digital studio - april 2013

Vol. 15 Issue 4 April 2013An ITP Business Publication

PLUSNEWS

OPINIONANALYSIS

HEAD-TO-HEADREVIEWS

COMMUNITYCAREERS

EVENTSPRODUCTSNOT

HALF!HALF EMIRATI DIRECTOR AMAL AL AGROOBI PICKS UP THIS YEAR’S UP AND COMING FILM MAKER AWARD

REVIEWCABSAT comes but once a

year. When it does we’re there

EVENTAll the winners from this

year’s Digital Studio Awards“Customers have to be clear and realistic

in what they are trying to achieve, not what they think they can get away with”

JAMES GILBERT P20

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www.digitalproductionme.com APRIL 2013 / 1

CONTENTS

7UPDATE

ABU DHABI SPORTS GOES SURROUND/ RIEDEL IN QATAR/JCC SIGNS DISNEY

DEAL/AL AAN GOES HIGH SPEED/DMI UPGRADES SOME

MORE/PEBBLE BEACH FOR NEW

SHARJAH FACILITY/NEW OFFICES FOR GRASS VALLEY AND SNELL/BBC ARABIC HACKED/HD GETS

MORE ACCESSIBLE/ATLAS HEADS HOME/

BROADCASTERS ROUND TABLE/

ONLINE LATEST/MORE NEWS FOR LIBYA/THE KHARTOUM

NETWORK

18CHANNEL

ALL THE LATEST FROM THE CHANNEL

49COMMUNITYALL THE LATEST

GOINGS ON FROM THE MIDDLE EAST’S

PRODUCTION AND BROADCAST

COMMUNITIES

55NAB PRODUCTSOUR PICK OF THE LATEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES FROM THE BROADCAST

AND PRODUCTION INDUSTRIES, THIS MONTH WITH A

SPECIAL NAB-THEMED FLAVOUR

22CABSAT UP CLOSEIn case you missed it, CABSAT hit town last month. We have all the news, views, launches and gossip from the region’s biggest show for the broadcast and production industries.

30AWARD FEVERAnd of course, CABSAT wouldn’t be CABSAT without the annual celebration that is the Digital Studio Awards. Check out our bumper guide to who won what on the night and why.

36APRIL 2013

22

7

78

18

75

78

10

Our world. Now more connected than ever. Your world.

www.arabsat.com

With Arabsat's new generation of state-of-the-art satellites, your world is growing larger — and closer — than ever. With four orbital positions in the sky covering an ever-expanding footprint across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Europe, now you have unrivalled capacity to reach farther and connect in more ways than ever before. That means all the power to meet the growing and evolving needs of large telecom companies, government entities, the military sector and VSAT or IP networks. Connect more of your world, and join the Arabsat neighborhood today!

www.digitalproductionme.com4 / APRIL 2013

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ADVERTISING

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Head of Design Daniel PrescottPrincipal Creative Simon Cobon

PHOTOGRAPHY

Chief Photographer Jovana ObradovicSenior Photographers Isidora Bojovic, Efraim Evidor

Sta� Photographers Lester Apuntar, George Dipin, Juliet Dunne,Murrindie Frew, Lyubov Galushko, Verko Ignjatovic, Shruti Jagdesh,

Mosh Lafuente, Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav

PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION

Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Co-ordinator Nelly Pereira

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Distribution Executive Nada Al Alami

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Head of Circulation and Database Gaurav Gulati

MARKETING

Head of Marketing Daniel FewtrellEvents Manager Michelle Meyrick

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Published by and © 2013 ITP Business Publishing, a division of the ITP Publishing Group Ltd. Registered in the B.V.I. under Company Number 1402846.

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Abu Dhabi Sports has become the first free-to-air broadcaster in the Middle East region to produce and broadcast its content live both in HD and Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) surround sound.

Using the latest technology for HD and Dolby sound, Abu Dhabi Sports channels Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya 1 and Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya 2 are already broadcasting in HD with DD+, while Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya Ex-tra is now showing programs in HD using the “Stereo” sound technique. All addition-al AD Sports channels

Abu Dhabi Sports viewers can now take part in a fully immersive aural experience while watching their favourite games, thanks to Dolby’s latest technology.

Just like being there!

everybody’s talking about...

COntinueD On PAge 8

tHis MontH in tHe tv and FilM ProduCtion industry

Just like being part of the crowd, claims Abu Dhabi Sports.


NEWS UPDATE

will continue with the standard broadcasting service, but with new improvements to image quality.

Mohamed Najeeb, head of Abu Dhabi Sports Channel (Al Riyadiya), said: “The unique experience of watching a sports game in Dolby surround sound really brings the thrill of the match in to your home. Watching the Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya Channels with cinematic surround sound and HD technology will be the closest thing to actually being there.

“The technology was previously used last year to broadcast some games on our paid platform, Channel 8, but now we have ad-opted it as our basic broadcasting technique for Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya channels, with viewers able to choose between the avail-able channels sounds.”

Abu Dhabi Sports has been broadcasting much of its paid-for international program-ming in Dolby Digital since August 2010 for Abu Dhabi Sports network subscribers- in-cluding the Barclays Premier League, For-mula One and WWE. Tarif Sayed, regional director, Dolby Digital, Middle East & Africa & Pakistan, commented: “Live program-ming such as sports is a great showcase for Dolby surround sound and we are delighted to be working with such a forward-looking partner such as Abu Dhabi Media, and spe-cifically the Abu Dhabi Sports Channels, on this landmark project to present this technology for the first time in the Middle East on free-to-air channels. Football fans will truly feel the difference that the Dolby Digital Plus surround sound provides, in experiencing the all the action and capturing the moment.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

AD SportS: Key momentS

2009: Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya (Abu Dhabi Sports) rebrands with a new logo, identity and programming. It initially features three channels, including Al Riyadiya 3, it’s first encrypted channel which will screen the 2010 World Cup.

2010: The channel wins the rights to broadcast the world’s most popular football league, the English Premier League, from 2010 – 2013. Every single game is available live, with commentary is available in Arabic or English.

August 2010: Abu Dhabi Sports begins broadcasting much of its international content, including the EPL, Formula One and WWE, in Dolby Digital to subscribers of its pay-TV channels.

2012: Abu Dhabi TV launches its exclusive Abu Dhabi Sports package to satellite subscribers. For around 30 AED a month, subscribers receive a set top box, smart card and access to 19 HD channels.

2013: AD Sports wins the rights to broadcast the 2013 Formula One World

Championship, beginning with the March 15th Australian Grand Prix. All races are broadcast live and exclusive on

free-to-air.

Dolby’s Tarif Sayed.

Phineas and Pherb will be among the Disney shows on JCC.

Qatar TV’s new studios keep in touch with Riedel.


NEWS UPDATE

Intercom for DohaQatar TV has installed an intercom sys-

tem based on Riedel’s Artist platform at its new Doha studios. The system features two Artist 128 and one Artist 64 mainframe, networked via a redundant fibre ring. The three mainframes form a distributed inter-com matrix of 296x296 ports. The installa-tion could be expanded easily by adding ad-ditional Artist frames to the fiber ring.

Qatar TV employs about 65 intercom panels from the Artist 2000 series. The Artist system also provides VoIP connec-tivity and MADI interfacing to Qatar TV’s LAWO audio consoles. The installation also includes seamless integration with Riedel’s Performer digital partyline intercom and Acrobat digital wireless intercom.

Riedel keeps QataR tV connected

Disney fans will be pleased to hear that Al Jazeera Children’s Chan-nel has announced a new free TV agreement with Disney, Middle East and North Africa. JCC, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Commu-nity Development, has acquired the rights to a selection of Disney’s most popular kids and family con-tent, including Disney and Disney/Pixar movies as well as Disney

Jcc treat for DIsney fansChannel’s live action and animat-ed series. The Disney films and TV shows that JCC will be airing will offer audiences in the Middle East and North Africa a wide range of exciting entertainment.

JCC’s acting executive general manager, Haya bint Khalifa Al Nassr said: “Through this agree-ment, we at JCC look forward to enriching the first Arab children’s channel with a wide range of en-

tertaining shows for our audi-ence. In line with our child-cen-tric strategy, we will continue to address the needs of Arab children and households by creating or acquiring content that is entertaining, culturally appropriate and supports their learning and development.”

