Digital Broadcasters | Name Plate Foreign Languages

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia デジタル放送会社のベンダーのニュースアジア - 私達はハードウェア装置、コンピュータ・ソフトウェアおよびcontent/programming の製造者とラジオ及びテレビの放送会社をリンクする。 디지털 방송사 납품업자 뉴스 아시아 - 우리는 기계설비 장비, 컴퓨터 소프트웨어 및 내용/programming의 공급자에 라디오와 텔레비전 방송사를 연결한다. 数字式播报员供营商新闻亚洲 - 我们与硬件设备、计算机软件和目录的供应商链接收音机和电视播报员/programmes 。 數字式播報員供營商新聞亞洲 - 我們與硬體設備、電腦軟體和目錄的供應商鏈接收音機和電視播報員/programmes 。 Noticias Asia Del Vendedor De los Locutores De Digital - Conectamos los locutores de la radio y de la televisión a los surtidores del equipo de la dotación física, del software y del contenido/de programas. Het digitale Nieuws Azië van de Verkoper van Omroepen - Wij verbinden radio en televisieomroepen met de leveranciers van hardwareapparatuur, computersoftware en inhoud/programma's. Nouvelles Asie de Constructeur de Radiodiffuseurs de Digital - Nous joignons des radiodiffuseurs de radio et de télévision avec les fournisseurs du matériel de matériel, du logiciel d'ordinateur et du contenu /programmes. Digital Rundfunkstation-Verkäufer-Nachrichten Asien - Wir binden Radio- und Fernsehenrundfunkstationen mit den Lieferanten der Hardwareausrüstung, der Computer-Software und des Inhalts/der Programme. Ψηφιακές ειδήσεις Ασία προμηθευτών εκφωνητών - Συνδέουμε τους εκφωνητές ραδιοφώνων και τηλεόρασης με τους προμηθευτές του τεχνικού εξοπλισμού, του λογισμικού υπολογιστών και του περιεχομένου/των προγραμμάτων. Notizie Asia Del Fornitore Dei Distributori a spaglio Di Digital - Colleghiamo i distributori a spaglio della televisione e della radio con i fornitori dell'apparecchiatura del hardware, del software e del soddisfare di calcolatore/programmi. _ Digital Radiodifusor Vendedor Notícia Ásia _ nós ligação rádio e televisão radiodifusor com fornecedor ferragem equipamento, computador software e índice/programa. _ Весточка Азия Поставщика Передатчиков Цифров - Мы соединяем передатчиков радиоего и телевидения с поставщиками оборудования оборудования, средства программирования и содержания компьютера/программ. Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia. Keep informed. it is a simple as that.

Digital Broadcast | Narrowcasting Australia Style

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia has learned that Australia is now taking the role of "narrowcasting" or "broadcasting to a 'niche' audience, to a proactive level. A consultative process is to define the legal framework and to whom are these services targeted. Submissions are required by March 9.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is seeking comments on its proposed guidelines under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.

The ACMA takes the position that Narrowcast television has significant potential to offer Australian audiences a broader choice of digital niche television programming.

Clearly, narrowcasting has a more targeted audience than a commercial broadcasting service.

The ACMA defines the services as:

* by being targeted to special interest groups; or * by being intended only for limited locations, for example, arenas or business premises; or * by being provided during a limited period or to cover a special event; or * because they provide programs which are of limited appeal; or for some other reason.

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News says this sounds like history repeating itself. The term narrowcasting was first used with the advent of cable TV in Europe and North America when ethnic oriented programming to targeted groups came into its own. Those cable narrowcasts were the first real "segmentized" programming since the start of general programming on terrestrial TV stations and networks. In the digital era so much more diversity in delivery methods and distribution platforms make the narrowcasting projects so much more interesting and diverse.

Australia is also an interesting example because the low population density made cable TV overall a non starter. Today broadband and other digital delivery systems (mobile hand helds DVB-H etc) overcome the high bandwidth distribution cost posed by the Cable TV systems hardware previously.

If carried through this is another growing opportunity for suppliers of digital products and services.

<http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER:STANDARD::pc=PC_101056>

Digital Broadcasters | Aiello Takes Star TV Reigns March 1

It was only a question of "when" Paul Aiello would take full control of the reins as chief executive at STAR Group in Hong Kong. That was the prognosis by Digital Broadcasters Vendor News at the time of Aiello's appointment last year. No mention was made of "illness" over Michelle Guthrie's departure as CEO which takes effect on March 1, just days away. It was an important announcement for the regional satellite broadcaster, as evidenced by the quote from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive, News Corporation who said that, “Paul has done an exceptional job at STAR since joining the company, leading its corporate team and overseeing its overall growth strategy. Paul’s business acumen, strong leadership and financial skills as well as in- depth knowledge of the diverse and complex media and telecommunications industries in Asia make him the ideal candidate to steer the long-term growth and success of the company.

