digital broadcast middle east - april 2010

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4 APRIL 2010

An ITP Business Publication

Leading global industry fi gures debate the future of Arab media

CITIZEN PRODUCERSBBC takes user generated content to the next level

CAPACITY CROWDTh e Middle East’s expansive

satellite market laid bare

THE BUSINESS OF DIGITAL CONTENT DELIVERY

Licensed by Dubai Media City

Leading global industry fi gures debate the future of Arab media

POWERPLAYERS

01www.digitalproductionme.com

CONTENTS

APRIL 2010

30THE CAPACITY CROWDYour guide to the satellite service industry in

the Middle East.

26ANGA MANAGEMENTTh e ANGA Cable show presents the fi rst

post-NAB glimpse of the latest technology.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

WEB HIGHLIGHTSSpot poll: What did you think of

CABSAT?; top web stories; editor’s

choice: Digital Studio awards video.

THE BRIEFINGADMC wins F1 rights; MBC in

$10m lawsuit; Antoine Choueiri

passes away.

CITIZEN PRODUCERSHosam El Sokkari on BBC

Arabic’s new format that puts

bloggers in the director’s chair.

COVER STORY: POWER PLAYERSDigital Broadcast presents the key

fi ndings from the star-studded

Abu Dhabi Media Summit.

MARKET ANALYSISMedia buyers are investing more

in online video ads but is the

money coming from TV budgets?

2

6

14

16

40

16 THE MOSTCOMPREHENSIVEFAMILY OFDIGITAL TVMONITORING,MEASUREMENTAND ANALYSISPRODUCTSIN THE WORLD

www.digitalproductionme.comAPRIL 2010

DPME.COM ROUND-UP

02

EDITOR’S CHOICE

MOST POPULAR STORIES

1 Sky to launch EMEA’s fi rst 3D channel on April 3

2 People meter could double UAE ad spend: analyst

3 Harman to establish dedi-cated EMEA sales offi ce

4 ADMC and HUMAX tie to roll out HD STBs for EPL

5 FT Doha fi lm summit gets thumbs up from delegates

Th e Middle East telecoms and media industries

must work harder at collaboration, according

to Mohammed Omran, chairman of UAE-based

operator Etisalat

digitalproductionme.com/news

ETISALAT CHIEF CALLS FOR MEDIA-TELCO TIES

The online home of:

DA

TE: M

arch

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ALSO ON THE DPME SLATE THIS MONTH...

Freelance DoP Paul Mongey puts the Sony PMW 350 XDCAM EX through its paces.

ANALYSIS

ROLL CAMERA!Damien McGurn discusses CT’s AV push in the Middle East.

INTERVIEWS

VISUAL MEDIUM

ADMC reveals its plans for augmented reality in the Middle East.

TECHNOLOGY

REALITY BYTESLocal content must be made the priority in the coming years, writes the Thomson Founda-tion’s Eric MacInnes.

COMMENT

WHERE’S THE NEXT FREEJ?

VIDEOS

DS AWARDS 2010

digitalproductionme.com/analysis

digitalproductionme.com/technology

digitalproductionme.com/interviews

digitalproductionme.com/comment

The highlights reel from sister publication Digital Studio’s an-nual awards ceremony.

READER COMMENT: “I recently visited the UAE and was surprised by how advanced the telco services were. I only hope that we can have the same option here one day.”TelcoGeek, London, UK.

M

SPOT POLLWHAT WAS YOUR IMPRES-SION OF CABSAT 2010?

42% Better than expected.

25% Disappointing compared to last year.

21% Good turn-out but not much business.

12% Fantastic, no complaints. DA

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Trade Fair for Cable, Broadband and SatelliteCable

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Exhibition and Congress

4 - 6 May 2010

Cologne/Germany

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383 international exhibitors in 2009

13,600 trade visitors from 69 countries

22,000 sqm exhibition space

1,400 congress attendees in 2009

ANGA Services GmbH

Nibelungenweg 2 · 50996 Köln / Cologne

Germany

Phone +49 221 / 99 80 81-0

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ADVERTISING

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COMMENT

APRIL 2010 05

A fter a lull in activity created by the

economic downturn, the broadcast

industry now appears to be on the

road to recovery and back in profi t.

Last month’s CABSAT was the clearest and

most authoritative indication of this so far.

New exhibitors discovered a vibrant market

with plenty of projects planned across various

activities. Veteran exhibitors saw the buzz of

previous years return, largely off the back of

customers’ renewed confi dence and willingness

to invest in new technologies.

Th is month’s NAB is the fi rst of the big two

international shows since the majority of

the world’s major economies emerged from

recession. If the same vigour seen at CABSAT

is experienced at NAB, it will provide the entire

industry with a much needed boost.

Hot on the heels of CABSAT came the Abu

Dhabi Media Summit, which put the local media

industry – specifi cally Abu Dhabi’s – position in

the international landscape.

Smaller tradeshows – such as the UK’s

Broadcast Video Expo – are faring well too. Next

month’s ANGA Cable exhibition in Germany

has reached maximum capacity with the

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FOR THE LATEST NEWS, ANALYSIS AND REVIEWS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST CONTENT DELIVERY, MEDIA MANAGEMENT AND NEW MEDIA DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS HEAD TO DIGITALPRODUCTIONME.COM

accompanying congress also set for a busy year.

Th e emergence of some new events on the 2010

calendar also signifi es the confi dence now felt in

large parts of the industry.

Th e fi rst 3DTV World Forum will take place

in London next month. Closer to home, Internet

Show Middle East will debut in Abu Dhabi this

September. Th e event will bring media and

broadcast professionals together with some

of the creative and technical talent working

exclusively on the internet, a relationship that

will grow in importance, sophistication and value

in the coming years.

All of these shows – past, present and future –

indicate that the sector has found its feet once

again. More than this though, the development

of trade shows to support new formats and

platforms indicates that the industry is now

ready to continue investing in its own future.

06 www.digitalproductionme.comAPRIL 2010

THE BRIEFING

News Corp subsidiary Fox International Chan-

nels (FIC) has announced a wide-ranging stra-

tegic partnership with Abu Dhabi’s twofour54,

which will see large sections of the broadcaster’s

international operations relocated to the Abu

Dhabi production precinct.

Under the terms of the deal confi rmed in Abu

Dhabi last month, FIC has pledged to head-

quarter the Middle East operations of its global

online ad network business, .FOX (pronounced

dot-fox), in Abu Dhabi in co-operation with two-

four54. It will also collaborate (via its documen-

tary production arm NHNZ) on the production

of a high-end HD and 3D documentary for

broadcast television, cinema and museums.

An NHNZ production offi ce will also open

focusing specifi cally on the development of 3D

production capabilities in the Arab world.

FIC will also relocate some of its overseas play-

out and operations to a new centralised tapeless

HD facility in Abu Dhabi operated by twofour54.

“As we seek to play our part in the development

of the UAE’s capital as a media centre for the

Middle East our relationship with twofour54 will

be a fundamental advantage,” said Ward Platt,

president of FIC, Asia Pacifi c and Middle East.

Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) has con-

fi rmed that it will broadcast the Formula One

championship on its Al Riyadiya 2 sports free-

to-air (FTA) channel.

ADMC announced that it had won the exclu-

sive regional broadcast rights last month but

did not immediately confi rm whether or not it

would show the championship on the encrypted

Al Riyadiya 3 or on a FTA basis.

“We are focused on off ering the best coverage

to viewers across the Arab World,” said Moham-

med Najeeb, director of Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya.

“Our eff orts complement the growing interest

in car racing in the region, including the trans-

formation of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi into hubs

for motorsport excellence.

“A lot of people love to watch it and after

building the Yas Marina Circuit, we defi nitely

have to follow the growth of this particular

sport,” added Najeeb.”

Th e Formula One coverage will be broadcast

in Arabic. E-Vision subscribers will have an ad-

ditional English-language audio option.

Bahrain TV had previ-

ously held the rights

to the competition.

Th e switch means that

ADMC and Al Jazeera

Sport now own all the

premium international

sports broadcast

rights in the Middle

East with the

exception of the

Summer Olym-

pic Games.

ADMC WINS EXCLUSIVE FORMULA 1 RIGHTSBroadcaster will show all action on un-encrypted Al Riyadiya 2 channel

FOX DECLARES TWOFOUR54 COMMITMENT

MONTH IN NUMBERS

30%The percentage of STBs shipped in 2010

that will be HD-enabled

CONTENTGOOD MONTHADMCAbu Dhabi Media Company had a busy month in March.

The broadcaster secured the Middle East and North Africa rights to the Formula One championships. The deal was struck just in time for the Abu Dhabi Sports to screen the opening race of the new season in Bahrain.

The company then hosted the inaugural Abu Dhabi Media Summit and fi nished the month by securing a STB manufacturer for it upcoming EPL encrypted channels.

BAD MONTH3D DOUBTERSThe format had another big month leaving those reluctant to embrace 3D in an increas-ingly isolated position.

LG committed to selling one million 3D TV sets in 2010, rais-ing its estimate of 400,000.

Figures released by the Na-tional Association of Theatre Owners in the US suggested that 3D had played a major part in record breaking box offi ce results in Q1 2010.

The major US studios also revealed several new releases would be offered in 3D.

15 millionThe number of cable STBs that will have

networking capability by 2014

Mohammed Najeeb, director, Abu

Dhabi Al Riyadiya.

Source: ABI Research


THE BRIEFING

APRIL 2010 07

MBC is being sued for US $9.87 million by

a TV channel based in the US that claims

to have been promised the same fi gure as

payment for securing the distribution of

MBC on the American satellite platform,

Dish Network.

Dandana – a TV network targeting Arab

Americans – claims that it was promised

30 percent of MBC’s revenues derived from

carriage on the Dish Network.

