Digital Alert Systems partners with WideOrbit

Digital Alert Systems (DAS), a division of Monroe Electronics and provider of enhanced emergency alert systems (EAS), has partnered with WideOrbit. Together, the two companies have tightly integrated Digital Alert Systems' flagship DASDEC-II EAS platform with WideOrbit's WO automation for radio.

The pairing of the two systems is designed to streamline operations, prevent emergency alert step-on insertion over advertiser material and produce a more polished and sophisticated on-air product. The software integration between DASDEC-II and WO automation for radio allows for better deployment of emergency alerts, with streamlined communication between the systems that allow radio broadcasters to automatically schedule alerts to play to air at an appropriate time.

Radio broadcasters will benefit from a cohesive system that can automate simultaneous EAS alerts over many channels airing diverse content at different times. With a refined integration between WideOrbit's automation system and the DASDEC platform, the negative and often costly consequences of forced switching and advertising step-ons are eliminated. Therefore, a better on-air product for the broadcaster is ensured.

Turner signs agreement with VTC DTH

Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc. has signed a channel distribution agreement with VTC Multimedia Corporation to distribute six of its channels on VTC's newly launched Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform. VTC will distribute Turner's flagship channels, CNN International and Cartoon Network, as well as HLN, Boomerang, TCM Turner Classic Movies and, newcomer to Asia, truTV. VTC will launch its new DTH television service using Asiasat5. The service will provide subscribers throughout Vietnam with the best of both worlds - a compelling mix of VTC's well established local channels and a variety of popular international channels from news, kids and factual entertainment to Hollywood movies.

AT&T joins forces with Apriva

AT&T has joined forces with Apriva to deliver new mobile payment applications that can enhance productivity and cash flow. The applications, AprivaPay and AprivaPay Professional, turn smartphone into point-of-sale devices that accept credit and debit card transactions. The Apriva applications provide small businesses with a reliable and secure vehicle to seamlessly tap into this growth. By offering these new mobile applications from Apriva, AT&T will help small businesses create 'virtual storefronts' in the field, enhancing cash flow while minimizing back office processes such as billing. AprivaPay is a browser-based application that enables businesses to process credit and debit transactions through the browser of their mobile phones. AprivaPay Professional is a fully featured application that is downloaded directly onto a smartphone. Additionally, the service can be integrated with an optional card reader and a receipt printer, allowing businesses to obtain the financial benefits of "card present" transactions, along with printing receipts.

AT&T has added AprivaPay to its portfolio of AT&T mobile applications and authorized users can conveniently purchase it directly from AT&T via this online self-service tool.

BT teams up with RRSAT in strategic alliance

BT's media & broadcast division and RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd have entered into a five year strategic alliance. The alliance will enable their customers to benefit from high quality broadcast services over a deeper global reach - as well as being a catalyst to facilitate both companies growth in their global media businesses.

The alliance will combine RRsat's capabilities in content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries over satellite, fibre and IP with BT's global media network and existing satellite portfolio. RRsat will gain access to BT's media switch in London linking in to its global media network, satellite services and offering dedicated bandwidth for short-term event coverage, while BT's media customers will benefit from the RRsat global network which offers extensive distribution coverage currently provided to more than 550 channels using over 50 satellite platforms in more than 150 countries. Each company has agreed to bring between £5–£10 million of additional business to the other party.

Benchmark signs SI deal with LIVE TV

Benchmark Broadcast Systems, a KIT digital company, has been awarded the systems integration contract to upgrade the facilities at LIVE TV, Thailand by converting the existing analog workflow to a completely digital workflow across all channels. Live TV is a Thai TV station with nine channels. The channels cover a spectrum of education, entertainment and information programs that range from traditional Thai culture to modern music, environmental issues, food, sports, reality shows, news and more.

After looking at various system integrators, testing their system installations and doing a thorough review, LIVE TV selected Benchmark to revamp their station by converting it to a completely digital workflow, incorporating redundancy and improving the overall station tone across all LIVE TV's channels. Benchmark evolved a workflow and systems design that incorporated and realized all the expectations of LIVE TV, including the need for a smooth, automated playout solution with sufficient redundancy built in; on air graphics that could be played out with the minimum of intervention; multiple file formats to be played out; frame accuracy for each channel; and servers that had to be capable of controlling other third party devices like Routers and VTRs, in order to enable single‚Äêoperator, simultaneous control of several channels for further operating cost reduction.

Harris Corporation leverages CONNECT solution

Harris Corporation, as a subcontractor to Evolvent Technologies, Inc., is helping to improve the quality of military patient care provided by enhancing the capabilities of the Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE) interface. The exchange is a health enterprise integration capability employed by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to securely share patient information between agencies.

As service members move between the DoD and the VA systems, their healthcare information will move with them assuring better care and improved patient outcomes. Harris is leveraging its open-source CONNECT solution to modernize the BHIE and standardize its data exchange models as part of the BHIE functional system enhancement program. The open-source CONNECT software enables healthcare organizations to participate in the nationwide health information network for efficient and secure patient information exchange.

New directions for China Cable

Existing cable operators may become subsidiaries of a new national cable company that is being set up by the government. The new company, likely to be capitalized at USD 11.8 billion, will be the main operating body for next-generation broadcasting in China. All Chinese state-owned companies, telcos included, will be invited to invest in the new national entity, which will likely be run by broadcast regulator State Administration of Radio, Film & TV (SARFT). The government will promote the new firm, as well as investment in next-generation infrastructure, through both favorable policies and funding.

ESA signs a contract with Astrium

Astrium has been contracted by the European space agency (ESA) to undertake initial development studies for a next-generation launcher (NGL) for future satellite launches under the ESA's future launcher preparatory program (FLPP). This 15-month project has a total value of 8.5 million euros (USD 10.6 million), of which Astrium will contribute 1.5 million euros (USD 1.8 million) of its own funds.The project will be divided into three parts: definition of a launcher concept, required technological innovations and the costs of building and operating the new launch vehicle. The NGL will be phased in with Arianespace's Ariane 5ME (Midlife Evolution), an evolved version of the Ariane 5 rocket, for which a preparatory program was set in motion during the 2008 ESA ministerial conference. ESA will prepare an FLPP proposal combining all the technical and organizational aspects of the program for presentation at the next ESA ministerial conference.