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News noted that Murdoch was gracious to Guthrie when he thanked her for overseeing an important period of growth for the Star Group.

The news of Guthrie's departure was originally issued on January 12,2007.

Digital Broadcasters | DVB Japan | Major Patent Breakthrough

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News has received a notice from ULDAGE Inc in Tokyo of a major patent breakthrough (breakthru). This is: a "Patent Pool License for ARIB Standards", otherwise known as the "ARIB Essential Patent License", is now available. The license is going to be via a simple fee arrangement. Essentially the bureaucratic wrangling between patent holder and user is being eliminated in favour of a simple system agreed across the board by the patent holders in the ULDAGE Grouping.

What this further means is that key digital broadcasting device manufacturers in Japan holding key patents, plus France Telecom - have finally ALL agreed on royalty and patent payment conditions and fees to be paid by other manufacturers.

The Japanese manufacturing companies are household names - Hitachi, Matsushita Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), Sanyo Electric, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba and Victor Company.

As to the fee levels, manufacturers or distributors of digital broadcasting devices shall pay, JPY 200 Japanese Yen (about USD 1.50) per unit for a TV receiver to receive digital BS, CS and terrestrial broadcasts; JPY 100 per unit for a TV set receiving digital terrestrial broadcasting only and, JPY 50 per unit for mobile terminal receiving digital terrestrial broadcasting called One Seg only.

ULDAGE remarks and notes that the technology transition from analog to digital has made the patent issues more complicated.

The bottom line for ULDAGE Group of manufacturers is that by the establishment of this license scheme it will ensure "user" manufacturers and distributors of patented items will be able to ensure a stable supply of digital broadcasting devices to the market. ( Or, put another way, not get help up by backward and forward licensing negotiations and approvals for every new sales deal.)

ULDAGE Inc. welcomes having additional holders of 'essential patents' and hopes that this patent license program will expand further. Its remit is to provide royalty operation service, license administration service and market research service necessary for administration of joint license programs that relate to Japanese-based manufacturers of digital broadcasting and other related devices.

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News has on file the contact details of ULDAGE Inc as being: at Imperial Tower, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda- ku, Tokyo, Japan. http://www.uldage.com/

Digital Broadcasters | PCCW | MPEG4 Updates with Harmonic H.264

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News has been advised by US-based, Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) that today Hong Kong PCCW (0005.hk) is deploying Harmonic's new MPEG4 DiviCom Electra 5400 standard definition TV (SD) AVC (H.264) encoders for its entire 'now TV' IPTV channel lineup. Harmonic's Electra 5000 MPEG-2 encoders were also recently added to PCCW's broadcast distribution centre.

PCCW, the world's largest IPTV operator with more than 700,000 subscribers can now add more TV channels to its line up in its Hong Kong service area.

PCCW's 'now TV service' is part of group's comprehensive quadruple platform offering that includes also telephony, broadband Internet access and mobile services.

Bandwidth improvements available with H.264 also enable PCCW to significantly increase the number of subscribers that can access the service over the DSL network in comparison to MPEG-2.

"The Harmonic Electra 5400 encoders deliver the performance and picture quality we needed for our new H.264 service," said Dominic Leung, Managing Director, Television & Content at PCCW.

Harmonic says its IP-based Electra 5400 offers PCCW superior MPEG-4 video quality at ultra-low bit-rates to improve bandwidth efficiency, while also providing a dense one rack-unit platform that supports up to four channels of simultaneous full resolution video.

Digital Broadcasters | PCCW | Harmonic MPEG4 Press Release

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News could not believe a press release dated January 31, 2007 from Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) on a routine sale of digital MPEG-4 encoders to PCCW Hong Kong (0008.HK).

The release attributes a comment to a Mr Dominic Leung, Managing Director, Television & Content at PCCW.

Now call us old fashioned if you like. But for us, a "Managing Director" is head of a firm with major decision making powers. But head of a department or division? In this case, to be named Managing Director of a division, beggers belief.

Come off it Hong Kong PCCW you are viewed negatively enough by your shareholders. Why do you like to irritate everyone further by your larger than life job titles?

Or has Digital Broadcasters Vendor News got it all wrong and Mr Leung is soon to rise to the number one spot at PCCW Hong Kong?

Digital Broadcasters | Vietnam | VoV promoting AIDS Awareness

State broadcaster, Voice of Vietnam radio (VoV) this week starts a major promotion campaign to educate Vietnamese on the dangers of HIV/ AIDS using a radio soap opera to bring home the message. Digital Broadcasters Vendor News has learnt that funding is coming from the Danish NGO, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) amounting to US$770,000.

Voice of Vietnam is collaborating with DANIDA and the United Nations Population Fund for the program project.

The objective of the effort and long-term goal is to promote increased access to and improve the quality of reproductive health services.

