Cisco's VQE for Sonaecom

Sonaecom has selected Cisco's visual quality experience (VQE) solution to integrate its IPTV service into Clix SmarTV. In addition to using Cisco's Carrier Ethernet solutions, Sonaecom is taking advantage of Cisco VQE error-repair and monitoring technologies to detect and repair packet loss, thereby significantly improving video quality. By diagnosing the problems that affect successful IPTV service delivery and by implementing error repair via the network, the company can potentially increase service acceptance, reduce customer complaints, and increase customer satisfaction. The deployment of Cisco VQE standards-based technology will allow the company's network to support new features, including network-based rapid channel change. This feature reduces channel-change times from several seconds to less than one second - a key advantage for service providers like Sonaecom that plan to expand their IPTV offerings and provide more content and programming choices for consumers.

HME Pro Audio announces new distributor

HME has announced Professional Sound Systems (PSS) to its network of professional audio distributors. PSS will present HME Pro Audio products including the DX Series of digital wireless intercoms and the PRO850 wireless intercom system to audio, broadcast, and live performance operators in the Denmark market.

v3 Imaging brings innovative mobile images

The revolutionary v3 technology developed by Vision III Imaging, Inc. is fast becoming recognized by techno-artists and general users as the premier solution to meet the growing demand for innovative and edgy content. The company's v3 Optical Systems, with parallax scanning technology, enhance standard 35mm film, broadcast video, HD, and computer-generated images with vivid impressions of depth and texture that achieve a greater sense of realism. v3 images can be viewed on all standard displays (television, motion picture projection, computer monitors, cell phones, and PDAs) without the need for any special viewing equipment. The parallax scanning technology of v3 replaces flat visual images, making scenes come to life with dimension.

Avid introduces next-generation broadcast solution

Avid Technology, Inc. has unveiled Avid Active ContentManager 3.0, a solution for broadcasters looking to simplify multi-channel news workflows and create more revenue opportunities by broadening the delivery of content to the web, wireless devices, and other IP-based distribution points. The software allows broadcasters to efficiently and effectively build web and mobile audiences by enabling automatic creation and repurposing of broadcast news content (audio, video, and graphics) with minimal effort and cost. The software works in conjunction with most newsroom computer systems and popular non-linear editing systems and offers tight integration between the Avid iNEWS newsroom computer system, Avid NewsCutter news editing systems, and Avid Unity and Interplay systems to deliver industry-leading newsroom-to-web speed and operational efficiencies.

Local PBS HDTV channels get DirecTV carriage

DirecTV, Inc. has launched a second wave of local public television stations in HD, adding 10 more markets. The only satellite TV provider to offer local public television stations in HD, the company has already launched in 14 markets and plans to roll out in additional markets through the end of 2008 and in 2009.

Tandberg IPTV headend for SK Broadband

SK Broadband is deploying Tandberg Television IPTV headend, which includes HD and SD MPEG-4 AVC encoding. This solution will enable SK Broadband to launch linear broadcast television services in 2009, following the recent grant of regulatory approval for Korean IPTV providers to introduce broadcast services, complementing existing video-on-demand content. SK Broadband intends to introduce 30 SD and 10 HD channels initially. The IPTV headend supplied to SK Broadband includes Tandberg EN8030 MPEG-4 AVC SD encoders, EN8090 MPEG-4 AVC HD encoders, iPlex for IP multiplexing, and RX1290 SD/HD integrated receiver decoders.

Link Research expands in APAC region

Link Research is expanding its operations in Singapore to accommodate growing sales and distribution for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Link's APAC product portfolio now includes Microwave Radio Communications (MRC) electronic news gathering, portable, inter-city and IP-based microwave links, in addition to Link's own award-winning wireless camera system encoders for SD and HD broadcast.

RMT upgrades TV stations' distribution networks

Brazilian broadcasting company RMT has chosen Israel's Scopus digital networking solutions to upgrade the video distribution networks for two regional RMT television stations, TV Centro America, and TV Morena. The combination of Scopus encoding, multiplexing, DVB S2 channel coding, and network management equipment has helped RMT significantly reduce its bandwidth costs and raise its quality-of-service levels for viewers throughout two large Brazilian states. The Scopus solutions form the basis for a new transmission infrastructure that enables RMT to leverage the lower cost and reliability of content delivery over an IP network. Content is delivered via IP from TV Globo to TV Centro America's operations center in Cuiabá and TV Morena's center in Campo Grande. The video feeds (four channels for TV Centro America and three for TV Moreno) are received and decoded by the IRD-2900 integrated receiver decoders and then multiplexed for insertion of local content by the IVG 7304. The UE-9000 provides local content encoding for distribution to viewers' homes. The Scopus NMS 4000 provides a centralized, holistic view of each network to simplify troubleshooting and help RMT maintain consistent, high-quality transmissions.

Snell & Wilcox switchers for ZDF

The German national public television broadcaster Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) has standardized on the Kahuna multi-format SD/HD production switcher. The company plans to deploy the award-winning Kahuna systems across the company's studio and production facilities in Mainz, Berlin, and Hamburg, as well as in its OB department. The first three Kahuna switchers installed will be responsible for a significant share of ZDF's premium-format, HD programming. ZDF is committed to the Kahuna production switcher in a four-year agreement that sees the first units installed by fall 2008. The Snell & Wilcox switchers will be employed in a variety of applications at ZDF, with initial installations providing powerful switching for the broadcaster's capital studio in Berlin, a new virtual HD news studio in Mainz, and in ZDF's Hamburg production facility. The Kahuna switcher's powerful functionality, intuitive layout, and comprehensive DVE effects and transition tools enable broadcasters to simplify the production of compelling HD news content. With Snell & Wilcox's proprietary FormatFusion technology, the Kahuna systems will allow ZDF facilities to incorporate SD content ' whether from broadcast archives, legacy sources, or external feeds ' seamlessly into HD productions.

Ordos installs Ross Vision switcher

Ordos TV has invested in a Ross Vision 2X multi-definition production switcher for their new OB van. Mongolia's Ordos TV chose Vision series for use in coverage of live production events throughout the country. The OB van is 11.6 meters in length and will be used for live on location broadcasts, webcasting (streaming video), and recording events on video and audio. The Vision series is Ross' next generation multi-definition production switcher, handling standard and high-definition formats. Vision is a great choice for the most demanding newscasts, sports, and special events with either HD or SD requirements or a mix of both.

TCL and Intel sign IPTV contract

Intel and TCL have signed a memorandum of co-operation to co-develop the next-generation Internet TV and jointly promote the integration of Internet and TV to bring a more comprehensive television experience to domestic consumers in China. According to the memorandum, Intel and TCL will develop and promote televisions capable of accessing the Internet, and provide more TV programs as well as opportunities for users to communicate and interact with one another. The two parties will closely co-operate with respective industrial partners to promote electronic products capable of accessing the Internet to allow more households to experience the joy of digital life.