Digital Broadcast | Al-Arabiya Installs SSL C200 Audio Console

UK's Solid State Logic (SSL) has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) that the Middle East's Al-Arabiya satellite TV news channel in Dubai has installed the SSL C200 HD digital sound console in the technical upgrade from analog to digital audio. Al-Arabiya part of the MBC Group of companies. The C200 HD console will substantially increase the number of input channels in Al-Arabiya's main news gallery. According to an SSL news release, Basheer Saad, News Channel Audio Supervisor at the MBC Group liked the C200 HD console for its analog style layout providing nearly instantaneous access to multiple controls, important for live-on-air mixing which allows audio engineers to focus on the mix rather than staring at a waveform on a screen. Solid State Logic Area Sales Manager, Paul Lindsay, said that in the C200 HD, Al-Arabiya had chosen a robust broadcast console appropriate to their needs. Al-Arabiya satellite TV channel continues to be one of dominant free-to-air, pan-Arab, news and entertainment broadcasters, reaching more than 150 million viewers in the Arabic Diaspora worldwide.

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World Cup 2010 | TVNZ and Sky Confirm Sports TV Deal

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) e-mail inbox on October 10 received the official notice that the two New Zealand rivals, pay-TV operator, SKY Television and national broadcaster, TVNZ are linking up for the third time over World Cup Soccer, this time in 2010. This will be under a programming sub-contract agreement with Australasian rights holder, SBS. The deal is split thus: SKY NZ will provide full LIVE coverage from hosts, South Africa. The coverage includes also all the FIFA events leading up to the 2010 World Cup, including the Women's Under 17 World Cup which is being hosted in New Zealand later this month (October 2008) with SKY as the "host broadcaster" for the event. Every match in the Women's Under 17s will screen live on SKY with TVNZ showing the NZ games and the final delayed. Further events include the Women's Under 20 World Cup upcoming in November (including the NZ Under 20 team), and the Men's Under 17 and Under 20 World Cup events, along with the Confederations Cup through 2009, and the Women's Under 17 and Under 20 events in 2010. The SKY NZ/TVNZ rivals trumpet the World Cup deal as ensuring comprehensive (nigh on complete) coverage for New Zealand TV viewers. TVNZ's part of the programming pie will include eleven LIVE matches on TV ONE during the 2010 World Cup, plus daily highlights from all other games.   The prized 11 live games will be The Opening Match, then 4 matches from Round 2, 2 of the 4 quarter finals, both Semi's, the Final and the runner up 3rd and 4th Place event. TVNZ coverage does not end there. The 11 Games above will be re-run on the TVNZ Sport Extra channel on the Freeview platform, as well as LIVE coverage of an additional eleven games and highlights packages from all other matches.   DBVNA can't believe it. In the world of political niceties, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke positively 'enthused' over the New Zealand deal describing TVNZ and SKY NZ as "absolute leading broadcasters in New Zealand". Actually, who else could take on World Cup in the country? The two are the only TV players anyway with the resources (Sky also owns Prime TV) in the relatively small NZ market.

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Digital TV | Promo Media Helps Al Aan Dubai in Pan Arab Expansion

Zoya Sakr, Head of Sales and Marketing at Al Aan TV, Dubai (left)has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) that Promo Media of Beirut has been appointed Al Aan's on-air advertising and marketing representative for Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Sakr see this as a pan-Arab springboard in the fast growing satellite TV arena. Awareness levels of the Al Aan TV channel have increased remarkably in the region since its establishment in 2006. Imad Jomaa, Chairman of Promo Media said “viewers showed a markedly high preference for Al Aan TV content, with programs offering original programming presented in an innovative infotainment format. We are confident of representing the channel as this will lead certainly to mutual success”. Al Aan's content is based on constant research to identify and respond to the changing desires of the regional audience. The unique infotainment format is a first for the region. It means the viewer can benefit from the daily contact with the channel resulting in a pleasurable viewing experience. A recent study by Market Research firm, Ipsos showed that viewership of the channel has increased 80% from last year. DBVNA notes that Al Aan TV is a pan-Arab satellite TV broadcaster based in Dubai Media City. Distribution is by Arabsat or Nilesat. Al Aan targets the needs and aspirations of a young, dynamic and modern family audience with emphasis on the female viewer segment which shows strong support to the channel's programming approach. Al Aan TV website is in Arabic with a boiler plate page in English.

