5 August 2004
Citing the “promising initiatives” of U.S. international broadcasting in the Arab world, Iran and Afghanistan, the bi-partisan panel investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks called for increased funding for those efforts. “The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has asked for much larger resources,” the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States said in its report. “It should get them.”
On page 377 of its report, the 9/11 commission made the following recommendation: “Recognizing that Arab and Muslim audiences rely on satellite television and radio, the government has begun some promising initiatives in television and radio broadcasting to the Arab world, Iran, and Afghanistan. These efforts are beginning to reach large audiences.”
Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the BBG, the independent federal agency that oversees all U.S. international broadcasting, said of the report’s recommendations, “We believe that the people of the Middle East and elsewhere are best served by providing them the truth. That’s what our broadcasting does.”
Currently, the BBG’s annual budget of more than $550 million goes to broadcasts around the world through various entities, including the Voice of America (VOA); Alhurra television and Radio Sawa, Arabic-language broadcasts; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA.)
Since 9/11, the BBG has taken steps to dramatically increase its broadcasting to key areas.
The Middle East: Alhurra, a new satellite television channel launched in February 2004, is aimed at Arabic-speaking viewers in 22 countries across the Middle East. Radio Sawa, a 24/7 station, has garnered large audiences of young people in the region with its mix of news, information and Western and Arabic music.
Iran: Radio Farda, a youth-oriented, 24/7 radio, covers news about Iran, along with entertainment and features. It is a joint project of VOA and RFE/RL. VOA-TV launched a successful, daily, Persian-language show, News and Views, broadcast to audiences by satellite. Additionally, VOA has a Persian service and two other weekly television shows.
Afghanistan: Audiences in that country are able to listen to a 24-hour stream of news, information and other programs in Dari and Pashto. These are run by the VOA and Radio Free Afghanistan, which is part of RFE/RL. Additionally, the BBG arranged for two medium-wave transmitters to be installed in Kabul – one for the BBG, the other for Afghanistan to help bolster its media.
Pakistan: The VOA recently expanded its Urdu service to 12 hours daily to reach more Urdu-speaking listeners in Pakistan and parts of India.
5 August 2004
Software Generation Ltd (SGL), a leading provider of video storage management software, has announced its partnership with Autocue, a chief supplier of integrated broadcast and newsroom systems.
The SGL and Autocue collaboration will see the integration of SGL FlashNet, the company’s leading software storage solution, which provides the link between video stored as files on video servers, editing systems, and the long term archive library, and Autocue’s QNews and QMedia solutions. From the Autocue application interface users will be able to send and retrieve material directly to and from the library. The solution is already being used by a major news channel on the US East Coast.
SGL FlashNet will be exhibited on Autocue’s stand 7.329 throughout IBC2004.
3 August 2004
OmniBus Systems, provider of comprehensive automation and asset management solutions to the broadcast industry, has released a major new version of its leading large-scale, multichannel, multidelivery automation and control system. The new Colossus Version 3 combines the proven multichannel architecture of the core Colossus automation system with the modular flexibility of OmniBus G3 technology. The result is a system able to control an unlimited number of channels, items, or devices — all through customizable desktop-based user interfaces — to provide new levels of efficiency and flexibility to today’s large-scale broadcast operations.
“Colossus Version 3 bridges the gap between video, audio, Internet, and
data-streaming applications, just as earlier Colossus systems have, while
also providing broadcasters with flexible user interface and device control options that bring greater functionality to facilities of all types and sizes,” said Mike Oldham, CEO of OmniBus. “Through the use of modular control components that address virtually every device and process involved in media ingest, monitoring, playout, and management, Colossus gives operators precise access to and control over the specific areas of media and data necessary to perform their jobs efficiently.”
Colossus’ customizable G3 Desktop component features a highly intuitive
user interface with a timeline-based display that allows a single operator
to monitor the status of all channels at a glance and to focus in on any
single stream, confirm its data, and drive it in the traditional manner
should the schedule require it. Operators also have the ability to preview and adjust programme junctions ahead of time, inserting sophisticated visual and audio effects where necessary. Dynamic master control elements reflect the properties of each scheduled event. New revenue opportunities for OmniBus’ customers can be developed thanks to the flexibility and expandability built into Colossus Version 3.
