20 March 2007
On the occasion of the contract signature on the ARABSAT stand today at the CabSat show in Dubai, Mr. Jean STOCK, Executive Chairman of LUXE.TV, and Mr. Khalid BALKHEYOUR, Chief Executive Officer and President of ARABSAT (Arab Satellite Communications Organization), announced the official launch of “LUXE.TV HD”, the very first High Definition TV channel to be broadcasted over the Middle-East & North-Africa region. The channel is broadcasted on Badr-4, Arabsat’s newest satellite at its 26°E Direct-to-Home “Hot-Spot”.
LUXE.TV is the new — and first — international network exclusively dedicated to the luxury world in its entire scope. With 100% original premium content, LUXE.TV opens the doors to a disruptive concept in digital television. Fully produced in High Definition, and broadcast both in High and Standard Definition, LUXE.TV provides high-end coverage of the fascinating diversity of the world of luxury by covering 6 main areas of the luxury lifestyle: Real Estate & Home Design, Sports & Leisure, Hotels & Gastronomy, Beauty & Fashion, Cars & Yachting, and Jewelry & Watches. Viewers are taken on a journey to discover all aspects of the world of luxury in the comfort of their homes with the very best of viewing technology. All content production is being shot in HD in the world’s top 20 luxury capital cities. Available in French, English and German, throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, via 5 satellites, LUXE.TV has an immediate direct access to 250+ million viewers worldwide.”
“The LUXE.TV team is delighted to be the first channel to provide the 130 million Middle East and North Africa viewers of Arabsat BADR-4 with the amazing beauty and comfort of High Definition pictures. We believe that the parallel broadcast of LUXE.TV in Standard Definition [“SD”] is an excellent tool to actively promote the new HD standard. It was very important for LUXE.TV to be broadcasted in the Middle-East where amateurs appreciating the luxury lifestyle are so many”, commented Jean STOCK, Executive Chairman of LUXE.TV.
Mr. Khalid BALKHEYOUR, Arabsat President & CEO, warmly welcomed the launch of the LUXE.TV set of programs, both in High Definition and Standard Definition, as part of the Arabsat rapidly expanding offering of channels and technologies, wishing them every success.
“We are very proud to have been selected for broadcasting LUXE.TV in High Definition over the whole Arab world via BADR-4, our brand new state-of-the-art satellite launched as recently as end of last year, and we feel truly honored by their trust in our system and confidence in the extensive penetration of Arabsat’s constellation of BADR satellites at our 26° East primary fast growing DTH neighborhood, the region’s preferred “Hot Spot” for Direct-to-Home broadcasting”, he declared.
The arrival of LUXE.TV’s High Definition channel constitutes a critical milestone in achieving Arabsat’s strategy of introducing and widely spreading– the very latest TV technology across the entire MENA region, thus delivering on our strong commitment to help our customers succeed and steadily support their growth throughout the region as well as constantly stay at the forefront of high-end technological developments. We’re convinced that the dual-broadcast approach of both SD and HD signals is definitely the way forward to rapidly motivate the region’s viewers for switching over onto the stunning crispy picture quality and enjoyment of HD” he added. “We are very impressed with LUXE.TV’s technical investments, as well as by their ambitious strategy to broadcast in three different languages over two technical formats he concluded.
20 March 2007
Scopus Video Networks Ltd., a provider of digital video networking products, announced today that RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd. has selected Scopus IP-based solutions for new Video-over-IP projects.
RRSat is deploying Scopus’ solutions for a number of applications including:
Video over IP Contribution and Distribution (C&D) delivery between their Points of Presence (POPs) and teleports, contribution from studios to their teleport for satellite distribution and satellite turnaround. In 2006, RRSat has deployed close to $900K worth of Scopus gear.
Scopus’ IP-based systems used for the IP contribution and distribution applications include Encoders, IRD-2900 Integrated Receiver Decoders and IVG-7100 Intelligent Video Gateways. The systems are managed by Scopus’
Network Management System (NMS).
RRSat CTO Ziv Mor commented, “The fast growth of our Global Network combining Satellites and fiber delivery platforms requires highly reliable and promptly deployed equipment. Scopus’ IP-based platforms enhance our ability to quickly address market needs and offer cost-effective and innovative technology solutions to a wide variety of clients. Our working relationship with Scopus is excellent, both in regards to the technology and the service they provide us.”
