5 January 2007
Harris Corporation is to supply Berin-based A-Medialynx GmbH, a specialist production facility and satellite services provider, with a Harris Platinum router for the playout of services in Germany.
A-Medialynx manages the transmission of numerous signals including those from television stations such as MTV, VIVA, VIVA Plus and Nick Germany. The Platinum router will serve as the core component of the signal distribution workflow at A-Medialynx, routing all satellite transmission signals live and distributing them to the additional satellite uplinks. Sold by TERACUE AG, Harris Broadcast Communications Division’s German representative, the new 512×512 Platinum router is slated to go into operation at A-Medialynx in February 2007.
“We purchased the Platinum router because we needed a robust routing matrix that could manage not only the current channel requirements of our customers, but also could provide them with options for future growth as their businesses need it,” said Helmut Audrit, chief executive officer of A-Medialynx. “Our existing 128×128 router, which is from another vendor, cannot be upgraded to meet our customers’ needs for more channel playout capabilities in 2007. With the Platinum router’s powerful capabilities and compact form factor, we can now meet these additional requirements within our available space.”
5 January 2007
Middle East pay-TV platform Orbit has gained exclusive distribution rights for EuroNews in 12 countries including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait in addition to non-exclusive rights across 13 other countries including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus.
Launched in 1993, EuroNews – based in Lyon, France – covers world news from a European perspective. The channel was launched to all Orbit subscribers in English and in French during December. Viewers can select the language of their choice by pressing the language button on the remote control.
This exclusive deal adds to what Orbit describes as its “unmatched portfolio of information and news channels”.
Philippe Cayla, Chairman and CEO of EuroNews said, “The Middle East is a very significant market in terms of our international growth. I am pleased to have concluded an agreement with Orbit, an important platform in the region, EuroNews will be joining their offer which gives viewers the best in Arabic and Western programming. Our mission is to bring European viewers balanced coverage on world events and Middle East news and this is an integral part of EuroNews’ international agenda.
“Since the channel has become widely available worldwide it has been met with interest and EuroNews has proved that it is a leading news channel covering world news with a guarantee of independent, impartial reporting thus successfully avoiding taking a particular national viewpoint something that is clearly important to viewers across the globe .”
Samir Abdulhadi, President and CEO of Orbit Communications Company stated, “With enormous universal interest in news, information and political affairs EuroNews will have a strong appeal among Orbit’s audiences across the Middle East. EuroNews is one of the leading channels in the news category and we are pleased to sign this agreement which will enable us to deliver European news to our valued subscribers.
5 January 2007
Perhaps starting a trend, Japan’s NTT DoCoMo has acquired 760,500 shares (around 3.0% of total issued and outstanding shares) in Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV).
Under a tie-up agreement concluded in February 2006, DoCoMo had already been working with NTV to provide attractive services converging mobile communications and broadcasting. With the successful launch of “One-segment” terrestrial digital broadcasting in April 2006, and growing sales of compatible handsets, the relationship between mobile communications and broadcasting has become closer than ever before, the telco said.
In a press statement, DoCoMo said it believes stronger ties with NTV will enable it to better offer customers a variety of exciting new services.
This could be the start of real convergence between commercial broadcasting companies and telecommunications operators, most of which are desperate for added-value content for subscribers and the ability to cross-promote major consumer brands.
5 January 2007
The Australian Communications and Media Authority
– which regulates electronic media and telecommunications in the country – is
seeking public comment on extending the digital datacasting trial currently
being conducted in Sydney by Broadcast Australia. This trial, known as DIGITAL
FORTY FOUR, is using one of the two unassigned digital television
channels that form part of the two national digital television licences due to
be allocated by ACMA in the second half of 2007.
ACMA is considering whether to extend the trial
until these channels are allocated for their designated long-term use. In
informing its decision, ACMA is seeking to ensure that the price-based
allocation process for the channels is fair, with no one bidder favoured over
another.
In the interim, ACMA has decided to extend the
DIGITAL FORTY FOUR trial until 31 March 2007.
