19 October 2005
After concluding a deal with the National Radio Society in Kiev, German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle’s Ukrainian programme is now on air nationwide on FM.
DW-Radio’s editor-in-chief Miodrag Soric welcomed the development as an opening of state media in the Ukraine towards Europe. Germany is one of Ukraine’s most important partners in Europe.
The station in Kiev rebroadcasts DW news during the week and on Saturdays DW magazine programmes such as Germany Report, Europe Magazine and Culture Magazine. DW-RADIO /Ukrainian is broadcast on the Promin channel, targetting mainly young listeners. The station reaches 2,5 million listeners, about 7 percent of all listeners. DW-RADIO’s daily one-hour programme in Ukrainian is being rebroadcast by 14 regional stations in the area.
19 October 2005
SES ASTRA has concluded an agreement with Channel 4 from the UK for a third transponder on its satellite ASTRA 2A in the orbital position 28.2° East. The new long-term agreement follows a successful two-transponder deal with Channel 4 in autumn 2004. Channel 4 will use the additional capacity to support the expansion of new services, including the launch of new channels and associated data services.
The new channels include the recently launched Quiz Call and More4+1, which is scheduled for launch today. Quiz Call is devoted to quiz and game-show programming that gives viewers the chance to compete for cash prizes. More4+1 will offer a blend of documentaries, films, drama, current affairs and a daily news program, and may include a late-night studio discussion show.
Alexander Oudendijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA, said: “Channel 4 is one of Britain’s most prominent and innovative terrestrial broadcasters whose programs are watched by more than three-quarters of the UK population during an average week. Channel 4 is also an important customer for us and we are delighted that the company has once again come to us for additional transmission capacity.”
Kevin Burrows, Channel 4’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “We will be exploring several projects over the coming year and this third transponder will give us the capacity to launch new and supporting services as these plans develop. We chose SES ASTRA because we have a long-term relationship with our current contracts, and the company was able to provide a flexible option for us to take additional capacity as our needs develop. We have also found the service to be extremely reliable, which is a crucial broadcasting requirement.”
18 October 2005
AP Television News can now send news stories directly from the heart of Beirut to anywhere in the world thanks to the installation of a fixed satellite dish on the roof of its eight-storey building in the city.
Independent systems integration specialists Megahertz Broadcast Systems carried out the installation to AP requirements and specification, which involved positioning a 2.4m Ku-band transmit/receive antenna on the roof and linking this to an equipment rack on the 4th floor where AP has its offices. Apart from the antenna, the system comprises a Tandberg MPEG encoder and a pair of redundant 750W outdoor Xicom HPA controllers with built-in linearizers enabling it to simultaneously uplink multiple channels. The complete system can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world.
This enhancement to our technical infrastructure demonstrates the APs commitment to providing customers with the material they require in the quickest possible time frame said Nick Evansky, APs Director of International Services & Technology.
Steve Burgess, Megahertzs technical director, adds: The system we have installed has multi-channel capability, which makes it future-proof.
13 October 2005
Since August 1, 2005 AXN (Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.) has been using RR Satellite Communications Ltd’s playout center for transmission of their 24 hour per day channel.
RRSat’s playout center was chosen after a rigorous selection process. RRSat’s playout center now transmits more than 60 TV channels 24 hours per day.
A partial list of the satellite company can be found at: http://rrsat.com/clients.php
13 October 2005
Christian Visions media arm, CVC, is increasing the number of broadcast hours on VT Communications digital AM transmission platform, which utilises Digital Radio MondialeTM (DRMTM) technology. Until recently, CVC were broadcasting one hour a week as part of VT Communications AM broadcast pilot service from the UK to Western Europe, which has now been running for over two years. CVCs new development sees transmissions from mainland Europe into the UK, resulting in an increase to 7 hours per week, highlighting CVCs commitment to DRM and the distribution capability offered by VT Communications.
The programming is being broadcast from transmission facilities in Western Europe reaching the whole of CVCs target market in the UK and demonstrates the exceptional coverage offered by the AM DRM technology platform, as well as the exceptional quality of reception that is now available. VT Communications has already demonstrated these benefits through its broadcast trials in the UK to CVC and other major commercial broadcasters including Classic Gold Digital and Virgin Rock.
