19 June 2006
RadioScape, a world leader in digital audio and multimedia broadcast and receiver technology, will be exhibiting at Broadcast Asia 2006 on stand 8Q2-01. Dr Les Sabel, RadioScapes VP of Technology, will be presenting a paper on the companys Flexible platform for multi-standard multimedia solutions in the mobile world.
RadioScape is a key technology provider for Mobile TV trials* that are taking place around the world, he explained. RadioScape is unique in that it is the only company that provides both broadcast and receiver technologies giving integrated, end-to-end solutions that ensure robustness and reliability. The secret to the companys success in being able to provide flexible solutions, which can be easily adapted to incorporate a variety of standards in the rapidly evolving world of Mobile TV, is that it uses software to define the functionality, i.e. Software Defined Digital Radio. Underpinning this is a framework called RadiOS that enables modular software functionality to be loaded only when needed, hence allowing a wide variety of applications to be incorporated into high-end, feature-rich products.
The paper covers the rapidly evolving Mobile TV environment with numerous closely related but different standards, and the relative merits of ASIC versus a software-defined solution based on RadiOS in addressing this market. A copy of the paper is available from the RadioScape website at http://www.radioscape.com/Resource_Library/White_Papers/default.asp
Mobile TV trials
RadioScape provided the broadcast system technology for the following trials:- The DAB-IP trials in the UK in 2005-2006; The current joint trial by RTÉ and RadioScape in Dublin; The Centre of Excellence for Digital Broadcasting (CoEfDB) trial in the Netherlands; The DMB/DAB-IP Mobile TV trial in the UK that was announced on the 5th of June 2006; Trials in China with over nine installations in operation, some of which are now broadcasting commercially.
Demonstration on the stand at Broadcast Asia
RadioScape will be demonstrating Mobile TV in the form of T-DMB (Terrestrial-Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) and DAB-IP (DAB Internet Protocol), Electronic Programme Guide for DAB, Asian character set support on a DAB receiver and RadioScapes extensive range of multi-standard receiver modules.
Flexibility and future-proofing are key to RadioScapes success
RadioScapes DMB and DAB products are the solution of choice because of the flexibility of being able to be quickly adapted through software to cope with any changes or enhancements in the DMB specifications as they evolve. For example, the RadioScape Broadcast System can be configured to support both DAB-IP and T-DMB via simple software selectable options. T-DMB is typically configured to provide H.264 QVGA sized pictures at a frame rates from 15 to 30 fps using 192 to 512 kbps and higher bit rates, while the Windows Media format focuses on lower bit rates. These multimedia broadcasts will cover news, financial information, music videos, sports, education, movies and the simulcast of terrestrial TV programmes.
Importantly, RadioScapes T-DMB and DAB-IP receivers can also receive DAB radio services bringing the benefits of digital clarity and a wider range of content than offered by FM broadcasting. Indeed, recent field trials for DAB-IP and DVB-H indicated that audio services were generally used more often than video services.
19 June 2006
Harris Corporation’s Broadcast Communications Division today announced that Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group, one of the largest media conglomerates in China, is employing Harris Intraplex® multiplexers to distribute 16 unique radio programs from the Honggiao Radio Broadcast Building in Shanghai to transmitter sites at four different locations that reach the group’s entire coverage area. The multiplexers were installed in April.
“Since we’ve been using the Harris system, our audio transmission is now much more reliable, more secure and ready for any future expansion,” said Weilan Zhang, manager, Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group. “The Harris system has significantly improved both our coverage and responsiveness. We’re now sending a stronger signal to a larger portion of the nation, and the flexibility it provides means we can cater our programming directly to our regional audiences.”
By sending programming to multiple transmitter sites throughout the region, Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group can reach a much wider audience. Further, an emergency back-up link has been established and audio between different sites can be shared instantly. Previously, sharing programming between sites required either a LAN transfer of computer files or a courier transport of tapes from one facility to the other. An SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) link, providing synchronous data transmission over an optical network, was used for transmission prior to installation of the Intraplex equipment.
The Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group has 15 radio channels, producing news, traffic, music, cultural, regional, and financial programming.