Th e New Jersey-based broadcaster has

calculated this fee to be $9.87 million. Its

CEO and founder Amro Altahwi, however,

claims to have received just $250,000 and

is suing for the balance.

Th e suit was originally fi led in Novem-

ber 2008 with the New Jersey district

court. Th e eventual hearing in August

last year was in favour of Dandana. Judge

Dickinson R. Debevoise made the full

award of $9.87 million.

However, MBC says it was only made

aware of the suit against it four months

after this judgement, leading Judge Debe-

voise to overturn his previous decision on

February 15 and re-opened the case for a

new hearing.

Court documents seen by Digital Broad-

cast show a suit lodged with Colorado

District court on October 8 last year.

MBC was unable to comment on the

case at the time of press.

MIDDLE EAST MEDIA’S ‘FOUNDING FATHER’ PASSES AWAYArab media mogul Antoine Choueiri has died after a long illness.

Choueiri had long been seen as a founding father and architect of the Middle East media industry. He was 70 years old.

Choueiri founded The Choueiri Group, and had over 35 years of experience in the industry.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

BROADCAST BUSINESS

US TV NETWORK SUING MBC IN $10 MILLION LAWSUITJudge overturns previous decision ruling against MBC; broadcaster was unaware of initial suit

Today, you cannot separate technology innovation and the media. DR PRANNOY ROY, Executive chairperson, NDTV

HUMAX WINS EXCLUSIVE DEAL TO SUPPLY ADMC’S EPL BOXESAbu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), the Eng-lish Premier League broadcaster in the Middle East starting August 2010, has signed an exclu-sive agreement with set-top box (STB) manufac-turer Humax. The company will undertake the supply and sale of HD STBs for the deployment of the EPL programming in MENA.

NEWTEC CHIEF EYES MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS AHEAD OF SUMMITSatellite technology developer Newtec will use its upcoming business seminar in Brussels to strengthen its ties with Middle East customers, said Serge Van Herck, the fi rm’s CEO. Van Herck added that he expects the Middle East to fuel Newtec’s development in the coming years.

The seminar will be held on April 20-21.

Serge Van Herck, CEO, Newtec.Antoine Choueiri.

08 www.digitalproductionme.com

THE BRIEFING

Th e Middle East’s fi rst legal website to download

Arabic video content has launched, allowing users

to download, stream or rent fi lms at DVD quality

without resorting to online piracy.

Shofha.com, operated by LINKonLINE, a sub-

sidiary of Orascom’s LINKdotNET, off ers fi lms,

television series and live television at a price the

fi rm believes is actually cheaper than the many pi-

rated DVDs that are prevalent in the region.

“My direct competitors are the pirate sites,

which may off er video for free, but also force us-

ers to visit diff erent servers, sites and forums,” said

LINKonLINE technology general manager Mosta-

fa Kamel. “Th e quality, ease of service and the vari-

ety of content makes it easier for the end user.”

APRIL 2010

BROA

DCA

ST BRIEFS

PLATFORMS

FIRST LEGAL ARABIC VIDEO WEB PORTAL GOES LIVEOrascom subsidiary launches rental, download and streaming service

THE BRIEFING

ANEVIA WINS RESI-DENTIAL EGYPTIAN IPTV DEPLOYMENTPalm Hills Developments, Egypt’s fi rst real estate project to incorporate an IPTV network, has selected An-evia to provide the head-end infrastructure. The develop-ment has installed a ViaLive 220S DVB to IP gateway that includes an IRD, muxer and an IP streamer.

“When building the multimedia services network,

we looked for a system that would enable us to provide a superior entertainment experi-ence to our customers,” said Hisham Salah, VP technology, Palm Hills Developments.

EYEHEIGHT SCORES AT AL JAZEERA SPORT Al Jazeera Sport recently deployed the Eyeheight MW-3EM A/B mixer as part of a larger installation that included a server-based ingest, post-production and transmission solution at its facility in Doha.

The mixer enables the end user to perform mix, wipe and cut transitions and V fades.

The annual value of Turkish broadcaster Dogan Yayin’s content export business into the Middle East.$5.5 m

ENVIVIO HIRES NEW VP SOLUTIONSVideo encoder manufacturer Envivio has appointed Arnaud Perrier to the newly created role of VP solutions.

Perrier joins from Harmonic, where he established a distin-guished track record for marketing encoding products to telco and pay TV operators.

“I am excited to be part of the Envivio team working to reshape the industry and help our customers capitalize on delivering new, com-pelling services to any device,” said Perrier.

AP APPOINTS NEW ENPS SALES MANAGERThe Associated Press has named Clive Mumby as the new sales manager for its ENPS news production system.

Mumby joins AP from Quantel and has more than 25 years experience in broadcast and visual media.

Recently he has worked closely with several news providers transitioning to fi le-based work-fl ows, including BBC and Sky News in the UK, ARD in Germany and NRK in Norway.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Shofha aims to simplfy the online Arabic content marketplace.

we looked for a system that


THE BRIEFING

APRIL 2010 010

A management shake-up at Abu Dhabi fi lm

fund Imagenation has seen former Filmworks

exec Rami Yasin appointed head of production,

while current VP of development Daniela Tully’s

(above) remit has been expanded to include all

creative aff airs for Emirati fi lm production.

Yasin will work alongside Tully, who joined

Imagenation Abu Dhabi last June. Tully will now

oversee all creative aff airs for regional Emirati

fi lm production in addition to content that falls

under Imagenation Abu Dhabi’s Participant

Media and National Geographic partnerships.

Security offi cials in Yemen raided the local offi ces

of the Arab world’s two largest news networks, Al

Jazeera and Al Arabiya, according to reports.

Both networks have claimed that the actions

are related to their respective coverage of the

country’s southern region, where there is a pro-

independence uprising.

An unnamed government offi cial told state-run

TV in Yemen that the two stations did not have the

appropriate authorisation for the broadcast equip-

ment that it confi scated from offi ces in the capital

Sanaa last month.

IMAGENATION SHAKE-UP PUTS ONUS ON LOCAL CONTENT

ARAB NEWS GIANTS RAIDED IN YEMEN ‘OVER PERMITS’

TELECOMS MARKET

Yahsat was granted a 10-year licence by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in the UAE last month, the country’s third telco licence.

Under the terms of the licence, Yahsat can provide voice, data, video and internet services in the UAE.

“It is an important day for Yahsat and a great opportunity for a company with fi rm roots in the UAE to address the satellite communications requirements of the nation and the region as well,” said Jassem Al Zaabi, CEO, Yahsat.

The agreement with the TRA is a milestone for the Abu Dhabi-based operator, which has suffered a slight delay in the development of its hardware after the L’Aquila earthquake dam-aged the factory building Yahsat 1a.

Telecom operators must continue to look for partnerships with content companies and reconsider the way they offer it to consumers in order

to succeed, according to Mohammed Omran, chairman of UAE telco Etisalat.

Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, Omran called on telcos to leverage the expertise of media fi rms, rather than try to go it alone.

“We are not experts on content so we rely on partnerships,” said Omran. “Etisalat’s role is to customise and group content for our customer base. This means working with content part-ners. It does not mean going out and acquiring content providers.”

Omran also called for telcos not to ignore local content as part of their strategies.

YAHSAT GRANTED 10-YEAR LICENCE ETISALAT CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIPS

BROA

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HALF OF INDUSTRY TO WORK WITH 3D IN 2010: POLLHalf of the respondents to a recent poll said they expect to work in the production of 3D content during 2010.

The survey was conduct-ed by test and measurement equipment manufacturer Hamlet at the BVE exhibi-tion in London with a mix of engineers, broadcasters and fi lmmakers questioned.

“Stereoscopic 3D is the real hot topic of the mo-ment, but we are all fi nding

our way in this new me-dium,” said Steve Nunney, managing director, Hamlet.

The poll also found that 14 percent had already worked in 3D and almost two-thirds of visitors to the show said that fi nding out about 3D equipment and production techniques was the main reason or an important part of their visit.

While there is well-found-ed excitement about the prospects for 3D movies, those surveyed were less certain about the prospects of 3D in the home. Thirty percent felt that tech-fans would be interested but it would not fi nd a mass market, and just a quarter thought that there defi nitely would be an audience.

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012 APRIL 2010 www.digitalproductionme.com

VOX POP

MORE TRAFFIC, BETTER LEADSEBBY JOHNSales director Middle East, India and Africa, Nevion

THINKING POSITIVE

“Last year’s show certainly experienced a bit of a lull but this year we saw a lot of new things

going on in the local industry. In general the show was very good for us.

Th ere are more new leads for us to follow up this year – and higher quality ones too – com-

pared to last year. Th ere were several new projects discussed for the long-term and also some

short-term leads that look very promising.

It is also about engaging with your existing customers. We were able to meet with practically

all of our existing customers. Being a product manufacturer we are always keen to talk to

engineers as well as the decision makers and we were able to do so.

Th ere was also more traffi c on the stand in general. Usually we show our new

products at NAB and IBC. Th is year we have around 55 new products, so profes-

sionals from this region were able to see them for the fi rst time at CABSAT rather

than at the two big international shows. Th is was good and it helped to bring

people to the stand and it was nice to give some products a debut at CABSAT.

Th e majority of visitors to our stand were already familiar with our products so

it was good to have something new to show them and gauge the trend they are

going in with their investments.

Th ere was a lot of interest in our IP transport with JPEG 2000 encoding and

HD in-house transport products, these arguably attracted the most interest.

Everybody we talked to seemed to be in the process of – or is planning to –

upgrade their studio facilities to HD standards. Having some strong new HD

products to show them put us in a strong position.”

Trade shows can often provide an indication of the health of the industries they serve. Digital Broadcast speaks to a number of companies that

exhibited at this year’s CABSAT and asks whether the expo has left them feeling confi dent about the year ahead.