All programs will be dubbed into classical Arabic and will roll out in the coming months.

neWsmaKer

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Qatar tV Intercom specs

2x artist 128 matrix mainframe 1x artist 64 matrix mainframe 65x artist 2016 intercom panel 7x RiFace radio interface 2x acrobat cc-8 cell controller 12x acrobat WB-2 wireless beltpack 4x performer c44plus system interface

16x performer c3 digital beltpack


NEWS UPDATE

Dolphin at Kalba tVSharjah Media Corporation (SMC) has installed multiple Pebble Beach Dolphin integrated devices for play-out and disaster recovery at its new Sharqiya from Kalba TV installation.

The brand new installation will feature a Pebble Beach Systems’ Nep-tune automation system controlling a total of four Dolphin integrated chan-nel devices. Two of the devices will provide main and backup systems for playout, whilst the remaining two act as disaster recovery for the main Sharjah facility.

SMC goeS with Pebble beaCh

quicK launch planneDHarris Broadcast has supplied a range of integrated broadcast solutions to Orbinet International to support the launch of a new TV news channel in Libya. Orbinet worked with Total Media Cast to design and implement the new facility in Tripoli — and has already started testing with the on air date expected in spring 2013.

“We recommended a complete Harris Broadcast solution to Total Media Cast because we were confi-dent in their ability to provide prov-en, reliable and robust end-to-end solutions that would perform to our customer’s exacting requirements.” said Mr. Elie Eid, managing director, Orbinet International.

New libyaN NewS ChaNNel

ashorooq tV relocates to suDan

Media Group International has taken de-livery of a host of infrastructure products from Argosy to help facilitate the move of Ashorooq TV from Dubai to its new facilty in Khartoum, Sudan.

Ashorooq TV, which started broadcasting in 2006, has become one of the most popular Arabic language television channels in Su-dan, and broadcasts local news, sports and entertainment, as well as live streaming of radio and TV channels via the web. It is al-ready broadcasting live from its new home.

Paul Wallis, sales director at Media Group International, said: “We chose Ar-gosy equipment for a number of reasons but a significant factor was the breadth and quality of their product offering — and more specifically that they hold stock lo-cally in the region that we could source quickly and easily for this project.

“Argosy had a solid understanding of what we needed to do at our client’s new television facility and the company was able to deliver the best in class, reliable products needed to support this installa-tion on time, and within budget.”

“We are delighted to continue to work with Media Group International” added Mike Purnell, director at Argosy. “Argo-sy was able to provide Ashorooq TV, with the infrastructure solutions they needed to ensure a seamless transition of their broadcast facility to Khartoum.”

Khartoum networK arabiarushes

moVing on up!BoTh GRASS VALLEy AND SNELL moVED INTo NEW mIDDLE EAST offIcES LAST moNTh – GRASS VALLEy moVING To mEDIA cITy fRom ITS PREVIoUS homE AT ThE AIRPoRT fREE ZoNE, WhILE SNELL oPENED UP ITS fIRST

fULL TImE offIcE IN ThE REGIoN, AND SImUL-TANEoUSLy APPoINTED

Dipesh Makwana AS TEchNIcAL

SALES mANAGER foR ThE REGIoN.NARESh SUBhERW-AL, PRESIDENT, ASIA PAcIfIc AND mIDDLE EAST foR SNELL, commENTED: “ThE mEDIA LANDScAPE IN ThE mIDDLE EAST IS oNE of ThE moST VIBRANT AND fASTEST GRoWING IN ThE WoRLD. ThERE IS A WoRLD of oPPoRTUNITy ThERE foR SNELL SoLUTIoNS.” ALAN WRIGhT, EmEA PRESIDENT AT GRASS VALLEy, ADDED: “ThE mIDDLE EAST IS A hIGh GRoWTh mARkET foR GRASS VALLEy AND IT’S kEy foR US To STAy mARkET-focUSED, WhIch IS Why WE hAVE moVED oUR offIcES To DUBAI mEDIA cITy.”

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NEWS UPDATE

ONLINE

1 IN PICS: DIGITAL STUDIO AWARDS 2013

2 Zee launches Arabic language station

3 Zee Alwan expands dubbed Arabic content

4 Digital Studio Awards 2013 – full list of winners

5 Digital Studio Awards 2013 – nominations

6 Digital Studio Awards 2013: Winners revealed

7 Digital Studio Awards shortlists announced

8 CABSAT openswith 850 exhibitors from 57 countries

9 Eurostar launches Android

10 Most infl uential people: Film editors

MOVIE MAKES TRIBECA LIST

INDUSTRY

ATLAS ABU DHABI CLOSESAtlas Television, the leading produc-tion and kit hire operation, is closing its Abu Dhabi offi ce. Keen economy watchers need not worry that this is a sign of darkening skies, however, as Atlas co-owner Cal Barton ex-plains: “We only set up in Abu Dhabi in order to be able to get clearance to fi lm on oil and gas installations. We applied for this shortly after setting up there and after a year and a half or so of trying we gave up. I don’t fully understand the reasons aside from that as an offshore entity twofour54 registered companies were not entitled to get access to these sites.”

Barton adds that Atlas will be mov-ing its Dubai offi ce to Studio City due to new parking charges at its current DMC home.

SPOT POLLWHAT’S BEEN

DUBAI’S EVENT OF THE YEAR SO FAR?

60.0%Goldilocks &

The Three Bears

33.3%Cabsat

6.7%The Stone Roses

0.0%Kanye West

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monitor-equipped broadcast vehicle.

EMIRATI SUCCESS IN NEW YORKMurk Light, a short Emirati movie directed by Iraqi fi lmmaker Yasir Al Yasiri and supported and produced by twofour54 creative lab, an Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority company, has been nominated in the Best Narrative Shorts category at the 12th edition of the New York Tribeca Film Festival. Murk Light was selected for the Festival out of over 2,800 submissions.

The 20 minute short, starring some of today’s leading Emirati actors, narrates the journey of two characters discovering dreams, escape and friendship on their way. It’s a journey of self-dis-

covery, leading to an unidentifi ed destination. Noura Al Kaabi, CEO, twofour54 said: “Murk

Lights’ nomination for Tribeca Shorts is an en-dorsement of the high caliber of work that is being supported by twofour54 creative lab. The aim of creative lab has always been to identify emerging Arab talent and support them with developing their own creative ideas. Yasir is a great example of a fi lmmaker whose journey with creative lab has seen him transform into an award-winning international fi lmmaker. We are incredibly proud of Yasir and the creative lab team that helped him make it happen.”

ATLAS ABU DHABI CLOSES

applied for this shortly after setting up

registered companies were not entitled

Farewell twofour54: Atlas packs up.

Murk Light will bescreening at New York Tribeca

ConstructionWeek-Exe plan-205x275-E indd 1 3/13/12 6:36 PM


NEWS UPDATE

New moNitoriNg at ceNtral iNgestQvest Media is set to install 16 TSL PAM2 MK2 multi-channel audio monitoring units in operator positions at Dubai TV’s new transmission and ingest room.

In a move that will upgrade the current SD tape-based workflow to a full HD/3G enabled file-based one, the channel will use the PAM2s for decoding and monitoring of stereo and Dolby audio formats throughout its HD broadcast chain.

The PAM2s are supplied as part of an on-going TX archive project that will migrate all of Dubai TV’s playout servers onto cen-tralized Omneon Spectrum servers with Pebble Beach automation, and archived onto a StorageTek LTO 5 library managed by Front Porch Digital’s DIVArchive.

“The PAM2 MK2 is an excellent fit for Dubai TV as we move them forward with a 3G-enabled workflow – it really takes the complexity out of complex and critical au-dio tasks - especially with regards to Dolby decoding and loudness-compliance moni-toring”, said Mohamed Hamid, Project Sales Manager, Qvest Media.

Swarup Mukherjee, regional sales man-ager for TSL Professional Products in the Middle East, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, added: “The PAM family is fast becoming the new industry standard in multichan-nel audio monitoring across the ME re-gion,” added “We’re very proud that major broadcasters like Dubai TV have latched on to the benefits that the PAM2 MK2 offers over competitive solutions in the market.”

