24 February 2005
NPR affiliate WJCT-FM selects Z Series HD Radio transmitter with Split-Level Combining solution, entire FLEXSTAR range of products and NeuStar pre-codec processors
Building on its HD Radio(TM) conversion momentum, Harris Corporation announced on 22 February that WJCT-FM, Jacksonville, Florida’s NPR affiliate, has purchased a complete HD Radio transmission package. Scheduled to go on-air in the spring, the WJCT solution includes a Z16HDS 3.5 kW solid-state HD Radio transmitter operating in Harris’ patent-pending Split-Level(TM) Combining method with an existing analog transmitter; all three components of Harris’ growing FLEXSTAR(TM) family of HD Radio products; and NeuStar(TM) HD/FM codec processors for the cleanest audio possible. WJCT expects to be the first Jacksonville area station to officially launch an HD Radio service, covering a multi-county region at 100,000 watts ERP (Effective Radiated Power). The package also will fully prepare WJCT to launch a complete Tomorrow Radio service dependent on FCC approval, including supplementary audio and data and an HD Radio simulcast of its current analog Radio Reading Service for the sight impaired.
The station will utilize Harris’ FLEXSTAR HDI-100 importer and HDE-100 exporter, introduced at the October NAB Radio show, at the studio instead of at the transmitter site. This allows WJCT to reduce bandwidth and enable supplemental audio and data at the studio, thereby reducing its STL investment by up to 25 percent. The importer feeds multiplexed supplemental audio and data to the exporter, which multiplexes the main channel audio with secondary services and sends them to the exciter in a single bit-rate efficient stream. With its hybrid analog/HD capabilities, the FLEXSTAR exciter further increases efficiency by allowing the station to pre-correct and condition both signals in a single box within the Z16HDS transmitter. WJCT will employ dual exciters for additional redundancy.
Harris’ turnkey HD Radio transmission package offers further efficiencies through its Split-Level Combining method and the Neural Audio NeuStar codecs. Using the Split-Level Combining method, WJCT will save tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating the need for a new analog transmitter that would be necessary with high-level combining. Furthermore, Split-Level Combining reduces the total power output of the analog transmitter and allows the station to transmit at the same power level, keeping power costs to a minimum. Meanwhile, two NeuStar pre-codec processors – one each for WJCT’s main and supplemental HD Radio signals – will provide the cleanest result to listeners possible by preparing and optimizing audio content prior to encoding, eliminating artifacts that reside within highly bit-rate reduced signals in the process.
Harris is providing further redundancy for WJCT with an in-house engineered switching solution that creates a combiner bypass system. In the event of a catastrophic failure, the combiner can be bypassed so the analog signal can still reach listeners throughout the region. This means that even with the loss of the HD Radio signal and/or secondary services, the primary service will remain on the air. The Z16HD also functions as a 7 kW analog backup transmitter to ensure maximum on-air reliability.
24 February 2005
Ute Schaeffer has been appointed Head of the French service of DW-RADIO. She was previously in charge of Ukrainian programming at DW.
Deutsche Welle broadcasts in French for 3 hours per day, targetting listeners in francophone Africa. Programmes can be received via short wave and satellite, and via the broadcasters online platform.
DW has more than 120 FM partner stations in west and central Africa, and can fall back on a network of 25 correspondents in all countries in francophone Africa.
15 February 2005
Leading satellite services company GlobeCast, announced on 11 February the addition of Bosnian channel BN TV to its GlobeCast WorldTV Direct-to-Home satellite television platform the leading source of international television and radio in the United States. BN TV is the first Bosnian channel to debut on the service and is a key addition to the diverse European bouquet of worldwide programming on GlobeCast WorldTV. This coverage comes in addition to BN TVs existing availability in Australia and New Zealand on PanGlobal TV, a joint venture between GlobeCast Australia and PanAmSat. The channel now has access to a potential audience of millions of viewers across the globe.
GlobeCast – a subsidiary of France Telecom – manages proprietary Direct-to-Home satellite television platforms in Europe, America, Australia, Africa and Asia. GlobeCast WorldTV is the companys American Direct-to-Home Satellite Television Service on the Intelsat Americas 5 satellite.
GlobeCast is providing BN TV with transmission to America and Australia via satellite and fiber including uplink and space segment. The company receives BN TV via satellite at the GlobeCast Technical Operations Center in Paris. The signal is then fed via GlobeCasts proprietary ATM fiber network to the Los Angeles gateway in Culver City for conversion, encoding and turnaround to GlobeCast WorldTV on Intelsat Americas 5 for Direct-to-Home broadcast in America and to PanAmSats PAS-8 satellite for DTH broadcast on PanGlobal TV in Australia on behalf of BN TV’s distributor, TV PLUS.