“With the Intraplex® multiplexers and CrossConnect servers, Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group truly enhances its ability to manage critical E1 network traffic throughout its facilities,” said Bob Band, international channel sales manager for Harris Broadcast Communications’ Networking Solutions Group. “Thanks to the efficient nature of our system, they were able to deploy the multiple units they needed to meet their broadcasting requirements.”
The Intraplex® product line from Harris provides broadcasters with complete flexibility to combine, interconnect, and multicast traffic among up to six T1 or E1 lines. Intraplex® increases the efficiency of digital transmission networks by reducing recurring costs and protecting critical T1 and E1 network traffic. Its inherent flexibility means a network fabric may grow to include multiple, meshed T1 or E1 lines when communications requirements demand connectivity between multiple sites.
The Intraplex® series of Studio-to-Transmitter (STL) multiplexers are designed to transport multiple payloads of program audio, data and voice over switched public networks. These STLs provide broadcasters with numerous redundancy features for always-on performance, flexible configurations for user applications and local requirements and remote management. The multiplexers are available in terminal and drop insert modes for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint operation.
19 June 2006
A human rights group in China has reported that a Chinese environmental activist was brutally beaten up after giving an interview to German public broadcaster ARD. According to the group Human Rights in China, Fu Xiancai, a farmer and environmental activist gave an interview to German television on May 19 about construction work on the Three Gorges Dam, in which he commented on Beijing’s failure to compensate 1.3m people forced to relocate after the project began in 1997.
Three weeks later, he was visited by police in the Zigui region in Hubei province and questioned about his statements to German television. On his way home, he was attacked by unknown assailants. Since then, he has been under 24-hour police observation in hospital and is believed to be paralysed from the neck down.
This was not the first time Fu had felt the wrath of the authorities. In April 2005 he was beaten up after talking to a US newspaper, and one month later his son received a murder threat
19 June 2006
WRN, one of the UKs leading radio and television transmission services companies, is pleased to announce the provision of comprehensive satellite services to Virgin Radio for the launch of five stereo radio channels on Sky digital, two of which are 192 kb/s capacity.
The five stations from Virgin Radio include Virgin Radio Classic Rock and Virgin Radio Xtreme, which have previously been broadcasting on Sky via WRNs On Air and Radio channels but now have their own channel numbers. These are joined by Virgin Radio Groove and Virgin Radio 105.8, which launched on Sky on June 12th. Virgin Radio Party Classics, a brand new Virgin Radio station, goes live on Sky on June 16th.
Mark Robinson, Head of Engineering at Virgin Radio, says, We have worked with WRN for a couple of years as they hosted Virgin Radio Classic Rock and Xtreme on their existing Sky channels. It therefore makes perfect sense for us to expand our relationship with WRN in launching our five channels on Sky.
Richard Jacobs, WRNs Business Development Manager, adds, “I am delighted that WRN is assisting Virgin Radio with this extensive expansion of its stations on Sky. This builds on the excellent commercial relationship that already exists between WRN and Virgin Radio.
WRN currently uplinks almost 1 in 3 of the non-BBC radio stations available on Sky, making it the UKs number one independent satellite transmission provider for digital radio on the UKs number one digital satellite platform.
19 June 2006
NEW: Pharos Mediator Enterprise
Making its UK debut at Broadcast Live 2006, Pharos Mediator Enterprise is one of the most innovative new developments in broadcasting. Developed from the field-proven Mediator media management system, Mediator Enterprise enables television network staff to concentrate on content rather than kit. It automatically tracks content flow from initial acquisition to playout and post-transmission storage. Configurable for large or small networks, Mediator Enterprise includes ingest tools, browsing, quality-control processing and management of tape, near-online and archive libraries. On signing in to the system, individual operators are presented with a familiar web-based control screen matching the specific roles they perform within the organisation. As content progresses towards and beyond transmission, it is automatically presented to the appropriate user. Combining media asset management and workflow management, Mediator Enterprise offers a step-change increase in the efficiency of broadcast network operation.