APRIL 2010 013www.digitalproductionme.com

VOX POP

DEALS CLOSED ON THE SHOW FLOORCHRISTOPHE CARNIELPresident and CEO, Netia

In general, we felt CABSAT was slower than usual

this year but all of our major customers were at

the show from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of

Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Jordan,

Tunisia and Pakistan. Th e show was very active

for us in terms of business opportunities in

MENA and we can confi rm that we closed busi-

ness on the show fl oor!

Twenty percent of our turnover last year came

from the Middle East and that fi gure is growing.

Th ere are a lot of archiving projects in this

region. Th ere have been several questions from

potential clients regarding the transfer of archives

to a digital format and then of course the media

asset management systems that are required to

leverage those.

More recently we have had a lot requests about

how we can help broadcasters to leverage these ar-

chives across several platforms including mobile.

Th is is a growth sector for us.

Many companies at the show were also inter-

ested in our MANREO media asset management

system. Th e coming year should be great for the

company in many respects and CABSAT was a

great way to kick-start 2010 in MENA.

We plan on attending the show next year.

LAUNCHPAD FOR EXPANSIONDAVID ABELWorldwide director of partner management, Amberfi n

“Th is is the fi rst time AmberFin has attended

CABSAT with a dedicated stand and the show

went well for us. It’s always nice to have the

opportunity to meet customers and potential

clients face-to-face and show them the product

and what it can do. Numbers have been down at

trade shows during the last year, but the quality of

attendees remains high.

At CABSAT we were able to display the

latest version of AmberFin’s iCR software as

well as the new Standards Converter tool

for monetising existing content in markets

with diff erent frame rates.

Th e show included many key decision

makers for organisations based throughout

the region, not just in the UAE, and has been

a great help for us in expanding our reach. We

look forward to extending the relationships we’ve

made at this year’s show and building on our pres-

ence in this market for next year.”

LET THE NUMBERS DO THE TALKINGThe indications suggest CABSAT 2010 was a vast improvement on the previous year. With offi cial statistics from this year’s event still being compiled, could the 2010 edition have bettered the CABSAT 2009 fi gures below?

678Number of exhibitors at last year’s show.

93%The percentage of CABSAT 2009 exhibitors that felt the show was a key part of their marketing strategy.

53The number of participating countries in 2009.

8,603The total number of visitors last year.

93%The percentage of exhibitors that were happy with the inaugural year of the Satellite MENA show, collocated with CABSAT.

SOU

RCE: DWTC

CA

BSAT IN

NU

MBER

S

l

s

Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum (right) at the opening of CABSAT 2009.


INTERVIEW

Are broadcasters keeping pace with these changes so far?Social networking is growing fast. Traditional

broadcasters aren’t always aware of just how

quickly. Th e initial adoption of the internet has

been much faster than that of TV and radio. When

you look at the growth of Facebook, the rate of

adoption is incredible.

How do you fi lter the collaborators and monitor the content?Th ere is still a permanent staff working on the

show. Some of these have been recruited from the

blogosphere in the Middle East. Th ere is also a core

group of Arab bloggers that regularly participate

as well as many, many more who do so occasional-

ly. Th e show must still adhere to the same editorial

guidelines as our other content.

Discourse in the Middle East is often emotional,

this is partly about changing this.

How do viewers perform producing and researching roles remotely?Each show has one interviewee. Th ese are chosen

by the network of contributors. Th ere is then a

discussion online about the issues that will be ap-

proached. Questions are suggested and we ask for

these to be backed up by evidence. Th is research is

also done within the network.

So for example, a question could be based on a

previous statement made by that guest. Th ey can

fi nd a video clip of this speech, which we can pres-

ent to the guest on the show.

Where do these discussions take place?We can’t use every social networking tool so we

have selected a few specifi c open platforms includ-

ing YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and Blogspot.

The show offers viewers a far more inclusive and infl uential role in each episode’s production, why do you think this is important to increase this level of involvement?It is an intellectual loss to society to limit the voic-

es of bloggers. We want to bridge the gap between

the cyber and traditional spheres of information.

Some people consider them as like oil and water

but eventually there will be no diff erence between

media and what we presently call new media.

What do you think is the driving force behind this blending of the two?I reviewed my relationship with audiences and

was struck by the fact that they are empowered

so strongly by technology. Th ey can challenge the

traditional media’s domination of mass com-

munication and the barrier to entry is minimal.

Previously if you wanted to speak to the masses

you had to buy a newspaper company or build a

TV station.

Now you can pay a few dollars and go to an

internet café and reach millions of people.

Is the concept of 710 Greenwich a natural progression of an existing trend?Th ere have been four generations of interactivity

if you like.

First the public provided quotes and ideas by

SMS. Citizen journalism was then used within

programmes. Th en visual user generated content

was integrated into shows and became an integral

part or even the basis of some formats.

We are looking to go one step further now. Th ey

want to interact and take part. Th e viewers have

the opportunity not just to be reporters or con-

tributors but to actually research and produce the

show. We can put them in the director’s seat.

BBC Arabic’s latest format elevates citizens from the role of reporter to producer. The network’s head Hosam El Sokkari – who is also the creator of the 710 Greenwich current affairs talk show – gives us the scoop.

CITIZEN PRODUCERS

We want to bridge the gap between the cyber and traditional spheres of informa-tion. Some people consider them as like oil and water but eventually there will be no difference between media and what we presently call new media.HOSAM EL SOKKARI

Head of BBC Arabic Network.

COVER STORY

www.digitalproductionme.com016 APRIL 2010

COVER STORY

The great and the good of the world’s media industry gathered for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Media Summit last month.

Digital Broadcast condenses the key presentations from CEOs representing News Corp, Google, AOL and many more.

eat and the good of the world’s media industry gathered he inaugural Abu Dhabi Media Summit last month.

POWER PLAYERS

www.digitalproductionme.com 017APRIL 2010

COVER STORY

RUPERT MURDOCH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NEWS CORPORATIONTh e event was opened by arguably the most

important fi gure in modern media history, News

Corporation CEO and president Rupert Murdoch.

Murdoch’s empire includes more than 50 TV

channels, four pay TV networks, more than 100

newspapers as well as 10 US movie studios.

News Corp has strengthened its ties to the region

in recent years taking a 9.1 percent stake in Rotana,

with which it collaborates on the region’s Fox

Series and Fox Movies channels. News Corp has

also announced that it will have a presence

in the twofour54 media zone in Abu

Dhabi with its NHNZ documentary

production company opening an

offi ce. Th e regional arm of its .FOX

(pronounced dot-fox) online ad

business will move to the precinct.

Th e playout and operations of some

of its channels in the Middle East

that are currently based in Hong Kong

and other overseas locations, will move to

a new facility based in twofour54.

Murdoch’s speech highlights the importance of

encouraging the creativity and talent to populate

the region’s growing roster of impressive infrastruc-

ture developments.

“Th e creative sector fl ourishes best in societies

where governments intervene with a light hand,”

says Murdoch. “When faced with an inconvenient

story, it can be tempting to resort to censorship or

civil or criminal laws to try to bury it. In the long

Certainly every nation has the right to insist that the people they allow into their countries to do business respect their values and traditions. This is best administered, however, with a gentle touch.

RUPERT MURDOCH

Chairman and CEO, News Corporation.

run, this is counterproductive. Markets that distort

their media end up promoting the very panic and

distrust that they had hoped to control.

“Certainly every nation has the right to insist

that the people they allow into their countries to do

business respect their values and traditions. Th is is

best administered, however, with a gentle touch,”

adds Murdoch.

Th e News Corp chief also called for an end to

protectionism in the Middle East media market.

“Creative protectionism is as destructive as other

kinds of protectionism. It is expensive, unfair and it

guarantees that local companies coddled

by protection will never be strong

enough to compete outside their

own borders.

“By contrast, if you open your

creative market up to competition

your companies can challenge the

biggest players. I have seen it done.

News Corp is commonly thought of

as an American company because we

are now based in New York, but we actu-

ally started in a provincial Australian city called

Adelaide. When I brought our company to America,

we were still a small American fi rm,” said Murdoch.

Drawing on the value of content production

Murdoch cites the example of Indonesia which has

invested heavily in its creative sector which now

accounts for 5.4 million jobs in the country and six

percent of its exports.

“Right now the world does not think of the

Middle East when it thinks of creative content.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS…

MOHAMMED OMRAN, CHAIRMAN, ETISALAT

“A few years ago, telecom operators would not even be invited to a media summit such as this. There has been a notable shift in the importance of telcos to media.We are enabling our customers to have a high quality fi xed connection. Mobile connections have improved and LTE will soon allow speeds as high 100Mb/s. Handsets have also improved dramatically in recent years. They now have better batteries with longer lives. They are much more powerful and smarter than in the past. This has enabled a lot of new services.

We still have a long way to go when it comes to local content. More is becoming available, but we need to more partnerships forming between telcos and media fi rms.

We are not experts on content so we rely on partnerships. Etisalat’s role is to customise and group content for our customer base. This means working with content partners. It does not mean going out and acquiring content providers.

Customer behaviour in this region has changed the equation. Just a few years ago people used to say 20 lines per 100 households was too many in Egypt. Today there are 70 lines per 100.”

di it l d ti

Etisalat chairman Mohammed Omran called on

closer ties between telcos and the media.

$13.6bnThe market capitalisa-

tion of News Corp at the time of press.


COVER STORY

Even your own citizens prefer Hollywood movies

and American television shows to local production.

You can change this.

“So what do you need to encourage a creative

sector? Obviously you need money. High quality

content is expensive. Th e simple fact is that if you

want quality content, you need to encourage a mar-

ketplace where money fl ows to those who invest

in and create content. For example, television is

still a young market in this region but the potential

is huge. If you want higher-quality television, you

need a transparent market that helps ensure that

people receive a fair price for the value they create.

