6 July 2004
Australians are eager to experience digital radio, with new research showing 68 per cent of all respondents, and 80 per cent of those aged 20-24, would be quite or very interested in buying a digital radio if the service was available in their area. The new research supports the industrys position that there is a strong potential consumer market for digital radio in Australia, and adds weight to the argument that the Government should clear the way for its introduction, Joan Warner, chief executive officer of industry body Commercial Radio Australia said on 5 July. Australians are saying they want digital radio and would be prepared to invest in new radio sets to access new features and enhance their listening experience.
The research, conducted by Colmar Brunton Media Solutions, found there was good consumer interest in digital radio across all age groups, with 68 per cent of all respondents saying they would be interested in buying a digital radio if the service was available. Awareness of digital radio was a key to driving purchase interest, with 81 per cent of those who said they knew a little about digital radio interested in buying one, and 86 per cent of those who said they knew quite a lot showing interest. Research firm Colmar Brunton conducted the attitudes survey among 1500 participants in Sydney in May as part of its online Omnibus study. The research showed that about half of respondents were aware of digital radio, with 66 per cent of males and 43 per cent of females saying they had heard about it.
CD-quality sound with no interference was nominated as the most attractive feature of digital radio (nominated by 75 per cent of respondents). The reliability of the digital signal, which does not require retuning, was second on 71 per cent. The ability to select all stations by name from a menu (no need to select AM/FM or frequency) achieved a 45% rating, and having a screen to display scrolling text such as news and song titles scored 42%. Enhanced sound quality was the single most important feature for all people, but particularly those who said they were predominantly AM radio listeners, Ms Warner said. Among respondents aged 35-39 and 50-65, menu station selection was a significant positive feature. Those aged 20-24 were most interested in having an information screen, and those aged 18-24 said having a rewind function was an important feature.
Broadcasters are conducting digital radio trials in Sydney and are in discussion with the Federal Government over a policy and timeframe for its introduction. The industry views digital broadcasting as critical to its future and has committed to investing an estimated $400 million in building a national digital network in return for no-cost and priority access to digital spectrum for existing in-band broadcasters. The first consumer research panels have also been formed to gain feedback from a wide range of listeners, and leading advertising agencies have been invited to take part in an advertising advisory panel.
6 July 2004
UK-based independent broadcast systems integrator and manufacturer TSL (Television Systems Ltd)is supplying a comprehensive UMD and Tally System to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera. The contract is being handled by Thomson Broadcast Systems.
Having gained recognition over recent years for its unique and comprehensive coverage of key global events, Al Jazeera is currently in the process of expanding its line-up. As part of that expansion, it is launching a second international channel and it is for this new service that the TSL equipment is being deployed.
The equipment supplied includes two System Controller versions the UMD-SC-11 and the UMD-SC-21. These are supplied with the TSL Winsoft configuration program, designed to run on a PC, though it is not necessary to have the configuring PC permanently connected to the System Controllers. All operational configurations such as the router assignments, mnemonics and tally routing/mapping are set up using Winsoft. All parameters are automatically saved in a non-volatile memory and may also be saved to disc. Mnemonic lists and tally pin patches can be set in WinSoft to provide simple drag-and-drop for the updating and mapping for all displays whether assigned as router-associated or fixed displays.
The systems will also comprise 67 UMD-D8C dynamic displays; these are eight-character tri-colour dot matrix units with integral dual tally indicators. A UMD-PSU-22 2RU power supply unit completes the order to provide additional redundancy. TSL UMD and Tally systems can also be used with all popular multiviewers alongside conventional static and dynamic displays.
2 July 2004
GlobeCast will deploy nine SNG (satellite newsgathering) trucks on location during the 2004 Tour de France to secure live transmissions, including world feed delivery, of the international cycling race for the Tour de France organizer A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation), EBU (the European Broadcasting Union), francetélévisions, and Intelsat on behalf of OLN (Outdoor Life Network). The 2004 Tour de France takes place 3-25 July.
GlobeCasts SNG teams will mobilize at each stage of the Tour de France, providing both satellite and microwave trucks to transmit world feed footage from location to mobile studio facilities located at the finish line in Paris. The world feed is being filmed by SFP (Société Française de Production) on behalf of world feed producer francetélévisions. Up to 16 channels will be available from the GlobeCast field SNG units, which will also accommodate broadcasters unilateral feeds.
From the finish line studio, fiber will carry the produced world feed signal to four stationary SNG trucks dedicated to A.S.O., EBU, francetélévisions and Intelsat for OLN, furnished by GlobeCast for the entirely of the race. Additionally, GlobeCast will manage 24/7 booking and global satellite distribution to supply rightsholders throughout Asia, America and Australia.
The Tour de France is just one of the world’s major sporting events covered by GlobeCast every year.
2 July 2004
Philippine owned media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation is to expand into Australia in the third quarter, according to newly appointed president Luis Alejandro.
In an interview with Business World, Mr Alejandro said ABS-CBN was also planning to penetrate potential markets in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore. “ABS-CBN Global, the wholly owned unit which runs the media giant’s international operations, will launch satellite services (in Australia) in the third quarter,” Mr Alejandro told the newspaper.
The media firm already runs a cable business in Australia where it distributes Philippine-produced content.
ABS-CBN sees its global unit as one of the major drivers for its growth as the domestic market is already saturated. ABS-CBN Global offers Philippine programmes to 1.3 million Filipinos in North America, the Middle East and Europe.
2 July 2004
From 1 July, VT Merlin Communications and Vosper Mantech will be known as VT Communications. The new name and brand will be rolled out over the coming months. VT Communications will not however be a legal entity and customers will continue to contract with either VT Merlin Communications or Vosper Mantech.
The new name and brand aims to enhance the existing image and allow the company to present a clearer offering for all its customers.
Together, VT Merlin Communications and Vosper Mantech form the Communications Division of VT Group plc. Significant integration of the two businesses had already taken place with a unified management structure and co-location of certain key functions. Increasingly, the combined capabilities of VT Merlin Communications and Vosper Mantech were used to satisfy customer requirements.
2 July 2004
As part of a major re-launch, Middle-East based broadcaster, Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), has selected Encoda Systems to act as systems integrator and supplier to replace all its existing manual transmission and scheduling systems.
The phased implementation will see the installation of Encodas D Series Automation and programme scheduling and air-time sales solution Broadcast Master to transmit and manage its four current channels; EDTV, Channel 33, Dubai Sports and Dubai Business Channel. In addition, Broadcast Masters commercial sales module will allow DMI to optimise sales revenue from commercial air-time for the first time.
In order to make this critical project run as smoothly as possible it was essential we contracted a single vendor with outstanding technical depth and expertise gained from managing substantial and sophisticated projects, explains Hassan Chahine, technical director of DMI. Encoda was the only company that could provide a one-stop-shop solution for automation and scheduling that fully met our needs and guaranteed delivery, implementation and training to our extremely high quality standards and within our demanding timescales.
DMIs re-launch marks yet another milestone in the creation of the center of excellence for media, which General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister pledged to build in Dubai in 2000, said Angelika Bergmann, EMEA president of Encoda. We are delighted Encodas existing clients in Dubai Media City are being joined by DMI ensuring the Emirate becomes a world class center for broadcasters in the region.