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Digital Broadcast | Noor Dubai TV | Launches Sept 1

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) can tell you that the United Arab Emirates' largest cross platform publisher, the Arab Media Group (AMG) is launching 'Noor Dubai' a new free-to-air satellite TV channel broadcasting locally-originating programs. AMG has chosen today, September 1, the auspicious first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. "Noor Dubai" TV channel is a natural extension of AMG's popular Noor Dubai radio station on FM 93.9 MHz. Like its radio counterpart, the TV channel aims to embody the social and cultural values of the UAE Noor's unique style of presenting daily life in the country. Nahla Al Fahad, Head of Radio Television Projects, commented: "Noor Dubai has always been a popular radio station that clearly speaks to the residents of UAE, both nationals and non-nationals alike, and reflects their thoughts and concerns. We wanted to expand the base of the Noor phenomenon by bringing it to television, to give the special Noor 'feel' a face and a visual identity." DBVNA notes that Noor Dubai distribution is on Arabsat Badr 4 satellite, transponder frequency 12169 Mhz. Aside from publishing, the Arab Media Group owns and operates the FM-based, Arabian Radio Network (ARN) across the UAE, including Dubai Eye 103.8, Dubai 92, Pulse 95.3, City 1016, Hit 96.7, Noor Dubai 93.9, Al Khaleejiya 100.9 and Al Arabiya 99. Virgin Dubai, a branch of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin International brand, was added in March 2008. The Arabian Television Network (ATN), AMG's TV subsidiary operates MTV Arabia and Nickelodeon, and now Noor Dubai TV from September 1, 2008.

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Bernama TV Starts Internet News Feeds

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) can report that Bernama TV, the Internet based network of Malaysia's state run news agency will launch its first live-feed Internet news channel on Sept 3, 2008. Bernama TV's Internet online feed will operate on a time delay of 2 - 3 minutes after broadcast on Bernama's news output on Astro Channel 502. The intention behind this latest addition to Bernama's website is to reach the Malaysian Diaspora around the world, especially the youth segment of the audience that is IT savvy. More importantly online users want news immediately as events unfold without delay. An official dry run for this new service was the debate recently between Malaysian Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. A huge audience of Internet users in 44 countries accessed the Bernama server to watch the televised "live" debate. Online users were located in Norway, China, South America and western countries. Bernama says that the new service is free. It will be supplemented by video-on-demand feeds for individual news stories and will be advertiser supported. DBVNA believes that Malaysia's ruling party, UMNO, is working hard to stem the loss of support from the mainstream Malay population as witnessed by the recent by-election win of Anwar Ibrahim in Penang. UMNO through Bernama TV, belatedly is recognising the reach and power of the Internet with young Malaysians.

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Digital Vendor | Jampro Antennas in New Delhi Move

Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia :: Aditya Jain has joined Jampro Antennas as Regional Sales Manager for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Mr Jain will operate from New Delhi. In his position of Regional Sales Manager, he will serve existing clients and work with Jampro US headquarters in Sacramento, California to develop strategies to target emerging markets. Jain joins Jampro following a tenure as Sales/ Marketing Manager for QuantM Net Technologies in New Delhi, India, an IT Systems Integrator and IBM partner. He was previously Accounts Manager of Horizon Broadcast Electronics (HBE) in Gurgaon, India. Jain holds an EE (Electrical engineering degree) from the Birla Institute of Technology / Science. Jampro, the antenna specialist supplying RF systems worldwide for TV/DTV/FM/DVB-T and DVB-H has been providing antenna systems to the Asia-Pacific region since the early 1960's and says it today leads the way with new technologies. Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia understands that a major Jampro recent regional project was a complete upgrade of the TV antenna system for the state broadcaster - Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) providing multi-frequency, full coverage of the island nation. Jampro is in a major expansion phase, having enhanced production facilities in Sacremento in January 2008. Jampro is attending Singapore's BroadcastAsia2008: Stand # 7G1-08.

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Digital Vendors | Singapore Digital New To Mobile TV

Photo: Broadcast Australia Managing Director International Business Group, Chris Jaeger (left), with Singapore Digital Chief Executive Officer, Giulio Dorrucci. Digital Broadcast Vendor News :: Broadcast Australia, a Macquarie Group Company (ASX code: MCG) has launched a joint venture in Singapore, Singapore Digital with local technology company PGK Media to tackle the emerging mobile TV sector in the city state. The joint venture, Singapore Digital, is majority-owned by Broadcast Australia, which itself wishes to position itself as central to digitisation of the broadcast media across Asia. Broadcast Australia's experience cross Australia with digital broadcast infrastructure, network management experience and substantial financial strength gives the company strategic advantages with its presence in Singapore. In fact, Singapore Digital’s core mission parallels that outlined by the Government policy through the Media Development Authority (MDA) and its Media 21 Blueprint document, to see Singapore evolve as a media city with clout and influence in the role of digital TV services. The significance of the setting up of the joint venture can be seen through Broadcast Australia's central role at Singapore Digital which takes over the operation and management of TV2GO, Singapore’s nationwide mobile TV trial initiated by PGK Media in 2006. Following a six-month technical trial, the operational phase of the TV2GO trial was officially launched in June 2007. It is Singapore’s first nationwide mobile TV trial, and delivers a rich mix of premium content to around 100 Singaporean trialists. Broadcast Australia and Singapore Digital are attending the BroadcastAsia exhibition (Singapore Expo Halls 7 and 8, June 17-20, 2008 : Broadcast Australia—Stand 7N3-06; Singapore Digital—Stand 8H4-03A. Broadcast Australia has over 75 years experience as the owner and operator of one of the most extensive terrestrial broadcast transmission networks in the world. The broadcast technology company informed Digital Broadcast Vendor News it is working with strategic partners throughout the Asia Pacific region. Subsidiary companies include Hong Kong-based confined space coverage group, Radio Frequency Engineering Limited (RFE), systems integration and product supply specialist, The Bridge Networks, and critical application and hosting provider, Hostworks.