A more transparent advertising market means

having eff ective tools to measure who and what

people are watching. Advertisers and creators

need metrics that tell them who they are reaching

and how eff ective their message is, or else they are

simply throwing money in the dark.”

Murdoch also called for media buyers and sellers

to compete for business to business within a trans-

parent market rather than allowing a small number

of companies to dominate.

“Th is may be a cosy arrangement for those

companies but the nation pays a very high price for

this cosy arrangement as it takes away the fi nancial

engine needed to drive investment in local content,”

says Murdoch.

Th e News Chief also calls for the local market to

be opened up to foreign competition saying that

doing so would “call your people to their best and

cultivate a world-class industry on par with the fi -

nance and oil giants that now dominate the region”.

ERIC SCHMIDT, CEO, GOOGLETh e second keynote address of the summit was

provided by Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Th e subject

matter of the speech and the question and answer

session that followed was as diverse as Google’s

own activities. Ultimately, the two main issues were

the eff ect of web proliferation on traditional media

fi rms and privacy and censorship. Schmidt began

by discussing the Middle East’s own position in the

online landscape.

“When you ask people elsewhere in the world

about what is going on in the Middle East, no one

will mention the internet,” said Schmidt. “But in

fact, this region has undergone the fastest web

expansion for three or four consecutive years now.

It’s been growing at 100 percent, which is incred-

ible. Th en you have to consider that one-third of the

population in the Middle East is under the age of

fourteen so in fi ve years there is going to be a huge

mobile internet market.”

As for how the propagation of online services

will aff ect traditional media source, Schmidt is con-

fi dent that the opportunities are also large.

“We will see famous TV producers, building their

shows on the internet fi rst to see how well they

do, because that doesn’t cost very much,” claims

Schmidt. “If it gains traction, then they can go to

fi nancers, advertising partners and distributors

armed with this strong negotiating position and

real numbers to back them up. Th e internet is not

going to replace existing platforms – people still

want to go to the movies – it will be used by the

media in a diff erent way, to learn and to test things.

There are lots of things that Google could do that it chooses not to. For example, one day we had a conversation about predicting the stock market, but we fi gured that would probably be illegal.

ERIC SCHMIDT

CEO, Google.


ROBERT BAKISH, PRESIDENT, MTV NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL

“MTV Arabia is still relatively new and continues to be a work in progress. We are still big believ-ers in international markets and we have shown our intention to continue growing our participa-tion in this region.

We started internationalising our channels early – partly because it was economical to do so with MTV’s music video-based format. We realised that it was important to localise these chan-nels for each market. MTV Arabia is an example of this with a mixture of global formats and local episodes of these international shows.

To make money, you have to create quality content that people will spend time on. Others have looked at things like unsigned bands, but it turned out there was a reason they were unsigned, they just weren’t that good. You have to create something that the audience can connect with in order to monetise it.

You have to offer content on multiple platforms. Some people will want to sit back and watch, some people will engage much more. Audiences are diverse so you need to offer something for all regardless of how technologically savvy they are.”

di it l d ti

Robert Bakish, president, MTV

Networks International.

APRIL 2010 www.digitalproductionme.com020

CASE STUDY - DIGITISATION INFRASTRUCTURE TURNKEY SOLUTION

The European Parliament, a directly elected

institution of the European Union since

1979, is one of the world’s most powerful

legislatures.

The audiovisual unit provides broadcasting

on an internal cable television network, and

transmission to Europe by Satellite (EBS), the

news exchange networks, and to selected television

channels. It also provides video streaming to the

Web, publication on FTP servers and oversees

a media archive kept for the legal and historical

record and the use of members of parliament,

journalists, and scholars.

In 2008, the European Parliament selected

BCE for the complete installation of its digitising

infrastructure and for the digitisation of video

content with quality check and corrections to

ensure the best quality.

CHALLENGE: DIGITISE AND CENTRALISE THE CONTENTS ON A DIGITAL ARCHIVE STORAGE SYSTEMWhile the European Parliament assumed its

present form in 1979, its roots stretch back to

1952. The archive it has amassed chronicles a

signifi cant part of European and world history.

At the time the project was initiated, some of the

archive was already stored in digital format on a

Sony data tape system.

Most of the content however is still stored

on Digital Betacam videotapes and some on

Betacam SP videotapes. This lack of consistency

created diffi culties with access and retrieval.

BCE’s challenge was to implement – in less than

one year – a complete digitisation platform with

a Front Porch Digital archive system directly

connected to the existing ingest platform of the

European Parliament.

Because videotape has a limited shelf-life,

preservation of some content was in jeopardy.

To prevent any content loss, BCE also needed

to digitise more than 12,000 hours of video

content, maximising its quality while delivering

optimised copies.

“Using the digitisation platform created for

the European Parliament, our dedicated team

proceeded to the quality check of the video archives

and digitised the content without errors in less than

six months.” Christian Garit, Head of Broadcast

Operations, BCE.

SOLUTION: DIGITAL ARCHIVE LIBRARY CONNECTED TO EXISTING INGEST INFRASTRUCTUREThe fi rst step of the project was the creation of

the European Parliament digitisation platform

in BCE’s premises. This came as a fi ne tuning

phase in order to create a seamless environment,

optimise the workfl ow and ensure its successful

integration in the building.

“The relationships with the team of engineers in

charge of the project were excellent.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

As for other projects we had with BCE,

including the replacement of four editing rooms

for the European Parliament in Strasbourg, they

showed an outstanding professionalism and a high

availability.” Philippe Masson, Chief Engineer of

the Audiovisual Unit, European Parliament.

Once the infrastructure was created, BCE

was able to ensure the system could pass a series

of tests and make any necessary corrections.

During this phase, BCE also developed a software

solution for the interface between the European

Parliament existing Flexicart and the new Front

Porch digital library.

“The software developed by BCE for the interface

between the fl exicart and the digital library

is powerful and intuitive. Front Porch Digital

even decided to resell this software for the future

installations with similar confi guration.” Jean

Marc Gacher, Manager Special Projects, BCE.

The platform can automatically digitise the

content and can store up to 18,000 hours of

material. The archive can also easily be upgraded

to 90,000 hours.

Moving the platform to Brussels was the

Platform creation

Fine tuning

Platform moving

Content digitization

2009 2010

ADVERTISING FEATURE

APRIL 2010www.digitalproductionme.com 021

Flexicart Digital library(StorageTek)

16 external consolesArchivists

Fig. The digital archive management workflow

Encoder

MAMMedia Asset Management

High resolution copyMPEG2 Longhorn

High resolution copyK2 Thomson

Low resolution copy

>>>

>>>

>>>

Flexible and easy to use system+

Knowledge transfer+

Tapeless infrastructure+

Information share+

Optimized workflow+

Metadata search engine+

second phase. More than just moving the

infrastructure from one address to another, BCE

had also to create the interconnections between

the centralised digital archive, the work stations

of the archivists and also 16 external consoles for

consultation purpose. Not only has the archivists

work improved, but the full archive management

workfl ow has evolved as well.

“In order to install a seamless environment

in the European Parliament building, our team

created a test platform in BCE’s premises. The

moved infrastructure was fully tested to ensure an

immediate use for the local team.” Gusty Feinen,

Manager Special Projects, BCE.

Since the digitisation platform was ready

to work, the third phase of the project started

with the digitisation of the video content of the

Parliament. But transforming the content in a

digital format could not be completely automated

as many archives were already altered by time.

BCE had to make all the necessary

corrections so that the videos came back to

life with maximum quality for future use in

productions, shows etc.

“Even with tight schedules, BCE worked in

a very effective way and met the deadlines for

both infrastructure installation and content

digitisation.” Philippe Masson, Chief Engineer of

the Audiovisual Unit, European Parliament.

BCE’s long experience in video and audio

archive digitisation provides a unique expertise

in large-scale projects.

CONCLUSIONThe European Parliament digitisation platform

and centralised digital library is the fi rst step in

its tapeless global switch.

The result is a powerful system accelerating

the workfl ow of the entity and giving the

archivists a complete and easy-to-use tool for

their daily work. The European Parliament may

now drop the tape and focus on the re-use of its

archives in new fi lms.

Thanks to the metadata, the users of the

platform have better search results, opening

a world of content to the future connected

production department.

Tel: (+352) 24 806605Fax: (+352) 24 806609Email: [email protected]

www.bce.lu


COVER STORY

I like to think of it as internet fi rst. You’ll start there,

and then as your product evolves you will go for the

larger more established platforms.”

Schmidt also sees the internet’s ability to off er

targeted advertising as a huge bonus for media

companies looking to exploit the platform.

“An advertisement that is more targeted is worth

more money. A TV advert shown to me at home

on TV is wasted advertising if the product is not

relevant to me,” says Schmidt. “It would be better

if these were more targeted. Th e internet can be

used to target ads on TVs, mobile devices as well as

home computers. Google is working on something

similar for STBs. Th e principal is the same.”

Schmidt expects a period of change in the com-

position of the media and the way it operates with

the internet and other technological innovations

acting as the driving force.

“We tend to accept the structures that we grew

up with as if they are completely fi xed. So we will

consider these laws, this set of regulations, that

group of corporations and the resultant static out-

comes, mistakenly believing everyone will behave

in exactly the same way,” says Schmidt.

“Technology allows people to be enormously cre-

ative. Th ink about YouTube and Facebook, two of

the leading brands in the online age that basically

didn’t exist fi ve years ago. Now there are several

mapping application companies that are doing

well, are they going to be the next Twitter? Th e

point is there will be another one and another one.”

Google has itself turned its hand to several new

markets as it has developed. Th e gigantic wealth of

information that the company is now privy to has

meant there are some areas of business that it has

had to walk away from.

“Th ere are lots of things that Google could do

that it chooses not to. For example, one day we had

a conversation about predicting the stock market,

but we fi gured that would probably be illegal,”

revealed Schmidt.

