14 February 2006
The world’s media gathers in New Delhi on Tuesday 14 February for the AIB Regional Media Leaders Forum. Titled Broadcasting 2.0 – the Audience is up to something, the Forum will debate and discuss the state of broadcasting in the multi-platform, multi-channel world. Delegates are travelling from throughout the world – from Taiwan, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands and Fiji – as well as from India, Pakistan and the rest of South Asia.
The one day event – at New Delhi’s Habitat World – is designed to stimulate conversations between broadcasters and to brief them about developments in the electronic media industry around the world. Opening the event will be a keynote address by Dr. Madanmohan Rao, research director of Singapore-based Asian Media Information Centre. Rao has been investigating media and lifestyle trends in the Asia region for many years and will present developments across the region from South Korea to China, as well as South Asia. Rao will offer his views of some of the scenarios for the preferred futures for media and entertainment in Asia, home to two-thirds of the world’s population in an essential briefing for everyone involved in the electronic media in the region.
Jonathan Marks, former programme director at Radio Netherlands and now an international media consultant, travels the world on investigative media safaris. He’s been capturing great ideas that illustrate the sideways shift that is happening around the traditional bastions of broadcasting. For example, how can established media players shift resources to adapt in today’s complex media environment?
Other speakers include Mr K S Sarma, chief executive of Prasar Bharati, Tim Suter of the UK’s telecoms to media regulator, Ofcom, and Pawan Gandhi, Nokia India’s executive responsible for content as well as a range of other senior executives from the broadcasting and web industries.
“We’re seeing immense change in global media,” comments Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive. “Members of the AIB wanted to learn more about developments in South Asian media, so we are staging this event to ensure that a dialogue starts between broadcasters from the region with those in other parts of the world. We’re also aiming to provide an insight into how major broadcasters are addressing the challenges of global competition, attracting viewers and listeners and developing businesses. With a truly international audience eager to learn from developments in India, this event will provide a unique opportunity for media executives to exchange views with colleagues from all over the world.”
The half-day conference, at Habitat World in central New Delhi, has delegates registered from broadcasters, production companies, satellite operators and related industries throughout India, South Asia, the Pacific, Far East, North America and Europe. The delegate fee for the 14 February event is INR1,950. To register, contact Sanjeev Kapur, telephone 098 11 639 274 or e-mail kapur.sanjeev@gmail.com.
13 February 2006
RadioScape, the world leader in Software Defined Digital Radio solutions, has launched the latest addition to its innovative range of DAB modules. The RadioScape RS200VE module is designed to provide manufacturers with a low cost solution for creating inexpensive, feature-rich entertainment centres. The module provides DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) and FM reception, CD transport control, user interface and display drivers in a single integrated unit enabling overall system build costs to be significantly reduced.
Our unique approach of providing functionality through software running on a DSP, explained Dave Hawkins, RadioScapes VP of Business Development, enables us to provide features on the module that would otherwise have required dedicated silicon to achieve. This not only reduces the overall system cost but also reduces the complexity, time-to-design and time-to-market.
Manufacturers can also easily differentiate products by using software add-ons such as MP3 or alarm clock functions. All manufacturers have to do is to provide the peripherals such as display, buttons, antenna, power supply, amplifier and speakers as the module provides all the control functions.
The RS200VE is pin and software compatible with its highly successful predecessor, the RS200, allowing existing receiver designs to utilise the new features enabled by the new module. As with all RadioScape modules, the RS200VE is fully RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant in line with the Directive that comes into force in the EU on 1 July 2006. This restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electronic and electrical equipment within the EU.
12 February 2006
QTV will be spearheading the global launch of Autocues new prompting product lines.
* MASTER SERIES LINE OF PROMPTERS. Autocue has remodeled its highly successful and popular line of premier prompters, incorporating a wealth of customer feedback and innovation to produce a targeted line of prompters specifically designed for the demanding, real-time worldwide broadcast market.
* PROFESSIONAL SERIES LINE OF PROMPTERS. This new product line builds on Autocues expertise and introduces to the market an extensive range of high quality, affordable prompters targeted at a variety of non-traditional broadcast business sectors, including production companies, educational institutions, religious broadcasters and corporate production facilities.
* NEXT GENERATION WINCUE SOFTWARE. Autocue has re-engineered its WinCue prompting suite of software and hardware from the ground up to incorporate state-of-the-art technologies, allowing for the development of next generation, integrated prompting concepts and solutions.
Autocue will also be launching another newsroom product:
* QSMART: An affordable newsroom computer system in a box, which provides a wide range of functionality specifically for small market stations.
ALSO BEING SHOWN AT NAB2006:
* QTV will be exhibiting its popular conference products and various prompting accessories.
* Autocue will be exhibiting QSeries, its comprehensive suite of newsroom production and automation systems. Particular emphasis will be placed on QNet, its multi-user production application ideally suited to corporate, religious and sports broadcasting requirements.
12 February 2006
Harris Corporation announced that ORF, Austrias public broadcast network, has added 11 Videotek® VTM-420HD/SD multi-format, on-screen monitors to its facility. This recent installation brings the total number of units to 20, making ORF one of the largest VTM-420 installations in Europe. The sale was made by acronet HandelsgesmbH, Harris distributor of Videotek products in Austria.
The VTM-420 system, with a built-in waveform monitor, vectorscope, picture display and audio meter, provides the whole gamut of signal monitoring we required in one compact and cost-effective package, said Christian Lindenthal, planning engineer at ORF. We required an SD signal monitor for current usage, but wanted to ensure the product was future proofed and HD-ready without paying a premium. Also key to our decision was the option to have a Dolby® E decoder and de-embedder within the system. All together these made the VTM-420 a perfect fit, and it saves us a lot of space, time and money.