“We are proud to work with RRSat, which is a leading and fast growing end-to-end service provider for TV and Radio channels. 2006 was a banner year for our relationship,” said Ms. Elya Presman, Scopus AVP Sales EMEA.
“As a sophisticated customer, RRSat wants both performance and technology in one package. Their teaming with Scopus reinforces our position in the market and shows the growth capabilities offered by our technology platforms and comprehensive systems.”
20 March 2007
Al Jazeera will host its 3rd Annual Forum Media and the Middle East: Going Beyond the Headlines at the Sheraton Doha and Convention Resort from March 31- April 2, 2007 in Qatar.
By virtue of its proximity to the main hotspots in the Middle East, Al Jazeera will bring together international media leaders, journalists, authors and scholars to discuss and debate critical issues facing the profession in covering the Middle East and the developing world.
In recent years, the coverage of the Middle East by local and international media has raised many tough questions about the role of media as it takes an increasingly political role on the world stage. Sessions in this years Forum will explore the growing influence of politics on media and vice versa, media credibility in times of conflict, the role of media in building bridges or walls, and case studies from the Middle East and Africa on the practical aspects of deep reporting.
The AIB will attend this event and report to its members afterwards.
20 March 2007
Arqivas high-definition OB trucks capture all the action of the Carling Cup final
Sky Sports broadcasts first domestic final of the 2006/7 season in HD
As part of the three-year contract with Sky Sports announced last year, Arqivas state-of-the-art HD outside broadcasts trucks played a crucial role in the dramatic 2007 Carling Cup final, enabling Sky Sports HD viewers to watch all the action in full, high definition.
The match was the first football final in the UK to be broadcast in HD, since the launch of Skys service in May 2006.
Both of Arqivas new HD OB trucks, built to specification by Sony, were at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to capture all the thrills and spills from the first major English football final of the 2006/7 season.
The trucks are equipped with 20 HDC-1500 HD cameras, two HDC-3300 HD Super-Motion cameras, four HDCAM HDW-D2000/20 VTRs, one HDCAM SR SRW-5500 VTR and a MVS-8000A Multi-Format Switcher.
Mick Bass, Managing Director of Arqiva Outside Broadcasts, commented: Were delighted that Arqivas OB facilities were there to capture the drama and excitement of the game in HD. The exceptional picture quality HD offers enables Sky Sports HD viewers to have an even better experience which proves especially memorable in important games such as the Carling Cup Final and this match proved to be a fantastic showpiece for HD.
20 March 2007
Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has won the Digital Studio Industry Leadership “Vendor of the Year” Award during the Cable, Satellite, Broadcast & Communications (CABSAT) exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The award, sponsored by the International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers (IABM), recognizes the efforts that Harris has made to contribute to the growth of the broadcast and production industry in the region.
“We have made a significant commitment to this region by investing in new offices in Dubai as well as establishing a locally known, Arabic-speaking team led by Said Bacho. These initiatives have been key factors in Harris Corporation’s continuing broadcast business growth throughout the Middle East,” said Dave Dougall, vice president of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa for the Harris Broadcast Communications Division.
Use of Harris products has been gaining momentum throughout the Middle East as demonstrated by the recent purchases made by many of the area’s major broadcasters, including Al-Jazeera English in Qatar; 1/9 Media in Libya; DigiTurk, Turkey; JMC/ArabSat, Jordan; Al-Majd Channel in Saudi Arabia; Al-Rafidine TV in Iraq; Cham TV, United Arab Emirates; Al-Sa’aa, O-TV, Athir TV, WOW TV and the Ministry of Defence in Egypt; Fashion TV Arabia, Al-Jaras TV, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), National Broadcasting Network (NBN) and Future TV in Lebanon; Al-Resalah TV and Gulf Sat in Kuwait, and others.
The gala awards event was attended by more than 350 of the region’s leading professionals in the broadcast, production, post, and film industry, as well as systems integrators, consultants and several high-profile special guests.
20 March 2007
German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle is now offering advertising slots on its worldwide TV channel DW-TV in the framework of a European bouquet.
“Europe TV” is a joint project of DW and TV 5 (France), TVE (Spain) and Euronews. It is an initiative of FTP, France Télévisions Publicité, which public service French TV channels such as France 2 and France 3.
The entire offer of “Europe TV” reaches more than 430 million households worldwide and constitutes a unique platform for advertising on an international scale.