Th e company found itself the subject of ire with

several governments – most (in)famously the

Chinese – over regulatory, privacy and censorship

issues, which continue to bubble away today.

Schmidt is well aware of the power the inter-

net can have in politics citing the example of US

politician George Allen whose re-election loss was

largely attributed to a YouTube video featuring the

Senator using an unsavoury racial epithet.

“Politicians are well aware that they are under

the microscope with respect to what they say and

what they do. Th ere is a huge debate about how

eff ective these tools are against repressive regimes,

and fi ghting for free speech. Eventually, tanks

trump the internet.”

If we use the same standards globally we can reduce costs in all markets. This includes the price of handsets. We want to see a smartphone for under US $100.

HANS VESTBERG

President and CEO, Ericsson.


JON MILLER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, DIGITAL MEDIA GROUP, NEWS CORPORATION

“When you consider the iPad and other similar devices that are scheduled to come in during the next year, they are going to enable a re-imagination of different kinds of content, especially newspapers.

We are going to see a re-invigoration of this medium. If people like us are going to invest in these forms of con-tent and the journalism behind it then clearly there needs to be models that acknowledge the cost of creating this content. The terms of trade should support this and we are engaged in these discussions already.

We have a number of efforts to try and rein in piracy. The technical developments – particularly cloud comput-ing – are going in favour of more secure environments, which is important for any entertainment business. One possibility being talked about in the US at the moment is the possibility of pulling together an international broad-band treaty. There’s a few big hitters advocating this and trying to come to a global consensus.”

Jon Miller, chairman and

CEO, Digital Media Group,

News Corporation.


COVER STORY

and

up,

on.

HANS VESTBERG, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ERICSSONTelecoms manufacturer Ericsson is responsible

for building much of the infrastructure that will

increasingly be relied upon for media services.

Th e fi rm’s CEO and president Hans Vestberg

is under no illusion regarding the size of

the task involved in supporting the

growth of data traffi c, which is being

triggered largely by new media ap-

plications and consumer devices.

“In a few years there will be

three billion broadband subscrip-

tions worldwide,” says Vestberg.

“We are seeing people are now

prepared to pay more for telco services

than they were in the past – but there needs

to be content for these services to access.”

Vestberg believes that the success of media appli-

cations off ered on any telecoms platform will hinge

largely on three factors.

“We need quality content and a fair pricing

scheme. It is also important that the consumer

experience is the same regardless of the device

being used. We must also ensure that we use open

standards as much as possible so that services

can be off ered to as many people as possible. If

we use the same standards globally we

can reduce costs in all markets. Th is

includes the price of handsets. We

want to see a smartphone for under

US $100.”

Vestberg points out the eff ect

that the iPhone has had on the

telco market and calls for the closer

liaisons with the handset manufac-

turers in the future.

“A normal phone will use around 20 Mb

in a month, an iPhone will use around 400 Mb a

month,” claims Vestberg adding that the upside for

those responsible for upgrading these networks are

safe in the knowledge there is a healthy consumer

demand for data.

Hans Vestburg, president and CEO of Ericsson high-

lights the impact of smartphones on data traffi c.

193%The year-on-year growth

rate of data traffi c driven by smartphones, according to mobile ad

network, AdMob.

IN TH

EIR OW

N W

ORD

S…

RAOUL ROVERATO, EVP, NEW GROWTH BUSI-NESS, FRANCE TELECOM/ORANGE GROUP

“Previously what the media did was reach out to the public but didn’t really know who was watching. Now it can reach out on a one-by-one basis. They give content creators a new way to tell their stories. We are try-ing to connect all screens, with the same story.

When you put on TV you want to relax. We have seen that around 50 percent of our customers choose to watch TV in an interactive fashion. Con-tent must be adapted for differ-ent environments however.”


COVER STORY

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TIM ARMSTRONG, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, AOLAOL chief Tim Armstrong has been spearheading

the company’s recent content creation blitz, which

has seen it hire an army of editorial staff (from

500 journalists to more than 3000 by

October last year).

Armstrong says that many adver-

tisers are looking for a tiered online

media with quality, premium con-

tent sources available for them to

align themselves with, as they have

done in the past with traditional

media platforms.

He also believes that the creative

potential of the internet has so far been

severely under-utilised.

“I would argue that a page on the internet today

doesn’t look that diff erent to a page on the internet

10-15 years ago. I think strategically, the search

companies have done a good job of dominating

the internet advertising market,” says the former

Google senior VP. “We now have to look at the

distinct set of needs for online brand advertising. So

We are maniacally focused on content… but we are also very determined to change the way we use tech-nology, and design new ways to work with it in the future.

TIM ARMSTRONG

Chairman and CEO, AOL.

for example when you talk to a brand manager at a

detergent company for example, which has spent a

lot of money on traditional media but now realises

consumers have shifted platforms, they need to be

provided with an alternative service – diff er-

ent analytics for example – that is one of

the things we are very focused on,”

explains Armstrong.

“We are maniacally focused on

content as I mentioned earlier, but

we are also very determined to

change the way we use technology,

and design new ways to work with

it in the future. In this respect AOL

will be risk takers during this year and

into next year. We’ll be doing looking to

brand and diff erent types of online advertising.”

Earlier this year it was revealed that AOL has

developed a new content management system that

unifi es many of its 75 online properties allowing

a greater number of contributors to write for its

sites and receive payment based on the number of

ad impressions it receives and other monetisation

systems incorporated.

3000+The number of journal-ists employed by one-time internet service

provider, AOL.


ANGA CABLE

A number of top broadcast technology providers will exhibit at ANGA Cable next month, offering one of the earliest opportunities to see the latest launches from NAB, without the inconvenience of travelling all the way to Las Vegas.

ANGA MANAGEMENTNAB will always be broadcast technology

fi rst choice for debuting new products

and innovations.

IBC is often the fi rst chance that

many in the Middle East will have to see these

exhibits outside of the Las Vegas extravaganza.

However, three weeks after the conclusion of NAB,

more than 300 of the industry’s leading cable,

broadband and satellite fi rms meet in Cologne for

ANGA Cable.

Last year’s exhibition attracted 13,600 visitors

with conditional access fi rms, satellite service

operators and network technology manufacturers

prominent on the list of exhibitors this year. Th e

show provides the region’s broadcast engineers

with an opportunity to see the latest technology

four months ahead of IBC and with fewer tourists

and souvenir hunters to compete with.

Th e event’s organiser, the Association of Ger-

man Cable Operators (ANGA) announced late last

month that it had already sold out all available

exhibition space at the show in another sign of good

health for the industry.

“We are pleased with the renewed confi dence of

out exhibitors,” says Dr Peter Charisse, managing

director, ANGA. “Our concept with a close con-

nection between the exhibition element and the

congress, with a clear focus on the business clients

of the TV and broadband sector has again proven

a success.”

Th e event’s congress has also developed a strong

reputation attracting larger numbers of delegates

than the conference streams of other more estab-

lished exhibitions.

As well covering traditional broadcasting topics,

this year’s edition will also look at some of the fun-

damental issues surrounding distribution by broad-

band and more specifi cally, whether the future of

high-speed internet lies with fi bre networks or LTE.

“Th e range of topics covered in this year’s con-

gress programme is wider than ever,” says Charisse.

“Th e strategy panels will cover broadband and

media politics, the latest fi bre and headend tech-

nologies as well as copyright and licensing law for

digital TV and IPTV.”

Companies taking part in the congress at the

time of print include Ericsson, MTV Networks,

Cisco, Alcatel Lucent and Discovery Networks.

Th e show runs from May 4-6 at the Cologne Fair

Grounds Congress Centre East, Germany.

ANGA CABLE

www.digitalproductionme.com APRIL 2010

ANGA CABLE

ANGA Cable’s mix of broadcasters, telco operators and network technology fi rms attracts a unique segment of ex-hibitors and visitors. The show’s emphasis on delivery and transmission rather than production, provides a unique opportunity for certain areas of the industry to take the limelight.

T&M AND QUALITY MONITORINGA number of test and measurement and quality moni-toring fi rms will line-up the latest and greatest offerings at the show. The cable and IPTV prejudice of the show could see fi rms specialising in these areas receiving high-quality traffi c. Among them will be Bridge Tech-nologies (Stand J50).

The monitoring and analysis tools manufacturer was recently named as one of the fastest growing technol-ogy companies in the EMEA region by Deloitte Touche Tomatsu (DTT).

The annual Deloitte technology Fast 500 list charts the fastest-growing technology companies across all sectors, based on the average growth rate during the previous fi ve years.

Bridge Technologies achieved an impressive growth rate of more than 2300 percent for the last fi ve years.

“To be ranked in 63rd in the top 500 technology fi rms in the entire EMEA region is quite an achieve-ment for such a young company,” says Simen Frostad, chairman, Bridge Technologies. “Our rapid growth is a refl ection of the people in the company and the quality of the products that offer the industry.”

Deloitte points out that the achievements of the companies on this year’s list are even more impressive given the prevailing economic climate experienced dur-ing the past three years.

A

NG

A CA

BLE 2009 STATISTICS

Simen Frostad, chairman, Bridge Technologies.

383Total number of exhibitors

13,600The fi nal attendance fi gure from lastyear’s show

42%The percentage of overseas visitors atANGA Cable 2009

22,000The area of last year’s show in square metres

1400The number of delegates at the congress

ANGA CABLE

027APRIL 2010

SOURCE: ANGA


ANGA CABLE

028 APRIL 2010

CONDITIONAL ACCESS AND CONTENT SECURITYThe conditional access market is as fi ercely competitive in Europe as it is in the Middle East, even if the perceived level of piracy is somewhat lower. A number of top vendors will be ex-hibiting at ANGA Cable including some of this region’s most active players. The cable-focused show could see IPTV solutions given the prime focus.