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Digital Vendor Pharos.tv | New Singapore Regional Office

Photo: Patrick Keys
Pharos.tv is to open a Singapore Office. Pharos.tv the Reading, UK-based, automation specialist that provides broadcast management solutions has informed Digital Broadcast Vendor News that it is setting up a Singapore regional office for sales and support activities. The announcement, timed to coincide with the Broadcast Asia 2008 trade show this month in the Lion City says that the new Pharos facility will be situated initially at the New Tech Park in Lorong Chuan. In other words, close to key international broadcasters and playout service providers located in the specialized industrial park. Heading up the operation will be Patrick Keys, who has been with Pharos since its inception. Patrick initially worked as part of the Pharos Playtime automation software development team and is a veteran of many international Pharos projects including CNN Headline News in Atlanta and Network 7 in Australia. He also established the international support operation at Pharos' Reading UK headquarters and has developed customer training programs for Pharos installations including Technicolor, Viasat and Globecast. Of the Singapore move, Russell Grute, director of marketing for Pharos said: "To succeed and grow in South East Asia, many broadcasters and service providers need to work more efficiently. They face unique content management and distribution challenges to localize and promote content for their viewers across a complex region." Pharos sees itself as able to assist broadcasters achieve success in these niche areas with its solid project engineering and technical backup. Backgrounder: Pharos delivers better workflow management to broadcasters and service-providers in television, radio, IPTV and telecommunications. For 10 years Pharos has continually developed the unique Mediator, Playtime and Pilot desktop broadcast management solutions. Pharos workflow offers greater efficiency for library management, ingest, quality control, storage management, archival, transcoding, post-production and playout. Pharos solutions offer a next-generation platform to better manage multiformat content and enable rapid expansion in playout, presentation and publishing. Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia says the salient point is that Pharos software architecture, integration and support services enable disparate broadcast and IT processes to be unified across the enterprise.

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Australia Digital | ACMA Reviews IPTV Growth

Digital Broadcast Vendor News is pleased to know that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has at last published its investigative report on IPTV and multimedia and Internet video. The report is most welcome for the fact Australia is behind in IPTV and Internet Video applications as cited by just five IPTV providers and fifteen internet video providers whose services provide full-length professional content directly to consumers. Digital Broadcasters Vendors News first glimpse of the report, which is to be found at the ACMA web site is that the contents are well researched, comprehensive and useful. The date of the report is May 2008.

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Digital Vendor | Simon Tsang New Asia Sales Head for Strategy & Technology

Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia has been advised that Strategy & Technology Limited (S&T) specialist in interactive TV playout systems and MHEG-5** middleware, has appointed Simon Tsang as Regional Sales Manager – Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong. Tsang (pronounced Chung - as in hung, or Chang) is based in S&T’s recently expanded Asia Pacific regional office. He reports to Colin Prior, Director of International Sales, Tsang's main role is to support S&T’s broadcast customers and resellers as well as S&T’s numerous MHEG-5 middleware licensees throughout the region. Previously, Tsang was with Syno Systems, a telecoms system integrator. Other jobs included Tut Systems, an IPTV headend provider (acquired by Motorola) and publicly-listed, DVN a conditional access and head-end system provider. Tsang is an Associate in Electrical Engineering from Hong Kong Polytechnic and an MBA from the University of Hong Kong. Strategy & Technology Ltd, headquartered in the UK, regards itself as the leading independent company in the industry sector that supports the MHEG interactive TV standard and provides complete interactive applications and systems for broadcasters and manufacturers worldwide. S&T's TSBroadcaster and TSPlayer systems are used for the creation of MHP, MHEG and OCAP interactive TV transmissions. Its RedKey MHEG engine is licensed to digital receiver and set top box manufacturers worldwide. S & I made a name for itself originally as a provider of carousel creation and play-out systems for digital terrestrial television.

Digital Broadcast Vendor News Asia Note: **MHEG-5, or ISO/IEC 13522-5, is part of a set of international standards relating to the presentation of multimedia information, standardized by the Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG). It is most commonly used as a language to describe interactive television services.

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