3 August 2004
GlobeCast, a leading global satellite services company, has begun distributing Algerian television station Canal Algerie as well as radio stations Chaîne 1 and Chaîne 3 via multiple satellites, expanding the networks coverage over Africa and the Middle East via GlobeCasts C-band Direct-to-Home and cable distribution platform on NSS-7, and over North America via the GlobeCast WorldTV DTH platform on Intelsat Americas 5 (IA-5).
Originating in Algiers, Canal Algérie, Chaîne 1 and Chaîne 3 currently broadcast on NSS-7 Ku-band through Télédiffusion d’Algérie. GlobeCasts C-band platform offers expanded coverage of the entire African Continent as well as the Middle East and allows the Algerian broadcaster to reach not only additional DTH viewers, but also cable headends across the region. GlobeCast receives the Canal Algerie feed at its technical operations center in Paris where it integrates the channel into GlobeCasts NSS-7 multiplex.
Simultaneously, GlobeCast feeds the signal via fiber to its New York teleport for insertion into the GlobeCast WorldTV DTH platform on Intelsat Americas 5. This Ku-band service allows Canal Algérie, Chaîne 1 and Chaîne 3 to reach homes across the continent, as part of the fastest-growing international broadcasting community on American satellite.
Canal Algérie, Chaîne 1 and Chaîne 3 are owned by Algerias national television group, ENTV. Launched in 1994, Canal Algérie is a general programming channel, offering a range of programming that brings together news, culture, sports and entertainment for Algerian communities worldwide. Canal Algérie also makes a particular effort to reach out to viewers abroad who are interested in the current political and economic situation in Algeria.
3 August 2004
Inmedia is to launch its new Remote Playout & Distribution solution at IBC 2004. This new service uses Inmedia developed technology to dramatically reduce playout and distribution costs and is particularly aimed at channels that want to distribute regionally tailored content.
Targeted Television a commercial reality
Inmedias Remote Playout and Distribution service opens up new markets around the world. In one operation you can select your content, choose the appropriate audio track, add the correct subtitles, upload, and schedule the remote playout of multiple TV channels almost anywhere. The efficiency savings and reduction in access costs to remote markets are dramatic.
Starting from a centrally held pool of digital assets, programming for each remote TV channel is created and scheduled directly from your desktop. Content is delivered in non-real time via satellite multicast or the Internet to remote playout servers for onward local distribution to your precisely targeted audience. So if you only have the rights to programming in certain regions, you can run schedules containing only the content you have purchased.
Inmedias Sales Director for Broadcast Services, Matthew Ivey, says: The Remote Playout and Distribution service is a prime example of Inmedias continuing drive to make running a TV channel more affordable. This innovative application will allow operators to target new customers in new markets and has huge potential to get new TV channels onto platforms that would until now have been too expensive to access. Our calculations show that after a low start up cost, our remote service makes it possible for a content owner to add an additional TV territory for as little as £30K per annum, ideal if you want to target ex-pats in the Algarve or Japanese businessmen in London.
Each Remote Playout & Distribution device can select the correct audio channels for the targeted audience, run individual schedules, insert audience specific subtitles and insert a graphic to help identify the channel. The Remote Playout and Distribution device is located at a cable or satellite head-end.
14 July 2004
ND SatCom, a leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT, broadcast and military communication network solutions, has been awarded a multi million USD contract to provide the national electric power company in Kazakhstan with a satellite-based communications network to improve its infrastructure. The VSAT network will be financed by a loan from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development – EBRD.
The turn key solution covers the delivery of more than seventy VSAT stations, a powerful network management system for planning,
controlling and monitoring the overall system as well as various engineering and service packages. A satellite network is ideally suited to provide end to end services with high availability. The complete network, which supports different applications such as voice and data simultaneously, is operated by ND SatComs local partner TNS-Plus, a leading telecommunications operator in Kazakhstan, and will be ready for operation by the end of 2004.
“We strongly believe that the Eastern European Market will continue to grow extensively over the next decade. With our local partner TNS-Plus
we have found a reliable and strategically well positioned partner not only for this but also for future projects in Kazakhstan. Based on our
SkyWAN(R) system using the latest MF-TDMA DAMA technology, the VSAT network allows a very cost effective satellite network solution. Even though SkyWAN(R) offers much higher flexibility, it requires much lower bandwidth capacities compared to other VSAT solutions.”, comments Dr. Karl Classen, CEO ND SatCom AG.