Conax (Stand K21) will go into the show off the back of a successful 2009. The Norwegian fi rm extended its global market share in the DVB sector to 15 percent.

Last month the company announced a new partnership in the Middle East with satellite sys-tems integrator Technosat. The deal will see Conax’s smartcard security system used to protect Technosat’s satellite HD platform.

Technosat currently distributes around one million STBs in the Middle East each year.The company also agreed a deal with PVR innovator TiVo.Conax security will be integrated into a number of the manufacturer’s products on platforms

currently operating Conax security. The deal covers Scandinavia, mainland Europe and India.“While the European market is ripe for VOD and other interactive services, many operators

are stifl ed by the expensive integration efforts needed to convert roadmaps into reality,” says Geir Bjorndal, executive VP products and markets, Conax. “TiVo has a phenomenal reputation in the US, not only for inventing the PVR, but for creating the market’s most comprehensive hybrid broadcast/broadband platform. They are the only player that has successfully integrated top-tier content from diverse Internet sources like Netfl ix, Blockbuster, YouTube, and Amazon VOD along with linear television into a single, vivid user interface,” added Bjorndal.

VIDEO TRANSPORT HARDWAREAs broadcast and telecoms technologies have converged, there has been a need for network technology expertise tailored for clients looking to transport video in large quantities. The com-bination of telco and broadcast engineering knowledge has created a niche area of expertise that several vendors are now profi ting from.

One of the key players in this fi eld is Swedish manufacturer Net Insight (Stand A21).The company has already secured key deals with Tata Communications and the European

Broadcast Union (EBU).Last month the company also announced an extension to its existing deal with international media management and content delivery fi rm GlobeCast.

The company’s network is based on Net Insight’s Nimbra platform and currently transports 10 million hours of video a year. In order to accommodate the additional traffi c that it will handle this year due to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa the fi rm will be re-enforcing its infrastructure. The order includes a number of additional nodes to be installed on site to cope with the

additional contribution services for GlobeCast customers.An additional media network will also be installed to serve an

unnamed broadcaster. The network will manage amount of uncompressed and compressed video channels on a

number of different formats.“The Nimbra platform offers the most ef-

fi cient and fl exible contribution and distribu-tion platform,” according to Fredrik Tragardh, CEO, Net Insight.

“We’re delighted to support GlobeCast’s ability to win new business and to once again transport our customer’s mission critical services like the World Cup.”

STB HARDWAREAs set top boxes (STB) play an increasingly important role in determining the scope of an operator’s services, fi nding the right partner becomes increasingly crucial.

In the Middle East the emergence of triple play services in more markets means new business for STB manufacturers. The creation of additional encrypted platforms by premium sports channels creates addi-tional new opportunities for the STB industry.

Humax (Stand H15) recently demonstrated the op-portunities available after snapping up the exclusive contract to provide the ADMC with the STBs for its encrypted satellite-based EPL coverage.

STBs are also becoming an increasingly important device for consumers and have evolved from devices that quietly decode TV signals into an integral part of the customer experience. Fredrik Tragardh, CEO, Net Insight.

Geir Bjorndal, executive VP products and markets, Conax.


XXXXXXX SATELLITE SERVICES

The options available to TV stations looking for direct to home (DTH) distribution in the Middle East are plentiful. As bandwidth prices respond to the availability of new satellites, the next capacity contract broadcasters sign could mean big savings.

The options available

CAPACITY CROWDThe Middle East satellite sector is on the

brink of radical change.

New contribution services and addi-

tional capacity for HD services are driving

demand and sending prices upwards. However, the

number of dedicated satellites serving the region

is set to increase at an average rate of two per year

for the next four years, expanding the already

abundant options available to broadcasters looking

to secure distribution.

In theory this fl ow of new capacity should also

bring down prices, meaning fi nding the right deal

could now mean big savings.

SATELLITE OPERATORSABS

www.absatellite.net

ABS currently operates two satellites that it ac-

quired and renamed. Since its original procurement

of Koreasat-2 (now ABS-1) the company has grown

its revenues by 500 percent.

Th e company is launching its fi rst new satellite in

mid-2012. ABS-2 will include high-powered Ku- and

C-band beams and has already signed numerous

lease agreements on the new hardware.

ABS-2’s Ku-band beam will be split into fi ve spot

beams including one dedicated to the Middle East

and North Africa, making it a strong contender

for broadcasters looking to reach audiences in the

Arab world.

Arabsat

www.arabsat.com

Despite facing increasing competition Arabsat

continues to be one of the most important players

in the Middle East satellite sector. Th e company has

the most extensive fl eet expansion plan that will

underpin a large share of the region’s broadcasters

in the coming years.

Th e company also provides a number of contribu-

tion services and is the platform for the ASBU’s

MENOS content exchange programme.


SATELLITE SERVICES

Th e fi rst of the company’s fi fth generation satel-

lites – Arabsat 5a – is scheduled for launch towards

the end of this month marking a major milestone in

the operator’s development.

Eutelsat

www.eutelsat.com

Eutelsat is one of the largest satellite operators

broadcasting 3400 channels across the world. Its

fl eet is well utilised in the Middle East with the ca-

pacity it provides crucial to supporting the region’s

broadcast industry.

Th e company has also stood out from the crowd

recently as an innovator in 3D broadcasting. Its

IBC stand last year featured a live 3D transmission

of a basketball match in the US. Eutelsat has also

broadcast numerous live sporting events in 3D to

cinema chains around Europe.

Gazprom

www.gazprom-spacesystems.com

Perhaps not an obvious choice for broadcasters

however, the company has exhibited at the previous

four CABSAT exhibitions demonstrating its com-

mitment to serving customers in this region.

Th e company’s three satellites off er C- and Ku-

band capacity covering Russia, Western Europe

and the Middle East as well as large parts of central

and east Asia.

Globecast

www.globecast.com

Content management and transmission provider

GlobeCast provides satellite capacity to comple-

ment the fi bre networks, SNG services and playout

centres that it provides around the world.

Th

band

and t

and e

Glob

www

Cont

Th e company eff ectively provides global satellite

coverage via capacity on Eutelsat, SES, Arabsat,

Intelsat and many others.

Gulfsat

www.gulfsat.com

In addition to off ering coverage on some satellites

from the Arabsat and Eutelsat fl eets, Gulfsat also

off ers point-to-point connectivity between the

region, Europe and the US. It also has end-to-end

playout facilities capable of supporting HD trans-

missions and providing a high-level of redundancy

by transmitting simultaneously from its teleports

in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Th e company also runs studio facilities in Kuwait

and an SNG truck to support broadcasters covering

special events.

Hellas Sat

www.hellas-sat.net

Although Hellas Sat’s primary market is in southern

and eastern Europe, the fi rm’s Hellas Sat 2 satellite

provides strong coverage over the Middle East. Th e

company uses it wide footprint and the nature of its

existing multinational content to position itself as

a specialist DTH capacity provider for broadcasters

targeting specifi c ethnic groups or niche markets.

It also provides video contribution services and

content delivery services to cable headends and

teleports for the fi nal leg of transport.

Nilesat

www.nilesat.com.eg

Nilesat is one of the oldest operators in the region

and, together with Arabsat, dominates the market

for DTH capacity in the Middle East.

CROWDED SKIESAt present there are two ‘hotspots’ above the Middle East that provide optimal coverage for DTH services – 7 degrees West and 25.5 degrees East. These are also the positions that dishes on the ground must of course be pointed at.

These positions are be-coming increasingly cramped with operators frequently renegotiating the distribution of transponders to maximise

Yahsat intends to orbit its fi rst satellite to the 52.5 degrees East position.

This will allow Yahsat greater coverage over central Asia including Pakistan and Afghanistan, while still being able to reach Western Eu-rope with a separate beam.

On the downside, TV viewers are long accustomed to the two present locations and channels moving to Yahsat’s YahLive broadcast services would require view-er’s to reposition existing dishes are add an additional antenna, which could lead to crowded roofs as well.

THREE’S A

CROW

D?

The volume of capacity available to provide services in the Middle East is set to expand in the coming years, which should reduce prices for customers.

031APRIL 2010


XXXXXXX

APRIL 2010

SATELLITE SERVICES

Last year the company became one of the fi rst

operators in the region to support multi-channel

HD broadcasting. It too has plans for fl eet expan-

sion at its 7 degree west position. Nilesat 201 –

scheduled for launch in mid-2010 – will be one the

most signifi cant new additions to the Nilesat family

expanding the range of services that the company

can handle, as well as the volume.

SES Astra

www.ses-astra.com

SES Astra and its SES World Skies subsidiary have

numerous interests in the Middle East satellite sec-

tor. As well as being a partner in Yahsat’s YahLive

DTH service, the fi rm also serves the region from a

number of its own satellites.

Last month the company launched Astra 3B to

the 23.5 degrees east position. Th e satellite will

operate a 12-transponder Ku-band spot beam for

the Middle East.

Noorsat

www.noorsat.com

Bahrain-based Noorsat delivers almost 200 chan-

nels. Th e company claims to have several unique

selling points. It was one of the fi rst privately-

owned satellite operators to emerge in the region.

Th rough its leased space segment with Eutelsat,

the fi rm off ers capacity at both the Arab world’s

hotspots at 7 degrees west and 25.5 degrees east.

YahLive

www.yahlive.tv

Although YahLive – a partnership between Abu

Dhabi’s Yahsat and SES Astra – is the newcomer

to the region’s satellite market and has no services

online as of yet, its presence is highly signifi cant.

Yahsat’s hardware launches – which commence

in early 2011 – will represent the fi rst time three

locally-owned companies have had satellites serv-

ing the region.

As this hardware will be dedicated to the region

in its entirety it will bring a major boost to the

capacity available in the Middle East.

TELEPORTSEurope Media Port, Cyprus

www.europemediaport.com

Europe Media Port (EMP) was named the fastest

growing teleport in the world last year after experi-

encing revenue growth of 120 percent.