With high-definition and standard-definition SDI formats, the Videotek® VTM series not only offers a cost-effective solution for monitoring, but also comes in a progressive, ergonomically enriched and environmentally friendly package. The Videotek® VTM series enables waveform, vector, audio, alarms and picture to be displayed simultaneously on one screen. The VTM series has an illuminated user interface panel optimized for operation in any lighting condition, precision positive tactile feel controls, and state-of-the-art cooling architecture designed to meet low ambient noise requirements.
We are delighted that ORF has once again decided to purchase our Videotek® test and measurement equipment, which is second to none for its video and audio monitoring capabilities, said Dave Dougall, vice president, Leitch Europe. The advanced audio capability provided in all our VTM series models was a key factor in ORFs decision to purchase this system, as was the fact that the company uses Dolby® audio extensively in its digital satellite transmission.
All HD models of the VTM series have two standard SDI inputs are capable of auto-recognition and detection of 1080i, 1080p and 720p formats at all popular frame rates plus standard-definition 525/625 serial digital signals. A unique function enables parade or overlay of two input signals (same format) for detailed timing and level comparison.
Real-time, signal-quality alarms with user-adjustable limits are standard, and all alarms are time stamped with data from timecode and an internal clock. Closed-captioned detection/alarm/display has selectable text size. Ethernet connectivity with SNMP agent increases network adaptability, while the built-in router control ports afford input expandability. SpyderWeb® control/logging software for remote user interface and XGA frame capture with a link in the alarm log afford exceptional user flexibility.
The VTM series audio options include Lissajous (audio phase), the unique Videotek® CineSound® display and a choice of two, four, six, or eight simultaneous bar graphs. Metering and monitoring of Dolby® Digital and Dolby® E formats along with analogue, AES/EBU and embedded are included in optional audio input capabilities. The VTM series models have an output resolution of 1024×768 and will support aspect ratio settings for 4:3, 14:9, 16:9, and 16:10 with direct connection for XGA monitors.
12 February 2006
The proposed fiscal year 2007 budget for U.S. international broadcasting calls for an overall increase of 4.3% from fiscal year 2006 targeted to the war on terror and new technology.
While proposed increases go primarily to Middle East Broadcasting Networks and Voice of America (VOA), non-war on terror related language services would see reductions and/or eliminations.
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson said, “In the post-Katrina budget environment, I believe we are fortunate to get an increase that strengthens our role in the war on terrorism. The ’07 proposed budget of $671.9 million follows a 7.5% increase for fiscal year ’06.”
In recent years, the Bush Administration and Congress have wiped out the 40 percent cut in spending for international broadcasting during the 1990s following the end of the Cold War. For fiscal year 2007, the budget proposal calls for a 13% increase for Middle East Broadcasting Networks and a 5.3% increase for Voice of America.
The Board of Governors’ proposed $671.9 million budget includes a number of new initiatives, enhancements and a continuation of initiatives begun in ’06. They include:
Expanding service to Iran with a daily four-hour prime time VOA Persian television lineup and enhancing the Radio Farda website.
Increasing Middle East television news coverage (Alhurra) from 16 to 24 hours a day and adding customized local news content and coverage for Radio Sawa.
Adding a one-hour television program for Afghanistan in both Dari and Pashto, and enhancing transmission for VOA Pashto programming to the people of Afghanistan along the border region while adding additional FM and medium wave capability.
Faced with the increased costs of expanding critically needed television and radio programming to the Arab and non-Arab Muslim world, the Board has had to make some painful choices. As a result, the budget proposes reductions in English language programming, by eliminating VOA News Now radio while maintaining VOA English to Africa, Special English and VOA’s English website.
The budget reflects the Board’s commitment to English language programming in the medium of the future, the Internet, and for excellence in Special English programming. Research shows that millions more are benefiting from Internet programming than from shortwave transmission, which VOA News Now relies on.
Other proposed reductions include the elimination of VOA broadcasts in Croatian, Turkish, Thai, Greek and Georgian. VOA radio broadcasts in Albanian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbian, Russian and Hindi would end while television programming in these languages would continue. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty will continue radio programming in Russian and Georgian while eliminating radio programming in Macedonian.
“Every member of the Board of Governors regrets the loss of VOA services proposed in this budget,” Tomlinson said. “The men and women who provided these services for many years served with distinction and provided programming that were critical to this nation’s interests. However, the Board believes that the priorities reflected in this budget proposal represent the best allocation of funds.”
12 February 2006
International Russian television channel RTR Planeta has now reached Asia following a distribution partnership between content management and delivery company GlobeCast, satellite transmissions company Satlink and leading satellite operator AsiaSat. RTR Planeta, owned by Russian state television and radio broadcasting Company RTR, provides programming that includes cultural and prime time news, sports, feature films and documentary movies.
The channel is received by Satlink from the Express 3A satellite in Tel Aviv, where it is multiplexed and uplinked onto Satlinks platform on AsiaSat 2 for Free-to-Air distribution over Asia.
GlobeCast has a long relationship with RTR Planeta, carrying it both on its platform on the Hot Bird satellite over Europe and as part of its GlobeCast WorldTV offering in the United States on Intelsat Americas 5. The AsiaSat 2 Satellite provides ideal C-band coverage of a potential 53 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the C.I.S. RTR Planetas new home on this Satlink-operated platform means that the channel shares a neighborhood with TVE, RAI International, RTP and Radio France International among others.
