4 December 2006
Building on the success of its award-winning DAB/FM modules, RadioScape has announced the RSC03 clock radio subsystem. It is the first of a new family of DAB subsystems and provides an even higher level of system integration for manufacturers. This reduces costs, design complexity, and, most significantly, can substantially cut time-to-market for radio manufacturers in this product category.
Phil Smith, RadioScapes Senior VP for Sales and Operations, said, Increasing the level of integration has proved very popular with our customers, allowing them to fully evaluate the product on day one. Another first for RadioScape is being able to offer a custom display to complement the subsystem. Clock radios require something different to the LCDs commonly used on other DAB products and we have invested to support our customers with a large, easy to read display that is specially designed for clock radio applications.
The RadioScape RSC03 is a complete DAB/FM clock radio subsystem that only requires an external DC power supply, speaker, LCD display, button board, and enclosure to complete the product. The need for a motherboard is eliminated as the power supply and audio amplifiers are fully integrated into the subsystem. This reduces the manufacturing steps to just one assembly run. Its construction and compact form factor makes it suitable for many enclosure designs.
The subsystem approach once again leverages RadioScapes flexible software defined radio architecture, which enables customers to easily create product differentiation by changing and adding features via software as required. This combination is unique to RadioScape and will allow our customers to bring products to market in less than 100 days, added Smith.
If you do seek out in the internet market, messaging apps are the most downloaded apps on the Android platform, BBM for Androidand it has taken the Short Messaging System to a whole new level. The BBM is one of the most downloaded and used messaging apps by the users all over the world.
The clock radio features that have been incorporated include an auto back light dimming option, off-air time update, automatic daylight saving, 3 programmable alarms, five presets, Sleep and Snooze. The individual alarm volumes can be programmed to rise to specific levels, independently of the main volume. RadioScape can also supply a large character custom LCD that is ideal for this application with a choice of blue STN and blue or amber TN. The LCD and subsystem form a single unit measuring only 109mm by 50mm by 32 mm.
A number of customers have already started production of DAB clock radios using the RSC03, which will be in the shops soon.
Simon Parslow, Director of New Product Development and Marketing at Acoustic Solutions, said, “Using the RSC03 meant we had something to demonstrate to the retailers right at the start of the project. Designing in the RSC03 was very simple and enabled us to get the first products rolling off the production line in just 90 days.”
4 December 2006
Harris Corporation announced that Central European Media Enterprise’s (CME) subsidiary, Pro TV Romania, has taken delivery of a turnkey digital newsroom system as part of CME’s transition to an automated, networked, tapeless environment. The sale, which was made by the Harris local distributor and systems integrator in Romania, Hydra Ltd., includes a cluster of five Harris® NEXIO server platforms, eight NewsFlash® high-resolution news editors, 20 NewsFlash® Preditor low-resolution desktop editors, and eight VelocityQ craft editing systems. The new CME facility will provide news programming for Romania.
“Harris provided us with the optimal solution to meet our needs as we transitioned to a tapeless newsroom environment, both in terms of the product offering and the support offered by the Harris local distributor and systems integrator, Hydra Ltd.,” said George Iliescu, deputy general director at Pro TV Romania. “Our journalists had recently made the decision to use the ENPS newsroom computer system, so it was essential to have a server system that would smoothly integrate with ENPS, and the NEXIO servers provided this solution seamlessly.”
“The installation at Pro TV Romania is a significant application of our NEXIO server and NewsFlash editing solutions in a newsroom environment where reporting is time critical,” said Dave Dougall, vice president of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for the Harris Broadcast Communications Division. “Turnaround of material is extremely fast through the NEXIO servers, as both high- and low-resolution non-linear editors can start working while the material is being ingested. Journalists can simultaneously browse and edit low-resolution content at their desktops and send the material to playout.”
At Pro TV the Preditor low-resolution desktop editors with integrated NRCS (newsroom computer system) tools are attached to the central storage, enabling the journalists to easily tie scripts to video from one simple interface.
NewsFlash news editors and VelocityQ craft editing systems provide high-resolution editing capability. Of the eight VelocityQ craft editing systems, four are dedicated to news, two to promos and two for repurposing content, particularly for the Internet.
In Romania, CME currently broadcasts four channels: Pro TV, the main network that transmits a broad mix of programmes, including news, sports and entertainment; Acasa, a lifestyle channel largely aimed at women; Pro Cinema, a premium movie channel; and Pro TV International, broadcast outside Romania’s borders, which is aimed at expatriates around the world.
Over the next year, CME plans to add at least two more channels, including an HD service, which will be the first in Eastern Europe.