Dubai tV up graDes apace

It’s a deal!

rusHes

al aaN speeDs tHiNgs upCygNUS hAS DEPLoyED ThURAyA IP+ TERmINALS AT AL AAN TV. ThE mobILE SATELLITE bRoAD-bAND TERmINAL IS DESIgNED To AChIEVE ThE fASTEST IP SPEEDS, ENSURINg qUICk AND RELIAbLE ACCESS To bRoAD-bAND DATA SERVICES oVER ThURAyA’S SATELLITE NETWoRk. ENhANCED CAPAbILI-TIES fACILITATE APPLI-CATIoNS INCLUDINg hIgh-qUALITy VIDEo bRoADCASTINg, SoCIAL mEDIA Com-mUNICATIoNS, DATA

TRANSfER AND VoIP APPLICATIoNS

fRom REmoTE LoCATIoNS. AL AAN TV’S hEAD of TEChNICAL, Raad Had-

dadin, SAID: “WE EVALUATED ThE ThURAyA IP+ AND WERE ImPRESSED WITh ThE TERmI-NAL’S fEATURES. ThE TERmINAL mEETS oUR STRINgENT REqUIRE-mENTS foR SECU-RITy, RELIAbILITy AND PoRTAbILITy foR oUR fIELD CoRRESPoN-DENTS Who hAVE ComE To RELy oN ThURAyA’S mobILE SATELLITE PRoDUCTS AND SERVICES To bRINg ThE NEWS To oUR VIEWERS.”

aND tHere’s more!

The new facilities at Dubai TV’s new

central transmission and ingest centre

are just a small part of a massive ongo-

ing upgrade. Last year, we reported on

the massive rebuild of Dubai TV’s main

newscentre, so here’s a reminder of the

gear that was installed there too:

Avid upgrade main components:

Unity ISIS 7000 (128 mirrored

TB storage, end-to-end filebased

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10x Newscutter Nitrix DX

2x Newscutter S/W only

4x Airspeed Multi Stream (Ingest)

4x Airspeed Multi Stream (Playout)

10x Access Client

5x Assist Client

35x Instinct Client

164x iNews Client

5x Interplay Capture Client

2x iCommand

Vizrt main components:

2x Viz Graphics Hub

2x Viz World

15x Viz Engine (On Air)

2x Viz Engine (Preview)

5x Viz Content Pilot Clients

1x Viz Anchor for iPad

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Lifting the Curtain: World Class Goes Digital.


NEWS UPDATE

MY HD AND ARABSAT TEAM UPHD production in the region received a boost last month when low-cost HD TV platform My-HD Media signed a strate-gic agreement with Arabsat to expand the reach of its single viewing card, 25-channel HD bouquet in the region.

Cli� Nelson, CEO of My-HD Media, com-mented: “Arabsat has always been a front-runner in the region and a prime hotspot for HD in MENA, and our partnership is intended to give us a valuable platform to provide superior HD content to over 170 million viewers across the (MENA) region.”

HD REACHES OUT

WARNING FOR BROADCASTERSThe BBC’s Arabic Twitter site was hacked last month, apparently by supporters of Syria’s embattled president Bashar-Al-Assad. Faris Couri, BBC Arabic’s editor-in-chief commented: “Today at around 11.00GMT, BBC Arabic’s twitter account @BBCArabicOnline was hacked. Since then, several pro-Assad news tweets were published by the account. We strongly con-demn such action and apologise to our au-diences. We are doing everything we can to remedy the situation.”

BBC ARABICTWITTER HACKED

FIT OUT TAKES CENTRESTAGEThe Apex Group and Media Group Interna-tional hosted a roundtable event last month, outlining new trends in fi bre-based video transmission and studio fi t out for Middle East broadcasters.

”We believe the region is moving from be-ing a trend-follower to a trend-setter, and with new media cities and production zones fl ourishing in the region, the roundtable provided an excellent vehicle for discussing these exciting trends,” said Alex Giannikou-lis, CEO, The Apex Group.

ROUND TABLEFOR NEW TRENDS

Serving the broadcaSt induStry

cabLeS connectorS Patch PaneLS Mdus racK SySteMS Fibre/hybrid cabLeS routerS video acceSSorieSArgosy products are available from stocks at locations in the UK, UAE, India and Malaysia

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universal triax connectors allow interminability between Lemo & Fisher types.

See Argosy at NAB, Booth no. N4320

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Mid-session at the round table.

Cliff Nelson and Arabsat CEO Khalid Balkheyour.

Assad: Not in the BBC’s good books.


CABSAT ChAnneL UPDATe

First up in this month’s CABSAT-themed channel pages, one of the undoubted highlights (quite lit-erally) of this year’s event could be found on the Advanced Media Trading (AMT) stand, where the distributor was showing off the DJI Spreading Wings S800 Hex-Rotor Aircraft.

The S800 is a professional Hex-Rotor Platform Big Air-craft, designed for commercial aerial photography (AP) and ex-perienced model enthusiasts, or in layman’s terms a remote control helicopter that carries a camera. It boasts stable flight, large load weight and long flight time. Combined with the DJI WooKong-M multi-rotor auto-pilot system, the S800 can eas-ily perform precise hovering, constant-speed cruise and has excellent maneuverability when turning. AMT has recently taken on the role of official regional representative for the S800, and it proved a big crowd puller on the Advanced Media stand,

according to Advanced Media’s Serine Gharibian: “There’s been really big demand for the S800,” she says. “This is its CABSAT de-but and we’re really pleased with people’s responses.”

AMT had a host of other part-ners’ equipment on its stand, including exclusive Sony equip-ment and the recently launched Teradek Bolt.

Pejman Ghorbani, Advanced Media’s Teradek product manag-er, commented: “After the suc-cess of ‘Cube’ and ‘Brik’, Teradek has come with another brilliant product to hit the market. An-swering the needs of cinema and video industry, Bolt provides the fast, reliable, high quality wire-less HD transmission remaining affordable at the same time. I be-lieve every studios, production houses and rentals will acquire at least a pair of transmitter / receiver to get rid of annoying cables specially when shoot-ing over the cranes, steady-cam, cars and so on.”

advanced media says: “come fly with me”

sPotliGht

The S800 proved a big hit on the Ad-vanced Media stand.

new deal with siGniantQvest went to CABSAT as the new regional distributor for Signiant’s media file trans-fer products, having signed the deal the day before the show.

“The Middle East is a burgeoning mar-ket for content creation, so there is de-mand for solutions such as those from Sig-niant,” said Thomas Müller, GM at Qvest. “We are committed to providing the top solutions, and then going beyond that by helping implement file-based workflows that expand business opportunities.”

QveST enTerSTrAnSfer MArkeT

busy start for rebrandRebranded Media Group International got off to a flying start, beginning with its immersive 3D theatre with partner Holo-Vis, and capping the week with the hando-ver of its newly acquired BSI certificate on the final day. CEO Paul Hennessey com-mented on MGI’s hectic recent history: “There comes a point when you have to make the changes to take you to the next level. We believe we’re operating at the highest standards in the region and we felt that time had now come.”

MGI GAInS BSI, ShowS off 3D

Qvest GM Thomas Müller.


cAbsAt chAnneL UPDAte

MediasysOne of the highlights at Mediasys’ stand this year was undoubtedly the hotly-tipped new Ki Pro Quad. The Quad is the first Ki Pro portable device to offer 4K (and QuadHD recording and monitoring, and is quite literally a double-wide version of the popular Ki Pro Mini. The Quad also records 2K and HD and supports both 10-bit 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 colour space. Record a full-resolution 4K ProRes QuickTime file on media, or move those RAW files directly to your Mac via the Quad’s Thun-derbolt connectivity and start editing. The Quad can also drive Canon’s new 4K display directly from the camera for monitoring on set.

UBMsUBMS was keeping things light on its stand. Rotolight’s Rod Aaron Gam-mons was just as enthusiatic as dad Rod about the company’s patented LED technologies, and Digital Studio was particularly pleased to learn that its old Manchester pals done good The Ting Tings have used Rotolight’s technol-ogy exclusively on their latest video.Also shining a light was UBMS’ Italian partner Ianaro Solid State Lighting, who brought the new mega-powerful So-laris LED Ianaro with Fresnel lens to town. The maker claims its new generation of LEDs are just as suitable in studios as outdoors, and from what we saw seen they’re right.

