Spy Post purchases Pablo 4K color correction system

7 September 2009

Spy Post, the San Francisco post house known for its work in commercials and feature film post production, has purchased a Quantel Pablo 4K non-linear color correction system. The Pablo is equipped with a full raft of Quantel’s MME acceleration technology as well as Quantel’s Stereo 3D toolset.

The top-of-the-range Pablo has been purchased as part of the major expansion program put in place at Spy Post following its recent acquisition by FotoKem, one of Hollywood’s most established post production facilities. The new unit, together with new personnel recruited by Spy Post, means the company can now offer a complete menu of pre-production, production and post production services, including visual effects and design for commercials and feature films. With renovation and expansion work already under way, Spy Post will soon also boast the first commercially available stereoscopic DI theatre in San Francisco, powered by the Stereo3D-equipped Pablo color correction and DI system.

FotoKem’s Burbank headquarters is itself home to multiple Quantel Pablo systems built around a Genetic Engineering shared workflow infrastructure. All of FotoKem’s services will be accessible in San Francisco, available either in-house or through a high speed connection to FotoKem’s Burbank campus.

“The creative and technical excellence of film industry professionals in the Bay Area is world renowned,” said Bill Schultz, FotoKem SVP and General Manager, Digital Film Services. Extending our service range to support them is a natural choice. Via our high bandwidth connectivity, we’re able to maintain absolute cohesion in work being produced at Spy Post and our existing facilities in Los Angeles at “Keep Me Posted” and the main FotoKem campus.”

“Spy Post has an excellent reputation for the quality of its commercials, FX and DI post work in the Bay area and we’re delighted that they have chosen to expand their range of services with Quantel technology,” said Quantel VP of Sales, Eric Thorne. “And combined with the immense resources and capabilities of FotoKem, there is now a formidable new presence in the San Francisco market which will be welcomed by ad agencies and film directors alike.”

RRsat to transmit Romanian PRO TV International over Europe, North Africa and Middle East

7 September 2009

RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a rapidly growing provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced that PRO TV International, the premier Romanian language TV channel targeting Romanians residing outside of Romania, has chosen RRsat to expand its coverage to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East via the Hotbird satellite. Furthermore, PRO TV International has chosen RRsat to distribute the channel to Sky Italia platform in Italy.

Its generalist programming offer comes from a generous pool of resources: that of the PRO TV S.A. group of trendsetting channels which are the most popular and dynamic on the Romanian market. PRO TV International keeps its viewers connected to their home through the best rated news programs, quality entertainment, classical movies, modern novellas, as well as through interactive shows specifically tailored for Romanians abroad.

“We are very pleased that PRO TV International has chosen the RRsat Global Network to further expand its global reach to millions of Romanian viewers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The RRsat global network enables viewers to access their familiar programs, each in their different time zones, reaching viewers in previously inaccessible regions,” commented Lior Rival, VP Sales and Marketing of RRsat. “RRsat’s advanced and comprehensive global network, will also enable PRO TV International to access the Sky Italia platform, reaching the broad Italian DBS subscriber network, further increasing its viewing potential reaching an even larger viewing audience.”

Discussions under way on AFP ownership

28 August 2009

Discussions are underway between AFP’s board of directors and the French government concerning the future ownership of the press agency, according to Le Figaro newspaper. AFP CEO Pierre Louette believes the agency needs significant investment to be able to offer services that compete in today’s world and that the current corporate structure, set up in 1957, hampers the ability to raise the necessary money.

But the solution of becoming a company with one owner, for example the French government, raises the question of how the agency preserves its independence.

Rival agencies, such as Associated Press, are facing the same pressures as AFP, caused by the rise of modern methods of sourcing news. One way forward would be to offer specialist services, as Reuters have done for the finance sector.

STB shipments forecast to rise in 2009

26 August 2009

Worldwide shipments of set top boxes (STBs) are forecast to increase 4.2% this year, from 131.2M units to 136.7M units, according to iSuppli, the market intelligence company for the electronic industry.

The rise is despite the current economic downturn and is due to growth in the Asian markets and also the growth in boxes for the cable and IPTV markets.

More details of the findings can be found target=_blank>here

Over 7000 entries in 2009 Sourcebook

24 August 2009

With its comprehensive worldwide view and the inclusion of online and mobile broadcasting contacts, the 2009 AIB Global Broadcasting Sourcebook will contain over 7000 names of key people in international broadcasting, making it an invaluable resource.

The AIB is busy doing further checks to ensure the accuracy of the details. The Sourcebook will be published in September with first copies being made available to AIB members