NEXIO is a modular, scalable server system for transmission and news environments, which offers integrated application platforms for editing, browsing and media management across a multi-tiered storage hierarchy. As an operation grows, the NEXIO design allows users to build systems of up to 28.8 terabytes in a single domain in small, low-cost increments. The NewsFlash high-resolution news editor sets industry standards for speed of editing and turnaround. The key is direct Fibre Channel access to shared NEXIO storage by all users, without delay or restriction. More important, all seats can begin editing the moment that ingest begins, enabling a true collaborative environment.
23 November 2006
The Association for International Broadcasting announced the winners of its second annual global awards at a glamorous gala event in London on 22 November, 2006. Attended by senior executives, producers and journalists from TV and radio channels from five continents, the AIB Awards event rewarded the very best programmes and channels for international audiences across television and radio.
The Awards event was hosted by Barbara Serra, one of the London anchors of newly-launched Al Jazeera English and more than 100 guests celebrated the success of their colleagues from around the world.
There were nine categories in the 2006 AIB Awards, covering television, radio and technology; over 100 entries were received from international broadcasters in 20 countries, as well as a number of innovative technology suppliers who support international TV and radio stations.
The Award winners were:
Best coverage of a single news event radio
BBC World Service for South Asian Earthquake
described by the judges as most impressive in every respect
Best coverage of a single news event television
Sky News for London bombings
good content with excellent context for cross-border
viewers
Best magazine or documentary programme television
Al Jazeera Channel for Prisoner 345
content, suitability for international audience and
production values all very high
Best magazine or documentary programme radio
BBC World Service for Assignment Return to Sarajevo
stunningly vivid, extraordinarily powerful, impeccably
produced
Most innovative use of technology
Link Research for Link HD
the future for news and sports coverage
International channel of the year – television
BBC World
excellent coverage of stories, high presentation values
International station of the year – radio
SW Radio Africa
brave, an excellent independent alternative to Zimbabwes
state media
International presenter of the year – television
Simon Hobbs of CNBC Europe
polished, passionate, enthused
International presenter of the year – radio
Doug Bernard of Voice of Americas Talk to America
intelligent presentation and questioning, very polished,
with a smile in his voice
The AIB Awards were judged by international panels drawn from the broadcasting
industry ensuring peer review of programming as well as radio and TV
critics, representing the audiences perspective. Completely non-commercial, the
AIB Awards are the only celebration of success that exclusively focuses on
international, cross-border broadcasting.
The AIB Awards provide a fantastic opportunity for the Association to provide a
platform not only to celebrate success but also to share ideas, said Simon
Spanswick, AIB chief executive. The international broadcasting industry is
often more innovative and fleet of foot than its domestic counterparts, and the
Awards demonstrate the breadth of superb content thats on offer to viewers and
listeners throughout the world. We were delighted with the range and quality of
the entries which made judging extremely tough. Our judges are to be
congratulated on all their work, as are the winners and finalists tonight.
The AIB International Broadcasting Awards 2007 will be announced in January.
22 November 2006
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER
The AIB holds its prestigious
Diner Pensant and AIB Awards
evening on Wednesday 22 November 2006 – and we’re almost at capacity,
so now is the last chance to reserve your place..
We’re holding an evening
of celebration in London on 22 November at which you’ll be able to
see some of the remarkably high-quality work that has been submitted to the
AIB’s second international broadcasting Awards and to meet the programme makers responsible from all over
the world.
The event has senior
representatives from Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, BBC World, Sky News, Romanian
Broadcasting, Channel News Asia, Voice of America, BBC World Service, EuroNews,
EuroSport, Russia Today AT, VT Communications, the Broadcasting Agency of
Montenegro, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, CNBC Europe, BFBS, Quantel, Autocue,
NDTV, Zee TV and many others.
MORE THAN JUST AWARDS –
IT’S A SHARING OF IDEAS
And in addition to the celebration of success,
we’re helping to share ideas and
start conversations during the evening. We’ve
invited two experts from broadcasting and new media to talk about their visions
and strategies between courses of Dinner. Joanna Shields
is Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships & Syndication at Google
and as Google’s European Director of Partnerships, she is responsible for the
syndication of Google’s products to telecom, publishing and media partners
throughout Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. She oversees content
acquisition for the entire range of Google products, including Google Video,
Google Print, Google Local and Commerce products. Joanna is on the look out for
good content and new partnerships – you should meet her.
Guido
Baumhauer is Director of Distribution at
Deutsche Welle and has been responsible for leading Germany’s
international broadcaster – which runs radio, TV and online services – from the
analogue “appointment-based” viewing and listening world to a multi-media,
multi-platform environment. He’s overseen the availability of DW on multiple
IPTV and mobile platforms around the world. He’s got lots to share with
broadcasters and content owners.