MediaCastMediacast pulled out all the stops this year with its biggest stand to date, which featured large dedi-cated sections for partners including Blackmagic Design and Tricaster.

The stand finally brought the new Blackmagic Cin-ecam to the Middle East (which regular readers will have spotted reviewed in detail in last month’s issue) and Babak Amini, who took the camera out for a spin for us last month, spoke at Mediacast’s event to promote the camera at the Emirates Tow-ers Hotel during the show. Over 300 of Mediacast’s custom-ers turned up at the camera launch event, which cer-tainly looks hopeful for regional sales.

Oasis ppdOasis PPD’s hectic stand was hosting a number of new products from the company’s many partners, including the entire range of TV Prompt priducts, the world’s smallest replay machine from Broadcast Solutions, lightweight dollies and cranes from Egripment and an extensive range of JVC cameras.

Among the latest products on display was JVC’s new GY-HM600 and 650 portable cameras which won approval from EBU for jour-nalistic field work just before the show. Always keen to offer options, Oasis also had Hitachi’s top of the range SK-HD1200 on display, alongside a host of other goodies from its many partners.

aROUNd tHe dWtC

The MGI team collect their BSI certificate.


GUEST COMMENT

t’s clear that the sheer number of vendors entering the integrated playout space indicates the value of integrated

playout technologies and the need for function collapse. What became very clear at IBC in Amsterdam last year is that the debate about the relative merits of these technologies has now crystallised around graphics capabili-ties, though for those operating in the sector this has already been known for a long time.

One could argue that being a graph-ics company that has entered the integrated playout market, we would say that, wouldn’t we? True, but you also then have to ask why such well-known graphics experts have entered this space – what value can we add that other approaches don’t?

There are three routes to graphics for channel-in-a-box (CIB) users. There’s the approach that graphics are easy so companies attempt to do it themselves. But graphics are not easy at all – even the type of graphics that we see being used every day are a lot more complex to play out than video clips. It’s now very clear that this approach isn’t going to cut it for many customers. It may be

Isuitable for relatively simple graphics like logos but not the more desirable and complex – animated logos, DVE moves, tickers, text and upwards to clips and realtime 3D. Before we conceived ChannelMaster, we were selling quite a few LogoVision and Clarity units to sit downstream of CIB technologies because they couldn’t produce the level of graphics the customer required. Speaking to engineers as we do very, very often indeed, it’s usually the graph-ics that are the most complex parts of their workfl ow.

The second option for the CIB vendor is to partner with a graphics company to build that graphics engine into their box. But this creates very obvious issues – not least how long it takes to do. Also, this isn’t really an integrated solution; it’s two companies trying to shoehorn unrelated technologies into the same box. Whether they are physically in the same unit or not, you still have all the same issues that you would have if they were separate boxes. This is highly ine� cient and brings up concerns, for example, of power consumption and heat dispersal – simply throwing more horsepower at a problem doesn’t provide an elegant or e� cient solution. It also begs the question of which com-pany do you call when there’s a problem.

Lastly, there’s a graphics vendor who’s lived and breathed graphics for 25 years and built an integrated solution around its graphics engine, which is what Pixel Power has done.

The whole tone around the subject seems to be based around the notion of trying to get away with the lowest possible capabilities. But what about future-proofi ng? The technology might just be su� cient for what you need to do today, but will it be so in three years’ time? Will that supplier even be around in three years’ time? The CIB market is a very fl uid one with new solutions ap-pearing all the time, a mix of o� erings from large players to smaller, more spe-cialised vendors – but what’s the reality behind those products and companies? Many players do have experience in parts of the chain but as is now being really recognised, not in the crucial graphics part.

Customers have to be clear and real-istic in what they are trying to achieve, not what they think they can get away with, and given our 25 years of experi-ence in the market we can provide clear guidance. After all, integrated playout is about function collapse, not function removal.

James Gilbert is joint MD at Pixel Power.

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DONEAND DUSTED

CABSAT is over for the year, and this year’s event proved to be the biggest and best yet.The fl oor space almost doubled on last year, and the event featured a host of global debuts for

products too. Read on for key news from this year’s show.

www.digitalproductionme.com APRIL 2013 23

HARRISHarris debuted to its Platinum IP3 Router, giving the latest solution pride of place on its stand for an eagerly anticipated launch on day one. The IP3 takes the dual-path architecture of its predecessor, the Plati-num, and runs with it, developing a new triple-path architecture that means data such as programme associated metadata, graphics or pure IP signals can be carried alongside separate audio and video signals for every input.

TRILOGYTrilogy launched Messenger, an entry level yet powerful matrix-based intercom that includes the features and functionality typically only found in far more expensive systems.

Messenger bridges the gap between the constraints of low-end, two-wire party line systems and the cost and complexity of larger broadcast intercom systems. The Messenger package is easy to install, simple to use and cost eff ective, says Trilogy.

According to Trilogy Director of Busi-ness Development Mark Ellis: “Messenger complements our class-leading Gemini intercom and at the same time takes ad-vantage of much of the technical expertise behind it. Messenger refreshes the Trilogy line up for customers requiring the ad-vanced features of a larger system but on a smaller scale and within tighter budgets.”

The company expects the product could

KEY CABSAT LAUNCHESbe a big hit in this region, where a wealth

of small TV channels seek high quality, without the budgets of the likes of

MBC or Rotana.

COBHAMCobham also brought a product

for which it has high hopes in the Middle East to debut at CABSAT. Its

HD MPEG4 IP Encoder features IP con-nectivity via 3G, 4G and LAN.

The high capacity, 3G capabilities included in the encoder ensure access to wireless 3G internet con-nections from the most remote locations.

Cobham’s broadcast systems director Stuart Brown said, “Our IP encoder provides even more bit rate effi ciency with the added benefi t of the ability to operate

in standard, low and ultra-low latency modes. And with power consump-

tion rated at a very low 7-9 watts, this encoder is ready for extended periods of deployment in virtually any environment.”

Easily connected to any camera, the IP encoder features connectiv-

ity for composite, SDI, HD-SDI and HDMI video inputs, and audio input op-

tions that include balanced analogue audio running on 48V phantom power.

SENNHEISERSennheiser Group introduced the Neumann KH 310 A, an active near-fi eld audio monitor, at Cabsat this week. This compact, horizontal-oriented cabinet is specifi cally designed for diverse acoustical environments and use in music produc-tion, broadcasting, post-production, mix-

ing and mastering.Sennheiser also conducted the regional

launch of Digital 9000, a digital wireless system for transmission of uncompressed audio.

Mig Cardamone, sales and marketing manager, Sennheiser Middle East, said: “Sennheiser prides itself as a company that is at the forefront of technologi-cal innovation. Neumann KH 310 A and Digital 9000 are both audio masterpieces, off er-ing unprecedented sound quality and

ease of use. We see a healthy

uptake of these systems by dis-cerning customers in the Middle East who are uncompromising in

their quest for quality.”

EVSNot so much a product launch as a compa-ny relaunch, EVS was at CABSAT showing off its new corporate branding. Sebastien Verlaine, marketing manager, EMEA, EVS said: “We are here to present our latest so-lutions. EVS is also here presenting its new logo and its new colours. There are now four divisions created within our organ-isation, EVS Sports, EVS Entertainment, EVS News and EVS Media. They have been created to develop better products and to better meet the demands of customers within these markets. With this structure each division has its strategy and its own developments, which will in the medium to long-term be very benefi cial to customers in those markets.”

Check out some of the products we spotted debuting at this year’s show:

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he region’s fi lming industry is booming with multiple universi-ties now off ering production courses, a growing pool of young

aspiring talent, and local platforms such as the regional fi lm festivals like Abu Dhabi Film Festival & Dubai Film Festival. As such, there is huge interest in professional fi lm making in the region which serves Canon the right opportunity to tap into.

Canon’s main goal is to provide tools that off er fi lm and video-makers greater creative fl exibility. With expertise in sensor development and heritage in lens design, Canon provides high quality, highly ver-satile products that will off er even greater creative possibilities for both fi lm and video professionals.