Christian Visions Head of Engineering, Andrew Flynn said: DRM is an ideal platform for bringing additional digital radio content to the UK. As DRM-capable receivers emerge the time is right to make the popular CVC International English service available to listeners in UK. We have been delighted with the transmission quality and service reliability VT Communications has been able to deliver from mainland Europe.
CVC UK Pilot Transmission Schedule
Frequency Times Day
11815kHz 1000-1100UTC 7 days / week
About VT Communications
VT Communications is a leading critical communications services company at the forefront of new technology, providing innovative, totally managed end to end solutions and systems integration in over 100 countries from 29 locations to customers in the broadcast, defence and government sectors worldwide. VT Communications transmits over 1,000 hours of both short and medium wave broadcasts every day utilising its global network providing broadcasters with exceptional coverage of the worlds most populous regions. Broadcast customers include BBC World Service, NHK (Radio Japan), Radio Canada International, Radio Netherlands, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Voice of America. VT Communications is a founder member of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), a consortium of broadcast related organisations working to bring digital radio to the market place.
About CVC
CVC is the new name for the media arm of DRM Associate Member Christian Vision, which has been broadcasting with DRM in Europe since the inaugural broadcasts in June 2003 using the facilities of VT Communications. CVC International English replaces the services formerly known as Voice International and The Voice Africa. A new style of interactive radio, CVC blends all types of popular and Christian music, predominantly hip hop, rap and R n B, with engaging talk and features “All About Real Life.
The new CVC brand, which will launch officially in October 2005, brings together the six language streams currently being broadcasting globally by Christian Vision, plus additional media content. Christian Vision and its subsidiary companies operate studio and transmission facilities for CVC in UK, USA, Chile, Brazil, Zambia and Australia. More information can be found at www.cvc.tv
About DRM
DRM revitalises radio with clear, FM like audio quality and excellent reception, free from static fading and interference. While DRM currently covers short wave, medium wave/AM and long wave, the DRM consortium recently voted to begin the process of extending its system into the broadcasting bands up to 120 MHz. This will enhance the range of non proprietary, digital radio solutions offered worldwide by the DRM consortium and the World DAB Forum, which work together on projects of mutual interest. DRMs European commercial launch took place in September this year.
12 October 2005
GlobeCast announced today that it has signed an agreement to deliver Russian-language channel Planeta Sport to audiences in Europe via the Hot Bird satellite. GlobeCast WorldTV Americas premier international direct-to-home satellite television provider also announced today that it has added RTR-Planeta and Planeta Sport to its channel line-up in the United States.
GlobeCasts Hot Bird platform at 13°East delivers more than 98 million television homes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East and 99% of cable operators in the region. In addition to Planeta Sport, other leading channels on the satellite include MTV, BBC, CNN, EuroNews, Bloomberg, TV Romania and TPS, among many others.
Planeta Sport provides premiere coverage of a wide range of international sports including the top Russian teams and athletes. From the Russian Premier League in football, ice hockey, basketball and volleyball, to the National Championships in billiards and rugby to gymnastics, figure skating and bowling, Planeta Sport includes everything for Russian sports enthusiasts.
In addition to distribution on Hot Bird in Europe, Planeta Sport and RTR-Planeta have also been added to GlobeCasts WorldTV DTH service in the United States. RTR-Planeta is an amalgamation of the best of RTRs leading channels Kultura and Rossiya and offers Russian-speaking viewers prime time news, made-for-television and feature films and documentaries as well as an array of general cultural programming. The channel helps viewers stay connected to Russian culture through a varied slate of programs about subjects such as history, art and theater.
Planeta Sport is downlinked to GlobeCasts teleport in London and uplinked to Hot Bird for distribution in Europe. For delivery on GlobeCast WorldTV, the two channels are downlinked at GlobeCasts teleports in Paris and London, and then are transported via the companys global fiber network to its facilities in Los Angeles for uplink to the Intelsat Americas 5 satellite for distribution across North America.
RTR is the leading Russian language broadcaster in the world. The company is comprised of two national television channels, Kultura and Rossiya; two national radio stations as well as 90 affiliated television and radio stations. More than 200 million viewers enjoy RTR programs.
GlobeCast WorldTV a subsidiary of satellite service provider GlobeCast is the leading source for international programming via satellite in America, delivering almost 150 market leading television and radio channels in 30 languages representing 40 countries from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, via Direct-to-Home KU-band satellite on Intelsat Americas 5.
