SatNews

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digiGO! — The Digital (R)Evolution™

  • Arqiva logo Arqiva has appointed former UKTV Controller and COO, John Keeling, to the role of Platform Controller for its new VOD (Video On Demand) service.  Keeling will be responsible for overseeing all programming and marketing functions including brand development and content supply.  He will also be responsible for appointing key programming and marketing staff for the forthcoming platform. Arqiva announced its move into online content supply in July, with the aim of hosting top-end, quality content from leading broadcasters and independent content providers targeted at a discerning U.K. audience. Keeling held his operating role at BBC/Virgin joint venture UKTV from 2001 to 2007 where he sat on the boards of both UKTV and BBC Vision.  He was subsequently brought in by ITV, BSkyB, Discovery Networks and the BBC to strategize, devise, and implement executive-level organizational and personal development programs.‬‪‪  Keeling commenced his broadcasting career with the launch of MTV Europe in 1987 followed by a six year stint at Sky where he was responsible for the movie channels throughout the early 1990s.


  • AT&T MSS iPhone update page graphic A message to their mobility customers has appeared on the AT&T website that reveals new info regarding MSS for the iPhone… “We know many of our iPhone customers are eager for an update on our rollout schedule for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). We’ve been working for the past several months to prepare our systems and network to ensure the best possible experience with MMS when it launches — and that launch date is: September 25 for iPhone 3G and 3GS customers. MMS will be enabled through a software update on that day. We know that iPhone users will embrace MMS. The unique capabilities and high usage of the iPhone’s multimedia capabilities required us to work on our network MMS architecture to carry the expected record volumes of MMS traffic and ensure an excellent experience from Day One. We appreciate your patience as we work toward that end.


  • Audemat Navigator modulation analyzer Audemat will be announcing new functionality, including MPEG-4 support, for its renowned range of Mobile Metering equipment for Digital TV at IBC2009. The company’s Navigator DVB-T/H is already used for mobile measurement for DVB-T (Digital Broadcasting—Terrestrial) and DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting—Handheld), with hundreds of units already deployed by broadcast regulators and broadcasters worldwide. Now, as more and more countries plan to offer H.264/AVC MPEG-4 for the delivery of HD services over DVB-T, the Navigator system is updated to also offer compatibility with MPEG-4 video coding. Used to conduct mobile measurement campaigns on foot or in a vehicle, the Navigator DVB-T/H enables real-time measurement of RF parameters and MPEG data as well as content monitoring, display and recording. All information is stored complete with GPS coordinates to enable extensive analysis of coverage performance and the export of results to software mapping applications.  A single antenna receiver is also added to the feature set of the Navigator DVB-T/H which now supports both single and diversity modes. Existing users can upgrade their system to support MPEG-4 by simply purchasing an optional software module with no hardware modifications necessary. The Navigator and Goldeneagle ranges from Audemat offer mobile measurement and signal monitoring of a wide range of current broadcast technologies including AM, FM, HD Radio, DAB/DAB+/T-DMB, ATSC, DVB-SH (Digital video Broadcasting—Satellite Services To Handhelds), DVB-T and DVB-H. As part of the newly announced WorldCast Systems group comprising Audemat, Ecreso and APT, the company is able to supply complete end-to-end solutions for the transport, transmission and monitoring of Radio and Television signals.