This year, Canon expands it EOS range and launches the EOS C500, a new digital cinema camera capable of 4K-resolution (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) video output. With the EOS C500, Canon is off ering next-generation 4K performance and fl exibility in compact, versatile form factors that off er a huge range of creative possibilities.

Designed for motion picture and high resolution digital production industries, the EOS C500 off ers the ability to output 4K-resolution images as RAW

T

CANON BRINGS 4K TO LIFE WITH THE EOS C500

data for recording using an external device. The camera’s uncompressed 4K output also unleashes the full potential of Canon’s ex-panding range of 4K-resolution EF Cinema Lenses, while an EF mount with Cinema Lock makes it easier for operators to switch lenses during shooting.

As well as uncompressed 4K footage, the EOS C500 sup-

ports 12-bit or 10-bit RGB 4:4:4 output sig-nals for 2K (2048 x 1080 pixels) or Full HD off -board recording – delivering rich colour and high compatibility with image processes such as chroma key positioning. The camera also supports frame rates up to 120p in both 4K and 2K modes, providing enhanced creative fl exibility for high-speed (slow mo-tion) video capture. The inclusion of Canon Log Gamma delivers the high quality video

and wide exposure latitude demanded by professional cinematographers.

Based on the same advanced platform as the EOS C300, the EOS C500 delivers ex-

ceptional performance, incredible mobility and outstanding expandability. The availabil-ity of a PL mount variant provides support for industry-standard lenses, while the EF mount model is the fi rst Cinema EOS camera to feature a modifi ed EF mount with Cinema Lock. Designed as a result of user feedback, EF mount with Cinema Lock has been developed to make it simpler to swap lenses mid-shoot. Instead of the user having to rotate the lens, the new mount rotates to lock lenses into place – providing easier operation during studio and fi eld-based shooting.


REVIEW / CABSAT 2013

elgium-based Alfacam supplies facilities and services to broadcast-ers and production houses worldwide.

Alfacam made its CABSAT debut this year, and brought along one of its HD OB trucks, which proved a hit with visitors, receiving over 400 visits over the three days of the show.

Alfacam communications manager Julien Tilkens commented: “The pres-ence of the truck was very interesting and gave us the opportunity to show to all the customers the quality and efficiency of our TV facilities.”

ALfACAm kEEPS on TRuCkIngBelgian specialist brings oB van to debut CABSAT appearance.

B

Alfacam’s OB van pulled in over 400 visitors.

FOR PROFESSIONAL CAMERA NEEDSThanks for showing great interest in NIPROS STUDIO BUILD UP UNIT at Cabsat ‘13

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amaha was at CABSAT demonstrating its lat-est Nuage production system, developed in partnership with independent Yamaha

subsidiary Steinberg. Commenting on the regional launch of Nuage at CABSAT, Toshihiro Yamamoto, MD of Yamaha Music Gulf FZE, comments: “The Nuage system solution is the quintessence of merging dedicated post-production hard-ware and software seamlessly together to one complete studio environment, with the Nuage console and Nuendo 6 representing the most sophisticated plat-

YAmAhA/STEInBERg WoWS ThE CRoWdS

form for audio post-production available today. We are excited to launch Nuage at CABSAT 2013; an event which we believe provides a great showcase for the product to Broadcast and Post-production indus-try professionals in the region.”

Speaking about the show more gener-ally, Hidetoshi Saito, sales and marketing director at Yamaha Music Gulf FZE, com-mented: “We received many serious busi-ness enquiries from buyers who were in-terested in our new products and wanted to experience and test them at CABSAT. The event was a very good opportunity for us to showcase our products and I have seen it grow in size over the past three

new audio post-production collaboration looks good for audio post production.

Yyears that we have participated - this gave us access to more potential trade visitors and business than before.”

Beyond distributing broadcast equipment, First Gulf Company is a major force in the broadcast systems sector in the region with the most significant achievements in HD TV Production and Post-Production facilities and studios.

FGC’s capabilities cover the design, implementation, integration and support of the most sophisticated systems. Additionally, FGC provides turnkey solutions in all systems including high-capacity Media Asset Management and Digital Archiving Systems.

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irst up, continuing an occasional series of awards that weren’t given at the show, but possibly should have been, congratulations

to Vision 247, undisputed winners of this year’s Editor’s Choice Award+ for Best Sweets on a Stand. Bravely picking up the gauntlet laid down by Riedel’s Gummi Comms at IBC 2012, what V247’s delight-ful fruit gums lacked in novelty hardware theming, they certainly made up for in fruity taste. Well done to all the team there. Any leftovers gratefully received at the Digital Studio offices.

Another heads up on the stand freebies front to Media Group Interna-tional, whose ‘Blue Noise’ Beenie toy bee, appropriately-striped in Manchester

UndER ThE RAdARCity colours, has gone down a storm with the most recent addition to our editor’s household. Enough said about that as we’re not going down the Charlie Brooker route of passable journalists turning de-cidedly less so following such events.

We were also amused to hear a story

from a nameless delegateabout a ‘well-known UK broadcaster’ that recently replaced the lighting in one of its studios with environmentally friendly, cost-saving LEDs. A wise and sensible deci-sion, one would think, but for one small problem. It seems the air conditioning the broadcaster had installed to compensate for the heat generated by the previous lighting did not come with a ‘heat’ option. Consequently, in the depths of the British winter, it found itself with presenters struggling against hypothermia in an unheated studio as they went about their jobs. The result? New heating had to be installed in the studio, rendering the anticipated environmental and cost sav-ings somewhat obsolete. There was more about a well known UK public broadcast-er, but we’re not one to gossip...

Some of the less ‘newsworthy,’ but no less entertaining snippets from this year’s show.

F

MediorNet Compact 50G Real-Time Media Network

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Broadcast Asia

Ahmed Magd El Din



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hmad Magd, Riedel’s new sales manager for the Middle East and Turkey, made his pub-lic debut at CABSAT following the recent

opening of Riedel’s new Dubai office.Magd commented on CABSAT: “The

show was very good; we met many of our partners and potential customers. And we noticed that people in the region have started to think not only of the price but also of the total cost of ownership. This is a good change in attitude, not only for the broadcasters themselves but also for us because that’s exactly what sets our

RIEdEL InTRoduCES nEW mAn on ThE SPoT

solutions apart from the others.”It’s been an impressively busy year for

Riedel, with major global events such as the infamous Felix Baumgartner’s leap from space under its belt, special goggle cams developed for the World Skiing Championships, and installations closer to home such as the intercom for Qatar TV’s recently opened new Doha studios.

Magd noted that the company’s Me-diorNet was particularly popular during this year’s show: “MediorNet media network drew a lot of interest,” he said. “It’s a very unique and powerful product that provides point to multipoint signal distribution for all kind of signals such as

Ahmad magd takes over at Riedel’s dubai regional office.

A

Video (3G /HD/SDI), Audio , Intercom and Ethernet. It saves the clients costs in infrastructure and gives their installa-tion unparalleled flexibility.”

Riedel’s Ahmad Magd.

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islink brought its latest, broadcast specification Vislink Mantis MSAT to CABSAT. The Mantis MSAT, claims the

manufacturer, is the world’s smallest and lightest satellite data terminal for high-performance high-definition satellite news gathering.

The portable, one-man satellite terminal, an upgrade from the standard MSAT, deploys from a single lightweight backpack to become a 14kg, 90ck antenna and terminal and can deliver HD video broadcast signals from anywhere in the world. Operational on both KA and KU bands, the Mantis MSAT can be unpacked and working within five minutes, provid-ing up to a HD video capable 8Mbps of upstream data throughput subject to satellite performance, yet is also rugged

VISLInk SEndS A SIgnAL

and ideal for harsh environments.Mark Anderson, marketing operations

manager, commented: “The main focus was twofold, the new 90cm version of the Advent MSAT satellite system and the INCAM Gigawave wireless camera system

both of which went down very well. CABSAT is always a good show for us as it gives us an opportunity to not only meet our customers old and new but a place for our regional VAR’s to meet us and see the new products.”

new portable satellite terminal is ‘smallest and lightest’ for Sng.

V

Doha’s Al Rayyan TV is among CMS’ clients.

CMS REPoRTS SuCCESSfuL CABSATnew projects to be announced soon, says systems integrator.