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER
The AIB Diner Pensant
and Awards evening starts at 7.30 p.m. with a champagne reception,
followed by a fantastic dinner in the Riverside Room,
Savoy Place, London WC2, which enjoys stunning views along the River
Thames to Parliament in the west and St Paul’s Cathedral in the east, and across
to the South Bank and the London Eye. The Awards will be presented at the end of
this glamorous, exciting and stimulating evening.
Tables seat ten people and we’ve kept the cost as
low as possible to ensure as many people as possible can come and network, share
ideas and celebrate with us. The cost of attending is just £155 plus VAT per
seat for non-members, while AIB members benefit from a price of only £95 plus
VAT per seat. AIB Members attending the Diner
Pensant can also participate in,
at no additional charge, a special members-only
briefing covering the media markets of
India and
China . This
will take place immediately before the Dinner.
LAST OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER
Book online by clicking
here, or download the brochure
here and fax it back to us to reserve your places at the
AIB Diner Pensant and Awards on Wednesday 22
November 2006.
We look forward to
seeing you in London to celebrate and share with the AIB.
20 November 2006
China Radio International (CRI) has begun a continuous local DRM service to London on its own dedicated channel via the trial 26 MHz service operated by WRN, the London-based broadcast and transmission services company. This collaboration follows a recent visit by the President of CRI, Mr Wang Gengnian to WRN.
CRIs DRM service to London is broadcasting a mix of English and Chinese programming that comes live from its studios in Beijing. WRNs 26MHz service provides CRI with complete DRM broadcast coverage of Greater London and it is being transmitted from the well known Croydon transmission tower, situated in South London and which is operated by Arqiva, WRNs DRM transmission partner for this project. Arqiva provides transmission services for most UK commercial radio stations. Croatias RIZ-Transmitters has supplied the Yagi antenna and transmitter for the duration of the project.
DRM is the international standard for digital Medium Wave, Long Wave and Short Wave broadcasting. This new digital radio standard is exciting broadcasters around the world and with over 750 hours of DRM broadcasts already on air today, DRM is set to revitalise radio markets across the globe for local, national and international transmissions.
Mr Xia Jixuan, Vice-President of CRI says, We are very excited that CRI is now broadcasting its programming on the new medium of DRM in London. The goal of CRI is to inform the world about China and we are pleased to offer the people of London a wide range of our programming. Beijing and London will both host future Olympic Games and it will be very interesting for there to be a mutual dialogue conducted through CRI”.
Gary Edgerton, Managing Director of WRN, adds, WRN is delighted that CRI has chosen WRNs local DRM solution for London. It is part of WRNs portfolio of products that is actively assisting broadcasters to take advantage of the exciting transmission and distribution opportunities that digital radio offers.
20 November 2006
Harris Corporation demonstrated the enhanced capabilities of a prototype of its Intraplex® NetXpress IP network gateway device, which has been optimized for tactical surveillance in a sensor network, at GEOINT 2006 in Orlando, Florida.
The NetXpress prototype demonstrates how ObjectVideo® analytic software can be embedded in a network edge device to significantly improve sensor capabilities and network performance, and automatically produce actionable metadata from its analysis of a video. At the GEOINT exhibition, Harris is demonstrating how ObjectVideo® intelligent video analytics on the new PC board within the NetXpress prototype is used to detect, track and classify objects within a video in real time.
This rules-based video content analysis system can be set to recognize preprogrammed characteristics, such as a vehicle, person, or other object of interest, and automatically generate alert data and metadata in real time. This information, along with the encoded video stream, can be transmitted across a local- or wide-area network or stored locally. The video itself and the video metadata also can be fed into centralized systems such as the Harris® H-Class Content Delivery Platform along with meaningful intelligence about the video content, and the results are immediately searchable. The ability to place additional software processes at the network collection site can reduce the strain on limited network resources and allow the sensors to operate with autonomy.
“This combination of features provides a powerful platform to automate sensor data and metadata collection in any network environment even constrained networks,” explained Lucius Stone, director of sales, Government Solutions, Harris Broadcast Communications Division. “The expanded capability allows users to push intelligence, processing and automated decision-making to the network edge, or collection site, which conserves both network and human bandwidth.”
Current content collection solutions at a network edge are often manually integrated with a separate personal computer, router and other components. The NetXpress system combines all components into one small frame, which can take in multiple sources of content, including sensors, and still host multiple applications.
“This is especially important in applications such as border security and tactical surveillance where having a smaller footprint, using less power and having less weight provide a huge advantage for automated tactical surveillance,” said Stone.