Th e company’s Cyprus-based teleport has access

to any satellite from 45 degrees west to 90 degrees

east making it ideal for DTH, contribution and

other distribution services required by Middle East

customers. EMP also provides playout, encryption

and ad insertion.

Jordan Media City, Jordan

www.jordanmediacity.com

One of the most signifi cant transmission centres

in the Middle East, Jordan Media City (JMC) is

connected to all the major operators in the region

as well as being connected to content management

fi rm GlobeCast’s fi bre network.

Th e facility transmits more than 200 channels

including the pay TV operator ART’s bouquet.

JMC is also able to off er a number of additional

benefi ts to clients given its free zone status.

M-Th ree Satcom, Italy

www.m3sat.com

M-Th ree Satcom provides a range of services from

its teleport in Milan. It provides permanent satellite

services via the Hotbird platform and also off ers

SNG services for live events in Italy and throughout

Europe. Th e company has diversifi ed its services in

recent years and now provides systems integration

services for the development of headends and other

infrastructure. It has also begun operating as a

distributor for several technology vendors.

Samacom (du), UAE

www.du.ae

Th e Samacom teleport, owned and operated by

du Broadcast Services, has grown into one of the

busiest teleports in the Middle East. Th e teleport

currently handles more than 160 channels and is

still expanding.

Th e Samacom will soon include the headend for

the UAE’s DVB-H service. It will also transmit a

growing number of HD channels this year as clients

take advantage of the HD uplinking and playout

capabilities already installed.

Telespazio, Italy

www.telespazio.com

Italian fi rm Telespazio operates 25 ground sites

including the world’s largest non-military earth

station with 90 antennas.

Telespazio can provide DTH services via Eutel-

sat’s Hotbird satellites at 13 degrees east for around

50 TV channels and 20 radio stations.

Th e fi rm can also provide teleport facilities via its

own earth station network and SNG services.

It also acts as a teleport systems integrator.

GROUND CONTROLThe demand for capacity and the growing number of satellites providing services to the region means that there is also a rising demand for earth stations to connect users on the ground.

There are several con-siderations that affect the implementation of an earth station, according to Stephen Burgess, technical director at systems integrator Megahertz Broadcast Systems (MHz).

“As a minimum, the loca-tion of the antenna has to be checked for view of the sky in the direction of the de-sired satellites and there has to be enough space for the antenna and the mounting structure,” says Burgess add-ing that local factors such as building regulations and laws regarding communica-tions equipment must also be investigated.

Selecting the correct antenna feed, amplifi ers and upconverters for transmit-ters and low noise amplifi ers (or similar) for receivers as well as cross-site cables and monitoring systems is all part of the process of ensuring that a quality link can be established, according to Burgess. This is a process that he says requires careful evaluation during the site survey, an understanding of the local market and the cor-rect choice of product.

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CABSAT

034

The confi dence and optimism on display at this year’s CABSAT and Satellite MENA shows provided a timely boost for the region’s media and sat-coms industries. Digital Broadcast reviews the key announcements from some of the shows’ upbeat exhibitors.

BACK IN BUSINESS


CABSAT

HOT PRODUCT

DIGITAL RAPIDSTOUCHSTREAMDigital Rapids demonstrated its TouchStream portable streaming unit on local distributor MediaCast’s stand.The self-contained box can be used to supply live feeds for IPTV, 3G or Flash applications as well as MPEG-2 and H.264 formats.

The touchscreen display allows users to begin streaming with four button pushes. Settings can be programmed and saved for different applications to save time for future use.

TouchStream can be used for a number of applica-tions including remote news coverage, sporting events, corporate communications and others.The box also includes some graphics overlay capabilities to add branding and logos to outgoing streams.

D espite the treacherous weather condi-

tion on the shows’ opening day, both

CABSAT and Satellite MENA wit-

nessed a healthy level of traffi c. Perhaps

more important than the shows’ attendance fi gures

however, was the level of optimism and confi dence

among exhibitors.

Last year’s show coincided with the beginning

of the economic downturn’s grip on the region and

the atmosphere refl ected that.

Twelve months later, many of the upgrades

and installs that were on hold are now regaining

momentum as broadcasters and media companies

feel confi dent enough to again turn their minds to

investing in technology.

A number of major announcements were made

at each show, evidence of the turnaround that will

characterise the coming year for the industry.

Major manufacturers and operators includ-

ing Harris, Arabsat, Hitachi and Sony signalled a

continuing confi dence in the region by exhibiting at

the show once again.

As well as the return of many of the industry’s

major technology providers there were also many

fi rst time exhibitors demonstrating confi dence in

the Middle East’s broadcast sector.

CABSAT 2010 DEBUTANTSVERIMATRIXConditional access developer Verimatrix made its

fi rst appearance at CABSAT off the back of the re-

cent announcement of its deal to secure E-Vision’s

cable service in the UAE in parallel with the opera-

tor’s existing conditional access supplier, Viaccess.

Th e company used its local appearance to de-

clare its renewed interest in the Middle East.

Verimatrix also supplies CA for Qatari telco

Qtel’s IPTV service and is now looking to strength-

en its commitment to the region.

“Th is is our fi rst year at CABSAT but I’m sure

we’ll be back next year,” said Steve Oetegenn, chief

sales and marketing offi cer, Verimatrix. “Th e news

of the Etisalat deal has created a buzz. Th is region

represents a really exciting opportunity for us. Th e

Etisalat deal is particularly good news. Th ey have a

global footprint and are looking at content delivery

on multiple devices, which lends itself to our soft-

ware based approach to CA.”

Although the company’s two regional deploy-

ments are IPTV, Oetegenn does not limit the com-

pany’s ambition in the region to this platform alone.

“You can’t really draw a line now between DVB

and IPTV, IP will underpin all video delivery even-

tually,” said Oetegenn.

Verimatrix currently supplies content security

for 12 million IPTV subscribers worldwide.

BCEEuropean broadcast service provider BCE has made

its fi rst appearance at CABSAT as it looks to break

into the Middle East market.

Th e Luxembourg-based company, which off ers

post-production and OB services as well as playout,

transmission and digital archiving, will be looking

to off er its expertise as an engineering consultancy

to clients in the region.

Laurent Seve,

marketing

manager, BCE.

Steve Oetegenn, chief

sales and marketing

offi cer, Verimatrix.


“Th e media industry is bursting at the seams

in the Middle East,” said Laurent Seve, marketing

manager, BCE.

“Th ere are a lot of great projects going on such as

twofour54 and Dubai Studio City. With these there

comes a lot of opportunities,” added Seve. “We oper-

ate in many areas of the industry but we think it is

through our expertise as an engineering consul-

tancy that we can off er a lot to the region.”

Th e company includes technical staff with

experience in IT, telecommunications, software

development and systems integration.

“I think this combination could be very attrac-

tive. What we have to do now is to get in touch with

clients in the region and learn how to operate here.”

HPIT giant HP made its debut as a standalone exhibi-

tor at CABSAT as it looks to expand it presence in

the broadcast sector.

Th e company has operated within the industry

for several years and has appeared on its partner

stands at the show in the past but is now looking to

adopt a more prominent position in what is becom-

ing an increasingly important vertical market.

“Th e explosion of digital media in this region

means it has become harder for broadcasters to

harness their content and get the true business

value from it,” said Stefan Wolfs, server and storage

business development manager, HP. “We see broad-

casters looking to simplify their workfl ows.”

Th e company has already forged strong indus-

try ties with application developers such as Avid

and Autodesk and is the only certifi ed hardware

partner for both.

“We are already the largest editing workstation

provider and now we are seeing the local branches

of these application providers looking to tie-up with

us in the region,” claims Yan Bergeron, who man-

ages HP’s Middle East workstation business.

“We work with a lot of systems integrators and

distributors and when they see us at their vertical

trade show it brings about a lot of trust in us as a

partner moving forward.”

SNELL MERGER WAS ‘COM-PLETE SUCCESS’: EXECThe integration of Snell & Wilcox and Pro-Bel was a complete success according to an executive at the merged entity, Snell.

NEWS FROM THE SHOWThe deal was fi nalised during

last year’s CABSAT and formally announced at NAB in Las Vegas the following month.

“The merger of the two compa-nies has been a complete success,” said Naresh Subherwal, president Asia Pacifi c and Middle East, Snell speaking at this year’s CABSAT.

Before the merger, both compa-nies had been active in the Middle East for 20 years. Now the new company is looking build on this experience in the region.

“We have invested in this market with some senior appointments and we have also been extending our

relationships with partners here. The Middle East has suffered a slight slow-down in the past 12 months but this year’s CABSAT has been really upbeat and there is a sense that many of the projects that were put on hold, will once again be pursued,” added Subherwal.

According to Andy Giles, head of sales in the Middle East and Africa for Snell, the merger was well received in the region.

“There a strong base of installed hardware in the region and the transition to HD has driven sales. The Kahuna production switcher has performed well here,” said Giles.

APRIL 2010

CABSAT

JASCO MEDIA ZONEWhile the Gulf has stolen the limelight in recent years with the launch of sev-eral new media clusters, the Jordanian-Saudi Company for Satellite Broadcasting (JASCO) offers an alterna-tive base of operations for TV stations and production houses alike.

The facility commenced operations in November last year with 11 channels play-ing out initially and capacity for 18 in total.

“We will have capacity on Arabsat in the next three to four months that will add another 18 channels,” said Wajdi Alsharaiheh, technicial team leader, JASCO.

“We are also in the process of building some studios that will open in the next few months. We can of-fer channel the full range of services including RF, muxing and graphics. During CAB-SAT we have been talking to potential new broadcast-ers as well as talking with technology partners to help us throughout our expansion period,” added Alsharaiheh.

JASCO currently has ca-pacity on Nilesat broadcast-ing a number of channels including Al Athar and Nasem TV.