MS returned to CABSAT this year and showcased new technologies and products with new partners.

“It was very special year for Creative Media Solutions in CABSAT 2013,” said managing partner Ghassan Alasad. “We exhibited some very special and unique products such as Storyteller Touch-screen software from AccuWeather and latest storage solutions from NetApp.

CWe are looking forward to next year’s exhibition as it will be very special for our company as it will represent its 10th anniversary.”

Visitors to the CMS stand included TV channels from the UAE and all around the other Arab and North African countries, and CMS regional project manager Zayed Hammori claimed there will be new projects announced very soon thanks to the ‘great opportunity for networking and doing business through-out CABSAT.’


Oh what a n

DIGITAL STUDIO AWARDS 2013


Oh what a n ight! The ninth Digital Studio Awards came to Dubai’s Westin Hotel last month for a sold out event celebrating the very best of the region’s broadcast and production industries. here are all this year’s winners.




“THIS IS REALLY GREAT. WE’VE WORKED A LONG TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND HAVE DEVELOPED A REALLY NETWORK OF

GOOD CUSTOMERS HERE. SO THIS IS BRINGING TOGETHER ALL THE WORK WE’VE DONE. THIS IS CULMINATION. WE’VE GOT A

LONG WAY TO GO YET, BUT THIS IS A GREAT START.”Karl Hijazi, manager of Sony Professional Solutions MEA

M A N U FA C T U R E R O F T H E Y E A RSONY

Sony has had a hectic year, even by its own globe-conquering standards. A raft of product launches have cov-ered all bases from a host of cameras fi lling every gap in the large-sensor image capture market to new record-ing and storage technology and its strong commitment to the development of 4K production, where it has proved a trailblazer with its raft of produc-tion, post production and editing products over the last year.Sony was also highly commended as Systems Integrator of the Year category.

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“THIS IS OUR FOURTH TIME WINNING IN A ROW, SO THIS IS VERY EXCITING. IT WAS A GREAT TEAM WORK AND WE ARE HAPPY AS A TEAM.

AND THANK YOU FOR DIGITAL STUDIO FOR THIS GREAT CEREMONY.” Kaveh Farnam, CEO, Advanced Media

Advanced Media is one of the Middle East’s largest suppliers of professional broadcast, video and photography equipment and accessories. More than 40 well-known brands in the industry are on display at its Dubai headquarters and subsidiary shops, while it also offers regular train-ing sessions, houses the authorised Sony Service Centre and offers fast, reliable repairs for many of the brands in its portfolio. New brands to Advanced Media over the last 12 months include Floatcam, Profoto and Teradek, lining up alongside estab-lished names like Canon, Sennheiser and Manfroto.

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Tek Signals was active all over the re-gion over the last 12 months, with ma-jor projects for Sharjah TV, Qtal and Qatar TV, among others. Undoubtedly its biggest project last year though, and perhaps the one that most infl uenced the judges’ voting, was its installation of Al Jazeera Sports new 3G studios in Doha. The fi rst full 3G-HD Studios in the region represented the biggest broadcast project in the region last year and featured fully redundant workfl ow, MCR, CAR with 40x3G Cameras, 15 slow motion serv-ers, 10 fi le servers, More than 50x65” & 52” LCD Monitors, fi ve large Rout-ers and much more. Four studios are already completed, with one more yet to follow.

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Best System Integrator andTechnical Implementation AwardsTek Signals would like to dedicate this award to the sincerity and dedication of all the staff at Tek Signals. Many thanks also to all our customers and suppliers for their support for achieving this award.

Best Technology Implementation of the year 2012



“OH IT FEELS GREAT BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD, AS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS, TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT’S REALLY GREAT TO BE RECOGNISED.”Lotfi Bencheikh, co-founder, Afl amnah

I N N O VAT I O N O F T H E Y E A RAFLAMNAH

Aflamnah is a pioneer. It is the region’s first crowdfunding platform and is an independent, social entre-preneurship project supporting cre-ativity and cultural exchange in the region. In six months since launch, Aflamnah has captured the imagina-tion of the media, supported close to 20 projects and raised over $60,000. Aflamnah has attracted a diverse range of projects including film, publishing and even a mobile art bus designed to take art therapy to children in need in Palestine. Some of the films that have crowdfunded have already screened at international and regional film festivals and have won awards. The Brain That Sings docu-mentary epitomizes Aflamnah’s social angle. The film will raise awareness and educate the public about the subject of autism and raised $15,160.

CATEGORY SPONSOR



OSN rounded off its multi-award-winning evening (let’s not forget Play’s special commendation in the Innovation of the Year category too) with a win for its new online view-ing platform OSN Play, in the Content Delivery Service category. Commenting on its second prize of the evening, Lisa Robinson, head of CA operations, said: “It’s a great achievement after an enormous amount of hard work. And it was fun. It was a fun achievement and it was a learning curve, but we got there. And hopefully OSN Play is going to be the number one digital player in the region.”

T E C H N O LO G YI M P L E M E N TAT I O N

O F T H E Y E A R OSN PLUS HD

OSN’s first award this evening came in the form of the Technology Implementation gong for OSN Plus HD – the region’s first hybrid PVR. The new platform allows viewers to consume the content they subscribe to at their con-venience and on multiple devices - not just through the broadcast schedule. It offers the region’s first internet-enabled satellite receiver and recorder with full 3D and HD capabilities built around the new Broadcom 7356 chip set, a world first right here in the region.

C O N T E N TD E L I V E RY S E R V I C E

O F T H E Y E A ROSN PLAY

“IT’S A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AFTER AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HARD WORK. AND IT WAS FUN. IT WAS A FUN ACHIEVEMENT AND IT WAS A LEARNING CURVE, BUT WE GOT THERE. AND HOPEFULLY OSN PLAY IS GOING TO BE THE NUMBER ONE DIGITAL PLAYER IN THE REGION.”Lisa Robinson, head of CA operations, OSN

“IT’S FANTASTIC. IT’S GREAT RECOGNITION FOR A GREAT PRODUCT AND A LOT OF HARD

WORK AND TEAM WORK THAT WENT INTO IT.” Mark Billinge, VP of broadcast operations and

technology of OSN Plus HD

CATEGORY SPONSORS



“I THINK THAT THIS HAS GIVEN THE MESSAGE TO ALL THE CREATIVE

INDIVIDUALS IN THE WORLD THAT PEOPLE STILL RESPECT THEIR CREATIONS.”

Amir Ghorbani-Nia, creative and art director, AM Studio

C O N T E N T C R E AT I O N O F T H E Y E A RAM STUDIO

Revolution, photographed by Hussain Jian, directed by Amir G Nia and Hussain Jian and produced by AM Studio, used an innovative post stop-motion technique in film making by utilizing 6-frame/second still photog-raphy shots. The winner developed the technique itself, and it is unique to the Middle East’s film industry sector. Our judges were all blown away by the work, with responses like “experimental, effective, modern, original and striking.” Perhaps judge Clyde de Souza summed it up best though saying: “Yes! We need more production houses in the region like AM Studio!”

CATEGORY SPONSOR



Real Image picked up the prestigious Best Production Award too for its high quality 3D animation series, Khalid’s Adventures. This animated tale takes its audience on a global environmental journey, both entertaining and educat-ing children about the importance of the environment and energy conservation. With a cast including secret friends, robots and the eponymous hero Khalid - more evidence that Dubai is becoming a growing power in the animation fi eld.

“IT’S REALLY GREAT!”Mohammad Falaknaz, partner and consultant,

Real Image

B E S T P O S TP R O D U C T I O N

H O U S EREAL IMAGE

A double-award-winning night for Real Image who made their way up to the stage fi rst to collect the Best Post-Production House award. Real Image this year carried out post-production for clients from the Ministry of Culture to Toronto University Press, via the Shop and Ship service and encompassing TVCs, public information fi lms, corporate work and its own in-house productions as well as a wealth of its own in-house productions.