NEW: Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder
Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder enables rich media files to be converted quickly and easily from a wide range of telco-specific formats such as the 3GPP and 3GPP2 standards used in high-speed wireless networks. Source files are displayed on a browser-driven control screen. Transcoding is activated by dragging and dropping files between source and destination format folders. Files can be converted in any order between MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DV, 4:2:2, 4:2:0 and uncompressed. Output bit-rate is user-assignable. Applications of Pharos Mobile Content Transcoder include downconverting broadcast-quality content for internet-based distribution, upconverting internet-delivered ENG feeds, and a wide variety of file-format interchange tasks in programme production, post-production and playout. The unit occupies a compact 1U x 600 mm chassis and is controlled via a standard browser.
NEW: Pharos Reflection
Pharos will also be demonstrating a new MPEG4-based browse system, Pharos Reflection, which allows incoming video to be viewed by up to 20 users simultaneously on existing PC or Mac desktops. Reflection is compatible with video servers handling MPEG2, DV25, DV50 and uncompressed signal formats. Source material can be accessed via FTP or streaming.
NEW: Pharos Pilot Ria 2
A powerful update to the Pilot Ria web-based intranet control system will be introduced by Pharos. When launched at IBC2004, Pilot Ria set new levels of operational flexibility for broadcast staff by enabling full reactive control of routing equipment from any web browser via local or secure-coupled intranet. It can be deployed quickly and easily throughout a single-site or multi-site facility and, when necessary, enables engineering staff to reconfigure a system from home or while travelling. Pharos Pilot Ria 2 adds to the existing feature set major enhancements including salvo/macro functions, destination locking, and destination grouping. Full details will be released at the exhibition.
NEW: Pharos first to implement Isilon storage into Media Asset Management
Pharos will exhibit a major innovation in Media Asset Management, being the first to implement Isilon intelligent clustered storage into a MAM system. This enables broadcasters to benefit from Isilon’s ‘pay as you grow’ storage solutions, expandable up to 528 terabytes of capacity and 7 gigabit/s data speeds.
19 June 2006
Who is the Rembrandt of our time? How does the great Dutch master inspire contemporary artists worldwide? To find out, Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) is launching an international competition under the title Inspired by Rembrandt. Artists around the globe are invited to submit their entries via the official website rembrandt.rnw.nl. They will compete for a special workshop at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, a leading Dutch art institute. The best submissions will be shown at an exhibition in the Netherlands.
The Inspired by Rembrandt competition will be officially launched tonight at a special ceremony in the Rijksmuseum by Dutch photographer and jury member Corbino (Maarten Corbijn).
Radio Netherlands Worldwide will invite artists all over the world to take part in the competition through its international transmissions and websites (in nine languages). It will also approach thousands of radio stations and art institutes around the world. Artists can enter their paintings or photographs until 30 September 2006. A jury of experts will then select 10 semi-finalists, whose entries will be posted on rembrandt.rnw.nl. A voting form on the website will allow the general public to pick the winning piece of art from 15 October to 30 November.
Interest
Radio Netherlands Worldwide has already received some entries. One is from Josep Agus Tomo who’s from Jakarta and says he has drawn inspiration from Rembrandts use of colour: He paints colour on colour. The layers are painted in such a way that theyre in harmony with each other. Which is perfect! In my work, Im also looking for the right balance between light, colour and focus.
Jury
The judging panel consists of Ad s Gravesande (Chairman of the Art and Culture Broadcasting Organisation), renowned international photographer Maarten Corbijn (Corbino), Ernst W. Veen (Managing Director of the Nieuwe Kerk and the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam), Mavis Albertina (Editor-in-Chief/ Publisher of MAVIS magazine), Cathy Spierenburg (Channel Coordinator of Z@pp childrens TV) and Joop Daalmeijer (Editor-in-Chief, Radio Netherlands Worldwide). The public jury is headed by Ms Nolly A. van Berge, notary public in Amsterdam. More details about the competition are available at: rembrandt.rnw.nl.
Cultural ambassador
Celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Rembrandts birth will be held in the Netherlands throughout the year. In its capacity as an ambassador of Dutch culture, Radio Netherlands provides an international multimedia platform for this Rembrandt Year through radio, television and the internet. Earlier this year Radio Netherlands Worldwide released the radio drama The Edges of the Night Watch in Dutch, English, Spanish, Indonesian, French and Italian.
