The new news channel, Alyoum TV, has selected VSN (Video Stream Networks) for the complete deployment of a 100 percent tapeless system that includes solutions for news production, broadcast playout automation, graphics, compliance recording, ingest and contents management. With an initial staff of 100 people, the channel specializes in news production and mainly broadcasts local news and general information on Kuwait. Alyoum TV produces four daily newscasts, among other debate and talk shows. The VSN technology was selected by the channel’s technical management because of ‘their excellent quality/cost ratio, their ability to offer a complete and integrated system and the Arabic support of their graphics tools’. The installation includes a news production system VSNNEWS with 15 news writing stations, three non-linear editing (NLE) cabins and a VSNPROMPTER teleprompter. Alyoum TV’s personnel use the news installation in two daily shifts. VSNAUTOREC is used for ingesting contents and includes a powerful ingest programmer for frequent as well as for specific recordings. Master control playout and automation are all managed with the playout and multiformat server VSNMATIC, which is now integrated with the titling system VSNCG. A compliance recording system VSNLEGALREC is also included in the installation. The channel uses advanced graphics thanks to the solution VSNCG+ that offers a much more powerful user interface in version 5.0, including search filters, the ability to undo changes without limits, and floating windows allocation. The channel manages their contents with the multiplatform solution VSNSHARER, included in the brand new VSN Spider architecture. VSN won the contract in collaboration with its partner, Motion Media. Alyoum TV, which has plans to continue to grow, may acquire a complete archive system VSNARCHIVE in a second stage of the installation. The channel already has news, sports and talk-show studios.
At CABSAT 2012, NETIA will highlight the ability of broadcasters to ingest content, manage their media and associated metadata, and deliver content to any region of the world using the company’s Content Management System (CMS). NETIA‘s CMS allows customers to streamline all of their production processes through simple, easy-to-manage workflow and task automation. The software suite also allows users to connect all of their partners and vendors within a single production ecosystem, simplifying the sharing and managing of media assets. Users can now manage all of the processes within the production environment from editing through post-production and distribution to any multimedia platform — with one unique and easy-to-use interface. NETIA will also showcase its flagship Radio-Assist™ 8 range of digital audio automation software at CABSAT 2012. Equipped with a broad range of tools for end-to-end multimedia workflows, NETIA’s acclaimed software suite now extends beyond traditional broadcasting, allowing users to prepare publication at an early stage of the workflow. The Radio-Assist family of digital audio software covers each part of the production and broadcast workflow, allowing users to record, edit, or prepare a playlist. NETIA will be exhibiting with GlobeCast at Stand S1-D1 at CABSAT 2012, February 28th to March 1st, 2012.
NETIA Content Management System screenshot
Thomson Video Networks has announced that Asian systems integration company Ideal Systems has become a value-added reseller (VAR), distributing and supporting the entire Thomson Video Networks product line in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Ideal Systems is the first integrator in the Asia-Pacific region to join Thomson’s intensive VAR program, which reinforces partner skills and autonomy through dedicated training schemes, technical assistance during the projects phases, and second-line service-level agreements. A long-term partner of Thomson Video Networks, Ideal Systems has worked with the company successfully on several large regional projects in the satellite, terrestrial, and cable markets. Supported by Thomson through the VAR program, Ideal Systems will now take the technical lead on new bids and projects, providing first-line customer support and professional services from its local offices throughout the region. Thomson Video Networks’ new VAR program is designed for experienced headend distributors who aim to develop their integration and customer services. The VAR acts as a qualified integrator and the first level of support. Thomson Video Networks offers VAR partners an advanced annual training scheme, with commissioning assistance, a second-line service-level agreement, and remote or on-site support.
Volicon has announced that Innovative Cable, the market leader in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), has purchased Observer® Remote Program Monitor (RPM) systems to enable continuous monitoring of more than 600 channels distributed from the company’s St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John facilities. Providing automatic and continuous evaluation of post-STB content, the Observer RPM systems will simplify the testing of signal integrity, record suspect content when channels do not conform to prespecified limits, and ensure that alerts are issued to appropriate staff and departments when errors are detected. Volicon’s Observer RPM scans channels around the clock and automatically tests signal integrity, issues alerts (via email and SNMP), and captures the problematic content when channels do not conform to prespecified limits. The system can monitor linear content for video or audio errors such as closed captioning, audio levels, and static screen or black screen. In addition to giving staff across Innovative Cable convenient desktop access — local or remote — to monitored channels, the Volicon monitoring system allows users to clip and export full-motion, full-frame-rate recordings for evaluation and analysis of intermittent issues.
