business news channel.
CNBC Asia Pacific, which is jointly owned by Dow Jones and General Electric subsidiary NBC, has been keen to build a presence in China, where rapid economic growth and integration with global markets has created strong demand for business information.
Tapeless solution from BBC and Quantel
BBC Post Production is working closely with Quantel to finalise a proposal towards tapeless post production. The aim of the partnership is to introduce a digital server based solution that will be phased in to service BBC Post Production’s customers including BBC Sport.
BBC Post Production is working with Quantel to develop a tailored digital server-based solution that will be suitable for modern digital widescreen production. It is aimed to maximise work efficiencies, allow better browse and media selection facilities and improve work flow solutions in fast turn-round activities such as sport and events.
BBC Post Production will begin with a combination of linear and non-linear editing and move towards a complete tapeless post production solution within three to five years. In the short term, there will be a reduction in tape-based working although archive capture will still take place on tape for the immediate future.