B E S TP R O D U C T I O N O F T H E Y E A R

REAL IMAGE

“YOU JUST HAVE TO BE HARD WORKING, I KNOW IT’S A TOUGH MARKET, BUT WE’RE TRYING OUR BEST.”Aiham Ajib, MD, Real Image

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“IT’S FANTASTIC. IT’S RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE DELIVERING GOOD SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMERS AND THE FACT THAT CUSTOMERS BELIEVE IN THE SERVICES

THAT WE ARE PROVIDING. IT FEELS FANTASTIC TO BE RECOGNISED FOR THAT.”Mahesh Jaishankar, VP of DataMENA and broadcast commercial for du Broadcast

SATELL I TE SERVICES PROVIDER OF THE YEARDU BROADCAST

Du Broadcast provides uplink ser-vices to many of the region’s biggest broadcasters through its Samacom service in Dubai’s Media City. With a host of suppliers vying for attention in the growing satellite and uplink market it’s perhaps telling that one of our judges commented: “What would we do without them?”

CATEGORY SPONSOR



“WE’RE ABSOLUTELY HAPPY BECAUSE THIS IS A SPECIAL PRODUCTION, NOT

ONLY BECAUSE IT’S OUR FIRST ANIMATED SHORT FILM, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE USED THE LOCAL TALENT, WHICH WE

ALWAYS STRIVE FOR, AND WE ARE ALWAYS PUSHING TO DO, SO WE ARE

VERY HAPPY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. ALSO, THIS IS OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL NOMINATIONS AND WINS SO IT’S A LOT

OF FIRSTS.”Lea Badro, managing partner, Blink Studios

B E S T A N I M AT I O NBLINK STUDIOS

Ostora is the first Arabic musical animated 3D film of its kind. The mixed-media 2D cut-out animated short film was also created for 3D stereoscopic viewing. This new tech-nology required five months to com-plete with the efforts of 40 people, of whom most were amateur Emirati volunteers. The film has been nomi-nated to 26 international film festivals so far including the New York Short Film Festival, the Los Angeles 3D and Music Film Festival and Belgium’s 3DSM Film Festivals and won the “Special Picture” prize at the 3D Korea International Short Film Fes-tival. Written by Faisal Al Sharyani, directed by Hani Kichi and supported by twofour54 Creative Lab.

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Blink Studios’ Hani Kichi.


ADVERTISEMENT

Bridging Worlds Through AnimATion

lthough a Civil En-gineer by education, Hani Kichi, Blink Studios’ Director and Producer since 2005, carries an unwavering

dedication to making animated films that can bridge beliefs and cultures. His first internationally recognized achievement was his primal role in directing Ostora, a first Arabic musical animated short film produced by Blink Studios, written by Emirati national Faisal Al Sharyani, and supported by twofour54’s Creative Lab.

AIn Kichi’s own words, “I was driven by the

challenge of bridging cultural, creative and technological poles at every step of Ostora’s production. Its script had to visually inter-pret the mix between Western mythology and Middle Eastern factuality. Technologi-cal distinction was inspired through the historical Middle Eastern “shadowgraphy” implemented in 2D cutout animation in a world of 3D Stereoscopic. Music composi-tion was a symphony of fantasy smoothly orchestrated with the UAE’s national an-them. Its realization was achieved through directing a team of professional artists

integrated with passionate amateurs.”To date, Ostora has received 28 inter-

national nominations including the New York Short Film Festival, the Los Angeles 3D Film Festival and Belgium’s 3DSM Film Festival. Ostora has won “Special Picture” at the Korea 3D International Film Festival, “Best Animation” at the Zanzibar Interna-tional Film Festival, received a “Special Jury Mention” at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and most recently was awarded “Best Ani-mation 2012” at the Digital Studio Awards.

Kichi’s building blocks to making a worldwide stance continues with his determination in positioning Blink Studios at the forefront of the international anima-tion realm yet keeping true to its Middle Eastern origin. From a creative standpoint, enriching Blink’s own wide-ranging slate of intellectual properties inspired by regional insights and stories that can travel beyond borders. From an expertise standpoint, Kichi very well sums up, “At Blink, we have equipped ourselves with the tools, talents and mind-set that can produce content equally enjoyed by a regional and an inter-national audience.”

Kichi relentlessly pursues Blink’s growth in creative distinction and techno-logical expertise. A winning formula that allowed Blink Studios’ the chance to de-liver content to international and regional broadcasters, “Thanks is owed to regional content supporters like twofour54 Abu Dhabi for opening the doors to producing internationally-recognized animation content,” reaffirms Kichi.

Yet Kichi’s journey is only at its start. His hopes are for greater opportunities of content production that will bridge gaps the world today strives to diminish. Kichi intends to play his role in this challenge though his passion for filmmaking and storytelling while keeping animation at their core.



“I’M SO HONOURED. THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST AWARD IN FILM AND IT’S SUCH AN HONOUR. IT’S SO GREAT TO KNOW THAT FILM MAKERS LIKE ME CAN BE SUPPORTED

AND THAT THIS IS A REWARD FOR THE HARD WORK I’VE DONE AND I’M SO GRATEFUL.”

Amal Algroobi

B E S T U P A N D C O M I N G F I L M M A K E RAMAL ALGROOBI

Amal Agroobi’s fi rst fi lm, Half Emirati, became an important social docu-mentary in the UAE, addressing a controversial topic and taking the number one spot at DIFF 2012. There, it was picked up by a sales agent and people have continued talking about it until now. She is now working on a feature documentary fi lm that ad-dresses autism as a social stigma in the GCC region and is raising aware-ness for the issue, helping families all over the country and plans to couple the fi lm to a nation-wide and interna-tional campaign. She has also since had offers to direct on a number of touching and diffi cult subjects.

CATEGORY SPONSOR



“IT FEELS VERY NICE. IT’S THE FIRST TIME WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, SO IT’S

VERY NICE TO HAVE THIS AWARD.”Muhammad Saeed, head of central apparatus, Al

Jazeera engineering section/broadcast

B E S T S T U D I OAL JAZEERA – STUDIO 7

Al Jazeera’s Studio-7 is the fi rst HD-3G studio in the Middle East. It is the the biggest as well the most high tech, with the most state of the art technol-ogy of any studios in the Middle East at the present time. Fully redundant workfl ows, 3G cameras, slow motion servers and lots more state-of-the-art technology keep Al Jazeera’s newest studios at the very top of their game.

CATEGORY SPONSOR



“I’M DELIGHTED, AND AS I ALREADY SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE DESERVING PEOPLE WHO MAKE BIGGER AND STRONGER CONTRIBUTIONS AND WIN THIS AWARD IN YEARS TO COME. IT’S A REAL PLEASURE.”Paddy Roache - director and general manager of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe

L I F E T I M E A C H I E V E M E N T AWA R DPADDY ROACHE

DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC EUROPE

The inaugural winner of the Digital Studio Awards Lifetime Achievement Award has spent 40 years in the broadcast industry featuring stints with Philips, Thorn EMI and his current role with Hitachi. He ‘s been a familiar face in the region since his very fi rst project assisting MBC with Bahrain’s short-lived Big Brother franchise, which managed to use more Hitachi cameras than the program lasted in days (11 days, 45 cameras)!

He’s been involved in some of the biggest technological developments of the modern age, from the launch of the UK’s seminal Teletext service, to the birth of CD Rom, and more recently he’s become ubiquitous as the face of broadcasting in Saudi Arabia.

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Hitachi Broadcast CamerasHitachi Kokusai Electric EuropeTel: +44 (0) 845 1212177 Email: [email protected] www.hitachi-keu.com

KSA - First Gulf Company – Habib Kazan +966 1 219 0888 / UAE - Oasis Enterprises Abdulrahman Aladawi - M: +971 50 5322704

Hitachi SK camera family• 3G• 1000+TV Lines• 1080p/50/60• P2 Recording• Large lens adaptor or

Full studio body option.• HD Fibre Transmission• HD Digital Triax• HD Wireless

The people andproducts with ALL theright connections

Congratulations to Paddy Roache -Director and General Manager Hitachi KEU,for his ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at theDigital Studio Awards 2013

FGC DPS d i dd 1

3/21/2013 2:23:09 PM



M A N U FA C T U R E R O F T H E Y E A R

TSL PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS

TSL Professional Products has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months, with massive advances in multichannel monitoring as well as giant steps in the world of profes-sional sound recording – especially since its takeover of audio specialists Soundfi eld. Product development, as well as industry-leading customer sup-port, continues to be at the top of the company’s agenda as it becomes an ever bigger name in the industry.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

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D I S T R I B U TO R / R E S E L L E R O F T H E Y E A R

MEDIACAST

MediaCast has had a bumper year since we last sat down at the Digital Studio Awards. The Dubai-based distributor has seen its key brands like Blackmagic Design and Newtek mak-ing ever bigger waves in the region, and continued to show exemplary commitment to its reseller network and sales region by appointing specialised staff, implementing support systems and introducing new technologies to the region. New appointments include marketing communications manager Jaffer Mohammed, who has been instrumental in heading up the nearly 40,000 strong Blackmagic Design User Group. Middle East. Education Specialist John McGregor has allowed MediaCast to deepen its work in the education market by launching free student training courses and support-ing the implementation of a fi lm stud-ies education programme in partner-ship with the American University of Dubai and SAE Dubai.