Founded in 1998, BN TV is the highest rated TV channel in Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb Republic) as well as one of Bosnia & Herzegovinas leading channels. The full time channel offers news and political programs such as PULS, STAV I KONTRASTAV, PREGLED DANA, SVET DANAS, as well as entertainment programs like NEDELJNO POPODNE, I TO SAM JA, VECE SA VAMA, SLUCAJNI PARTNERI and UZ ANK. Its primary news journal, BN MONITOR, is the highest rated news program in the country. This is a subscription-based channel, available to GlobeCast WorldTV subscribers in the U.S. for $17 per month. For further information on signing up for BN TV, call 1-888-988-5288 from the United States.
15 February 2005
Radio Netherlands announced that Joop Daalmeijer has been appointed as its new Editor-in-Chief, responsible for the programming and journalistic aspects of the organization.
Mr Daalmeijer has spent more than 30 years in Dutch broadcasting. Mr Daalmeijer says: “My heart is in journalism. For me, it’s a challenge to be in charge of the journalistic process within such an innovative organisation as Radio Netherlands, that operates internationally. Radio Netherlands reaches millions of people through radio, TV and Intenet, and adapts quickly to technical developments and changing needs.”
15 February 2005
At this years 3GSM Congress, RadioScape is providing a real-time DMB feed using its new DMB Research and Test System. This unit integrates RadioScapes previous Research and Test System, which consisted of several PCs, into a complete DMB multiplex in a single compact unit. Nick Banks, RadioScapes Digital Broadcasting Infrastructure Product Manager, commented, As the DMB Research and Test System is based directly on the technology used in RadioScapes innovative DAB/DMB Professional Broadcast Systems, this guarantees compatibility with on-air transmissions.
The System provides a cost effective means of generating DMB feeds from both pre-recorded and real time sources for the development and evaluation of DMB technology. RadioScapes unique, Software Defined Digital Radio architecture enables it to work with a variety of third party DMB encoders over both UDP/IP and ASI. The System can also be upgraded to include DAB audio and data transmission capability where mixed DAB/DMB network compatibility is required. The company has already sold well over 20 Systems into the Asia Pacific region, which is spearheading the development and deployment of DMB. The latest generation of handheld DMB receivers from LG will also be on the stand receiving these DMB broadcasts.
RadioScape is a leader in both digital radio broadcast and reception technology, said Nigel Oakley, RadioScapes VP of Infrastructure Business Development. This gives us a unique, end-to-end systems knowledge which is vital for an emerging technology such as DMB. Broadcasters are actively seeking us out as they know we can deliver robust solutions. Because we control and manage both the broadcast and reception, any modifications in broadcasting will be handled correctly at reception.
RadioScape will also be showing its range of DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) receiver modules, which are becoming the solution of choice for many manufacturers, and examples of commercially available products from leading manufacturers incorporating these modules. In addition, the company will be available to discuss its recent joint announcement with Texas Instruments about the companies commitment to developing DRM technology that will enable end user digital radios for both DAB and DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) to be created.
15 February 2005
Friendly match on 15 February to benefit Tsunami victims will be broadcast via satellite on GlobeCast Direct-To-Home Satellite platforms worldwide
GlobeCast, the world’s leading satellite services company, will be collaborating in the Football for Hope FIFA / UEFA Friendly Match to be held between Ronaldinho XI and Shevchenko XI on 15 February 2005 at the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, Spain. The entire proceeds of this charity event will be donated to the FIFA / AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund. GlobeCast will be on site in Barcelona to provide transmission, encryption and uplink to its broadcast platforms worldwide.
The top footballers in the world, led by FIFA World Player 2004 Ronaldinho and European Footballer of the Year 2004 Andriy Shevchenko, will compete in this friendly but fierce competition for a good cause. In response, GlobeCast’s broadcast professionals around the globe will work together to deliver coverage of this historic match to millions of potential viewers on every continent.
GlobeCast’s Direct-to-Home platforms will carry the game live from Barcelona to:
-Africa, via NSS-7 (C-band) and HOT BIRD 6 (Ku-band)
-Americas, via Hispasat 1C (Ku-band)
-Asia/Oceania, via AsiaSat 2 (C-band)
-Europe and Middle East, via HOT BIRD 6 (Ku-band)
This truly global coverage has been donated by GlobeCast as a token of solidarity with the victims of this terrible catastrophe. Coverage over Asia and Oceania is being provided courtesy of Asiasat, with uplink provided by Satlink.