The soap opera is aimed to educate young people about HIV/AIDS seeking to change behaviors to prevent HIV transmission.

Voice of Vietnam is broadcasting the radio soap drama in all 64 provinces in the country and in several ethnic language versions.

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News notes that the Scandinavians are quietly working away in Indo-China in various NGO funded radio broadcast projects for Asian state broadcasters. The DANIDA funding in Vietnam ends in December 2009 and will underwrite all 104-episodes of the HIV/AIDS awareness radio series.

Digital Broadcasters | Sydney | 2GB Breached ACMA Regulation

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News of its decision on a breach of the Australian Broadcasting Code. The breach refers to soon-to-be digital radio station, 2GB Sydney that breached the code by broadcasting material on The "Open-Line" Show that was likely to vilify people of Lebanese background on the basis of ethnicity. The programme was aired by 2GB presenter, Brian Wilshire, on December 15, 2005.

While ACMA found the material was presented for a purpose in the public interest, being discussion of factors contributing to unrest in southern Sydney, ACMA was not persuaded that the comments were presented reasonably and in good faith for this purpose.

ACMA found 2GB breached clause 1.3(e) of the code. Under this clause, a licensee must not broadcast a program which is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or vilify any person or group on the basis of a number of attributes, including ethnicity.

The licensee advised ACMA that it took immediate action after the broadcast. An apology was aired on the day following the broadcast on the Channel 10 TV news and on radio station 2GB itself.

Station 2GB staff including all presenters and production staff have undergone "compliance training" since the broadcast and been briefed ‘about the importance of ensuring that in discussing current affairs, criticisms of particular types of conduct is reasonable, but criticisms that are based on persons having any of the attributes listed in code 1.3(e) are not’.

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News as a public service brings this matter to a wider audience to heighten the point that broadcasters in democracies like Australia have clearly defined responsibilities as set out by law.

Digital Broadcasters | Saudi Arabia | TV Survey Favours Terrestrial TV

The مجموعة المرشدين العرب Arab Advisors Group has told Digital Broadcasters Vendor News that its research shows that 93.9% of Saudi Arabia’s households have satellite TV, yet, some 48.4 % of households still tune into terrestrial broadcast TV.

Equally important is the high share of households that have Pay TV. Some 30% of the urban households surveyed indicated that they have Pay TV services.

Moreover, 73.7% of people in Saudi Arabia also listen to Radio Programs, with over half of them tuning to Radio on a daily basis.

مجموعة المرشدين العرب Arab Advisors Group’s major analytical survey of Saudi Arabia’s main cities’ population was scientifically done. The survey involved face to face interviews with 674 respondents, 15 years old and up mobile phone users; from different households in the Western region of the country (Makkah - Mecca, Jeddah, Medina), Riyadh City, Dammam and Dhahran, and selected randomly in a manner proportionate to the estimated population size of the different areas.

For television viewing habits, the same survey showed audiences of TV news programs were from all age groups particularly the older groups. A larger percentage of the younger generation watch TV game shows and TV quiz shows, along with fashion TV and music-based programming.

Saudi viewers of higher (masters degree?) education levels were more attuned to political genres of programs.

High school and university level students watch more sports TV and health and fitness programs.

The survey results in full: “Saudi Arabia Media Survey 2007” by the مجموعة المرشدين العرب Arab Advisors Group, January 20, 2007. The major survey probed each household’s media consumption habits and patterns related to Satellite TV, Terrestrial TV and Radio. The survey’s fieldwork was conducted in October and November 2006.

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News backgrounder: The مجموعة المرشدين العرب Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has already produced over more than 710 reports on the Arab World’s communications and media markets. مجموعة المرشدين العرب Arab Advisors Group provides research, analysis and forecasts of Arab communications, media, technology and financial markets.

"http://www.arabadvisors.com"

Digital Broadcasters | Thailand | iTV Near Bankruptcy

A comment from Digital Broadcasters Vendor News -- There is going to be a lot of near brand new second hand digital broadcast equipment available if Thailand's beleaguered network, iTV faces bankruptcy.

You may recall that the iTV network, based in Bangkok was closely associated with the deposed Thai prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The publicly-listed network is heading towards possible bankruptcy after the country's military-run government rejected its latest offer to settle a fine of almost 100 billion Thai Baht fine (US$2.8bn) out of court. Time is running out fast.

A Supreme Court ruling in December restated a previous Central Administrative Court decision against the iTV network for manipulating the terms of its original operating concession with the Prime Minister's Office.

The court decisions against iTV are significant. It appears to be the first major attempt to dismantle Thaksin's once highly profitable telecommunications and media empire, sold to a Singapore Government company, Temasek Holdings before the Military ousted Thaksin.

Digital broadcasters Vendor News says that the Thai Military, with the removal of iTV UHF network will regain control as the dominant terrestrial broadcaster in the country.

www.itv.co.th/ (in Thai)