Digital Broadcasters | NZ TV Channel 40 Waikato starts

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News has learned from the Asia-Pacific satellite forum Apsattv (at) yahoogroups.com, that a new regional family TV station, starts November 15 to serve the Waikato area of New Zealand. TV Central is using UHF Channel 40 as its frequency. The reason for the forum buzz was that a member in the area complained that the Channel 40 frequency just happened to be the UHF channel output on his SKY TV decoder. This was causing interference with a resulting fuzzy picture. The new family channel website (www.ftn.co.nz) is http://tvcentral.co.nz/ .

Digital Broadcasters | BBCArabic Seeks Uni Recruits

With weeks away to the launch of the BBC Arabic TV Channel, the BBC in Dubai has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia that a series is of interactive media workshops to recruit talented young university graduates to become broadcasters, is under way. Labelled as “The World as You See It” road show is to target media studies attendees to groom the best into becoming the program and news presenters of tomorrow on the soon to start, BBC Arabic TV Channel. The BBC Arabic team is visiting universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Egypt and Morocco. (Listed below) The point BBC Arabic is making is that its operation is now about being an integrated Arabic-language multi-media operation - a first, the BBC says, for the region - that completely integrates radio, tv and online Internet. Essentially, experienced BBC journalists will share their knowledge and experience with media students, encouraging them to complete 3 minute video packages of stories they believe will be of wide interest. The best works will be featured on the new channel. Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic, said this is about developing talent that he views as a first step in building a relationship between the BBC and with the multi-media 'broadcasters' of the future. The Arab universities co-operating with BBC Arabic are: United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Sharjah University, Sharjah, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Birzeit University, West Bank Palestine, the American University in Cairo, Cairo, Al Ahram Canadian University, Cairo, Cairo University, Cairo, the Mohammed V University, Rabat, Université Hassan II, Mohammedia, Casablanca. More information from BBC's PR support Dubai - info at asdaa.com http://www.bbcarabic.com http://www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Broadcasters | NDTV Using Omnibus iTX System Solution

A reminder from Digital Broadcasters News Asia that New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) launched two new channels from its headquarters serving the Middle East region. "NDTV GOOD TIMES", went on-air Sept 7, 2007 followed by "NDTV ARABIA" on September 10. Both channels target expatriate (NRI) Indian viewers in the Gulf states. NDTV appointed OmniBus Systems of the UK to supply its comprehensive playout and production system solution, known as iTX. NDTV's Group CTO, Rahul S. Deshpande said that the Omnibus technology was chosen in order to get the two channels air as quickly as possible. And the reason NDTV chose the iTX software package was that the iTX, file-based system unifies playout, storage and automation, across multiple devices, platforms and different software versions, while solving compatibility issues. The bonus is that iTX easily integrates with NDTV's existing content management. NDTV, based in the India's capital, next year notches up its 20th anniversary as it becomes India's first and largest commercial producer of news, current affairs and entertainment programming output. The TV network has expanded to 23 offices and studio facility locations across the sub-continent. New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) website: www.ndtv.com OmniBus Systems' digital asset management, automation and transmission technology website: www.omnibus.tv