ON

E TO W

ATCH

Wajdi Alsharaiheh, technical team leader, JASCO.

Naresh Subherwal, president Asia Pa-cifi c and Middle East, Snell.

HP’s Yan Bergeron.


CABSAT

HARRIS MARKS FIVE MA-JOR MIDDLE EAST DEALSBroadcast technology developer Harris announced fi ve Middle East deals at this year’s CABSAT.

At the top of the bill was a deal with Abu Dhabi Media Company to provide a end-to-end tapeless playout system.

Harris claims the install will be the fi rst of its kind in the region and is a necessary step as the organisation prepares to launch encrypted sports

channels to support its English Premier League coverage.

“We need to move to a more sophisticated level to support our viewers with a multi-platform deliv-ery solution,” said Sarkis Semaan, deputy executive director of broad-cast technology and operations, ADMC. “A tapeless workfl ow is integral to providing this. The project will help link the other parts of the chain including our asset manage-ment solution and our restoration project that currently function in isolation,” added Semaan.

OMNIGLOBE AGREES DEAL TO BUY SAT-COMMSatellite communications provider OmniGlobe Networks announced that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase systems integrator Sat-Comm.

The announcement at the show

did not reveal the value of the deal, which will see OmniGlobe acquire Sat-Comm and its assets in full.

“We’re very excited about the op-portunities that this acquisition pro-vides,” said David Harper, managing director, OmniGlobe EMEA. “The two companies have worked closely together in the past and combining the operations will ultimately enable us to deliver greater service and products for our customer’s benefi t.”

The deal is expected to close in mid-2010.

TALIA EXPANDS MEA CAPACITY; LAUNCHES CONSUMER SERVICESSatellite and communications service provider Talia announced that it was adding capacity to its existing networks in the Middle East and Africa as well as developing new networks and launching consumer internet services.

The company’s Middle East and Africa sales director, Ramiz Abbawi, announced new Talia networks serv-ing the region would be launched on the SES World Skies NSS-12 satellite and an expansion of its existing capacity on Loral Skynet’s Telstar 12.

Harris’ Middle East MD Said Bacho (right) with ADMC’s Ahmed Al Menhali.

David Harper, managing director, OmniGlobe EMEA.

038 APRIL 2010

NAB PRODUCTS


SGLContent archive and storage management software developer SGL will give a world debut to its sup-port for Avid Interplay 2.1 at NAB this year.

SGL claims that its FlashNet software is the only third party archive management software that has been through Avid’s full quality assurance testing.

SGL will also demonstrate the integration of FlashNet with the Final Cut Server environment for the fi rst time in the US. FlashNet is also available directly from Avid.

UTAH SCIENTIFICSwitcher developer Utah Scientifi c will demonstrate its new family of I/O boards for the UTAH-400 router at this year’s NAB.

The new boards allow users to choose MADI audio and IP video input and output options as well as the

existing analogue and digital video and audio options available, which include 3Gb/s support. The routing switchers include the full range of analogue, digital and HDTV systems and high density frame sizes (including 144 frame in 9RU, 288 frame in 16RU and 528 frame in 20 RU).

The company will also show its new internal squeeze and graphics ca-pabilities for the MC-4000 master control switcher and offer a preview of a new control panel option for its entire family of master control processors.

ROSS VIDEORoss Video will give a North American debut to its Vision Octane produc-tion switchers. The Octane range offers eight MLEs, 35 full screen HD animation stores, 24 channels of 3D DVE with warp capability, 96 inputs, 48 outputs, 32 full keyers, 12 keyers on the aux bus out puts and a further 12 DVE key combiners giving what the company calls an unprecedented total of 56 keyers.

The Vision production switcher range is now 3G compatible as standard.The company will also debut the latest software for its XPression 3D HD

character generator. Version three of the software in-cludes an enhanced MOS workfl ow integration and 3D compatibility.

As the industry prepares for the mammoth NAB exhibition in Las Vegas, Digital Broadcast looks at some of the technology highlights that will be displayed on the showfl oor, with vendors vying for business in the post-recession market.

SHOWING OFFWOHLERThe highlight of monitoring equipment manufac-turer Wohler’s stand will be the fi rst showing of its AMP2-16V Series 16-channel audio/video monitor.

The dual 4.3-inch OLED version of its AMP2-16 audio monitor now includes dedicated video monitor-ing, as well as the Free Mix and Dolby Zoom functions.

Dolby Zoom, when applied to all installed digital modules with a Dolby upgrade, switches between the standard overview of monitored channels and monitoring of the decoded channels of an available Dolby stream without the need to enter any menus.

The unit’s right hand screen offers simultaneous metering of up to 16 channels from a variety of input and output cards.

Stand N1520

Stand N3023

Stand N4511

Stand N3807


NAB PRODUCTS

BROADCAST TRAFFIC SYSTEMSBroadcast Traffi c Systems (BTS) will introduce a Rich Internet Application (RIA) enhanced version of its Enterprise traffi c management system.

Enterprise is a scalable application comprising a number of modules required to handle traffi c manage-ment and advertising sales. The system can be used in terrestrial, cable, satellite and IPTV broadcast networks.

“Rich Internet Applications are ideal for use with Internet-connected remote-hosted systems,” says Craig Buckland, technical director of BTS.

“With RIA at the front end, Enterprise can deliver a highly intuitive and pictorial user interface while retaining fast performance. RIA also adds the ability to run within a Web-based infrastruc-ture,” claims Buckland.

Enterprise can be integrated with automa-tion systems and allows minimal staff to manage multiple channels.

SNELLSnell will launch a host of new products and up-grades to its existing portfolio at this year’s NAB.

A new playout solution that runs on the company’s Morpheus automation system and Morpheus ICE. Snell claims the new product will offer unmatched system density while offering a fully resilient architecture. The reduction in hardware also reduces the power consumption.

Version two of the Morpheus automation system will also debut at this year’s NAB.

Another major product launch – the Archangel Ph.C - HD – could also attract attention from Middle East visitors. The restoration and conversion product could prove popular with the growing number of broadcasters that are refreshing and digitising existing archives. Archangel includes real time dirt, dust, grain, noise, scratch, instability and fl icker removal. The new HD version of Archangel can deliver content in 1080p without compromising picture quality or clarity.

Stand N1820

Stand N4019-4


DATA

The most recent instalment of Web TV En-

terprise’s online video advertising report

in the UK has found continued growth in

the use of web-based video advertising.

Th e bi-annual survey of media buyers found

that 41.5 percent of respondents were using online

VOD-based advertising to deliver incremental

reach to TV campaigns. Less than 12 percent

identifi ed brand awareness as the main goal of

this advertising. None of those surveyed said that

the sole aim of their VOD ad purchases was to

gain a direct response.

When asked what proportion of the media

plans they were currently working on included a

VOD element, 62 percent of respondents said half

or more. Almost one third of those asked said that

75 percent or more of the plans they were drawing

up at present included a budget for spending with

online video services.

“Th e size of the audience now engaging with

web video – short- or long-form – off ers TV ad-

vertisers signifi cant reach on the web,” says Jamie

Estrin, managing director, Web TV Enterprise.

“Combine reach with the ability to target specifi c

audiences, channels and content environments

and it is no surprise that TV advertisers are al-

locating more spend to online VOD.”

Online video advertising is set for continued growth as media planners commit an increasing proportion of their spending to the medium, although much of this money could be drawn directly from TV budgets.

ADS ON DEMANDDATA SOURCE: Web TV Enterprise

Th e frequency of these web-based on-demand

campaigns has also increased with half of VOD

buyers claiming to have run between fi ve and

20 campaigns during the past six months. Th e

previous edition of the survey found that only 40

percent of media buyers had run between one and

fi ve campaigns in the previous 18 months.

Another positive indicator for the future of

advertising based around online video library

services was signalled when media buyers were

asked how much they expect this spending to

grow during 2010.

An impressive 76.3 percent anticipated a

growth in the allocation of spending for VOD of

upto 50 percent or more (including 13.3 percent

who said more than 50 percent). Of those remain-

ing, 22.2 percent expected it to remain the same

and only 1.5 percent thought it would decrease.

Despite the optimism surrounding the format,

there remains several signifi cant barriers to entry.

As with the previous survey, the most signifi -

cant of these problems is the lack of measurement

available to quantify the eff ectiveness of the medi-

um. Th e size of the audiences available was noted

as problematic by nine percent of the respondents

and the ability (or lack of) to target this audience

was identifi ed as a barrier by ten percent.

20 millionSize of online video audience in the UK.

$75,000The average spend on web video campaigns by media buyers in the UK.

How many of the media plans you’re working on now include VOD?

How much more spend do you expect to allocate to online VOD in 2010?

Newtec

Belgium | USA | Singapore | Dubai | China | Brazil www.newtec.eu

If you are in contribution, distribution or DSNG, choosing between ASI and IP will no longer be the issue. Very soon, you’ll want both: to remain competitive, to grow your business, to become and remain a broadcasting partner of choice.

Newtec’s exclusive DualFlow solution is today’s easiest and most reliable way to combine ASI and IP technology in your broadcasting activities and prepare your migration to IP.

DualFlow guarantees future-proof fl exibility. And you get to say when.

SAY WHEN

Meet Newtec at:

NAB ShowLas Vegas

10-15 Apr. 2010 Booth SU2217

ANGA Cable Show Cologne

4-6 May 2010Booth E48

ASI IS HERE. IP IS COMING. IT’S YOUR MOVE.

www.saywhen.tv

ASI + IP

DUALFLOW

Register Today for the

Newtec EMEA Business Seminar

20-21 April, Brussels

www.newtec.eu/seminar

digital broadcast middle east - april 2010

Documents

emeas fi

key fi ndings

media industries

anga managementth e

digital studio awards

mediatelco ties

satellite service industry

videosds awards