DIGITAL FORTY FOUR was officially launched
in 2003 and incorporates:
| LCN4 |
Video Programme Guide (VPG) for
all five metropolitan free to air television broadcasters and DIGITAL FORTY
FOUR |
| LCN41 |
ABC News, Sport and Weather |
| LCN44 |
DIGITAL FORTY FOUR home page |
| LCN45 |
Channel NSW |
| LCN46 |
Australian Christian Channel |
| LCN47 |
Macquarie Digital |
| LCN49 |
Expo |
| LCNs 401-407 |
Federal Parliament and 7
associated audio channels |
The trial information provided by Broadcast
Australia is available for public access from the
ACMA website
Comments should be provided by close of
business 14th February 2007 to:
The Manager
Allocations Administration Section
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 78
Belconnen ACT 2617
or by email to the attention of Greg Cupitt at
aas@acma.gov.au
5 January 2007
ABU Radio
News Exchange (ARNE) contribute Asian perspectives
Kuala Lumpur, 7 December
2006 The ABU Radio News Exchange (ARNE) has gone from strength to strength in
facilitating news exchanges amongst radio broadcasters in the region.
Deborah Steele, a producer
from Radio Australia said at a recent workshop for radio broadcasters in the
Asia-Pacific organised by the ABU, that ARNE material will provide radio
broadcasters content that is relevant to their audiences needs. Broadcasters
can supplement their daily news bulletins with regional stories taken from the
radio news exchange and modify them to suit their audiences demands. Through
the unions radio news exchange, members can obtain timely and relevant stories,
stay ahead of their competitors, and broaden their audience appeal.
The ABU Workshop on Radio
News Exchange, held from 4-6 December was supported by UNESCO through a grant
under its International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)
and was attended by radio news producers and editors as well as IT staff engaged
in web-based file transfer from Bhutan, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal,
Pakistan, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Workshop facilitators
included resource personnel from the ABU, Radio Australia, Deutsche
Welle-Germany and NHK-Japan and EBU who provided participants a glimpse of
elements of cutting-edge technology used in a modern IT-based newsroom.
As a fairly new initiative,
we have received a number of positive responses from our members. We hope this
workshop helped to instill a sense of ownership and further enhance members
participation, said Vijay Sadhu, ABU Senior Executive for Radio.
The workshop has recommended
the forming of a Radio News Group to be chaired by MediaCorp-Singapore. The EBU
will assist the ABU to set up an enhanced platform based on its Euroradio News
Exchange (ENE) for the further development of ARNE. ARNE aims to be a useful
source of radio news especially for radio broadcasters from less developed
countries who would otherwise have limited means of obtaining regional and
international news. Since its launch in 2005, ARNE has provided news coverage of
international interest including international sporting events such as the 2006
Commonwealth Games and the FIFA World Cup.
More information at
www.abu.org.my
5 January 2007
ITN staff can now upgrade their news graphics thanks to investment in Vizrts Viz|Content Pilot software, which is designed to help networks and departments share and manage content.
ITN supplies television news to the UKs two largest commercial broadcasters ITV1 and Channel 4, as well as providing a news service for Channel 4s free to air channel, More4. Earlier this year, ITN installed Viz|Content Pilot to update graphics for ITNs ITV main UK network news bulletins. After a period of evaluation, it has now ordered Viz|Content Pilot systems for its Channel 4 and More 4 news contracts. The roll-out will continue next year with ITNs ITV London Regional news coming on line as well.
Paul Flook, Head of Broadcast Engineering for ITN, says: “Viz|Content Pilot gives staff the opportunity to adapt and update graphics templates. It took us a time to implement the software because we were pushing the limits of technology, but we have achieved a system that now works so well on ITV main bulletins that we are rolling it out to Channel 4, More4 and, eventually, to ITV London regional bulletin.”
Unlike other template-based solutions, Viz|Content Pilot features an advanced import/export tool that can transfer graphics, templates, and data across the network with ease. The tool takes care of all the necessary dependencies and makes sure all elements such as graphic scenes, templates, template data, and images are in place. Graphics and templates can be created offline on any laptop and then easily transferred into a production system. Viz|Content Pilot also integrates to the Ardendo Asset Management product suite.
Companies using the system are supplied with a variety of template graphics, into which staff can enter new data, images or video in the animation. The 2D or 3D animation can then be saved to the database for playout. The templates can be accessed through any major newsroom system. Updating and playout can be achieved automatically or manually. Viz|Content Pilot includes a powerful multi-user playlist with real-time updates allowing multiple producers to update the playlist simultaneously. The playlist also features snapshot icon previews of all elements in the list.
Viz|Content Pilot is used throughout the world by every kind of TV broadcaster, from major TV networks to minor channels. Not limited to broadcast production Viz|Content Pilot can deliver graphics content to all types of graphic displays and can serve as the core content control system for all users that require speed, a consistent look and a streamlined workflow for their graphics.
As well as supplying Viz|Content Pilot to ITN, Vizrt has also assisted with training and support to help staff adapt to the new software.