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Take your film production experience to a new level with the Blackmagic Design workflow – enjoy creative freedom from capture to grading.

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At MediaCast we are equipped to deliver optimum solutions for your creative video technology requirements from production to post, broadcast to live.

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SATELL I TE SERVICES PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

YAHLIVE

Launched in 2011, YahLive offers state-of-the-art broadcasting, news gathering, distribution and contribu-tion feed capacities, bringing about a new era of HD services, from its Y1A satellite positioned at 52.5 degrees East. In less than one year since YahLive launched its operations, it has already created an exclusive HD bou-quet of more than 40 quality channels including Saudi TV, Dubai Media Incorporated, Abu Dhabi Media, Cartoon Network Arabia, GEM, MBC and channels from Europe. In October it added Russia Today’s English-lan-guage and Arabic (Rusiya Al-Yaum) channels, both in HD. Also in October, it added six Saudi channels to its line-up. The 40+ channels means that the service is now the region’s market leader in terms of the number of HD channels carried.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CATEGORY SPONSOR



S Y S T E M S I N T E G R ATO R O F T H E Y E A R

CMS

CMS has successfully integrated Libya Al Ahrar TV and Al Doha Chan-nel this year. The MCR with four HD Nexio Video Servers and 73 TB Usable Farad storage each with three outputs controlled by Harris ADC Automation with two playlists and playlist redundancy. Such confi gura-tion needs a compatible stable Master Control switcher and that’s why we integrated two Icon Master with main and backup confi guration. The Installed Router is Panacea 32 by 32 Harris Router. Miranda was picked for the Glue equipment part of the project to complete and perform a perfect solid setup. The graphics engines Orad Morpho was installed to fulfi ll the desired GFX needs. The installed MultiViewer system is EVERTZ VIPX with 12 by 2 confi gurations. A Yamaha Audio console was installed with Sennheiser audio tools around the studio. Trilogy was our choice for the Talk Back system. The Lighting System with the Lighting Grid was our Lighting Engineers task. Libya Al Ahrar HD Virtual studio was also installed and integrated by CMS specialist integration team. With fi ve Sony HD cameras, a core Network Router, Flashlink Glue equipment, Ross Carbonite production switcher and Orad XYNC IR tracking system. Al Rayyan TV, another CMS installation, also went live last year.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CATEGORY SPONSOR



CONTENT DEL IVERY SERV ICE OF THE YEAR

VISION 247

Vision247’s XtremeIPTV has created the definitive content distribution network to provide broadcasters, TV channels, production companies and content owners throughout the Middle East with the most compre-hensive set of tools available to man-age, deliver and monetise content across traditional satellite broadcast platforms, as well as over-the-top internet delivered broadcast. The only solution on the market to support all nine broadcasting/streaming delivery protocols, XtremeIPTV is a power-ful online video streaming platform with a complete application suite that can power thousands of separate internet TV portals. Clients including Al Arabia, MBC, GEM TV and Iqraa are leveraging Vision247’s content delivery for global distribution.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

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B E S T P R O D U C T I O N O F T H E Y E A R

YARA MEDIA

A return to the stage for Yara Media, which last year won the Best Produc-tion Award for Hindistani Season One. SEASON Two was again screened on OSN Yahala and was even bigger and brasher than its pre-decessor. Choreographers from India and Arabia combined their moves alongside 1,000 different colourful costumes and more than 300 dancers, shooting all around India and the GCC. The production is all about the simple story of a man who falls in love with a rich lady. Yara Media used the new 35mm/ SONY F3 camera for the fi rst time in either India or the GCC to make the second series look even better, and even brought a touch of glamour to the awards event too, with a host of Saudi celebrities joining them on their table.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

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C O N T E N T C R E AT I O N O F T H E Y E A R

TI22 FILMS

Ti22 ‘s 2012 started well with two awards at the 2012 New York Festival International Television & Film Awards for its breast surgery patient exercise videos, while it was shortlisted for a third for its corporate brand fi lm for ENOC. In January of this year it heard that it was shortlisted for fi ve 2013 New York Festival International Television & Film Awards for work produced in 2012, including the of-fi cial trailer of TEDx Abu Dhabi, an internal fi lm for BASF and a revised corporate fi lm for ENOC. It also closed 2012 shortlisted as ‘one to watch’ at the SME Advisor Stars of Business Awards. Ti22 has a dedi-cated team that supports clients and builds strong relationships with them while consistently delivering videos to an international standard. It is one of only three companies in the MENA region shortlisted this year at the New York Festival, and it can now go there with the added confi dence a commendation at the Digital Studio Awards brings.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CATEGORY SPONSOR

With rapid advancement in digital technology and the Middle East’s media industry growing each year, DIGITAL BROADCAST Middle East serves to provide the latest industry news, features and analysis to this booming market.

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Subscription is FREE for industryprofessionals. Simply visit:www.itp.com/subscriptions today.

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Peter DavisSales DirectorTel: +971 4 444 3741Email: [email protected]

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David InghamTel: +971 4 444 3312Email: [email protected]

An ITP Business Publication | MARCH 2013 | VOL. 06 ISSUE 03 THE BUSINESS OF DIGITAL CONTENT DELIVERY

Liberty Global acquires Virgin Media; Nautel bags record number of orders; MP & Silva win EPL rights; BBC launches Urdu TV program; Safa launches Opticloud

TEST CARD

CABSAT

A look at how the new H.265 codec is changing the

broadcast industry

EFFICIENT FUTURE

James Kim from LG Television on 4K TVs

THEWINNING

BIDIn a surprise win, MP & Silva

has snapped up the rights for the English Premier

League in the MENA region

Andrea Radrizzani

Group CEO,MP & Silva

What to see, who to meet and

where to go at this year’s show


COMMUNITY

Advanced Media Trading (AMT) orga-nized a launch event for Sony’s latest 4K cinematography cameras, the PMW-F55 & PMW-5, and 4K Workflow, on the 2nd & 3rd of March 2013 at AM Studio for the region’s market professionals.

Alister Chapman, the UK DOP who is well-known to local Sony workshop afi-cionados, shared his in-depth knowledge with attendees during a course that cov-ered topics including:

Introduction to 4K. The difference between conventional

shooting and using raw. Raw workflow considerations. Using the HD files as proxies. Managing high dynamic range images. Using Look Up Tables for monitoring. Practical: Correct S-Log2 exposure;

using EI exposure index to manage latitude; shooting in raw and log and comparing the differences; pushing the camera to it’s limits, and shooting in 4K, re-framing in post production. Over the two days around 80 profes-

sionals including DoP’s, cameramen, di-rectors and producers visited the event and tested the products.

GFF announces Film market GULf fILM fesTIvAL (Gff) hAs AN-NOUNCed The fORMATION Of The GULf fILM MARkeT, AN INITIATIve AIMed AT deveLOPING LOCAL fILM CULTURe ANd CReATING OPPORTUNITIes fOR GULf fILMMAkeRs IN TRAINING, deveLOP-MeNT, PROdUCTION ANd dIsTRIbUTION. The fILM MARkeT wILL dRAw PROMI-NeNT fILMMAkeRs TO MeNTOR ANd NeTwORk wITh eMeRGING GCC PROfessIONALs.MeNTORs fOR ThIs YeAR wILL INCLUde AwARd-wIN-NING eMIRATI AUThOR ANd sCReeNwRITeR MohaMMed hassan ahMad, whO wROTe The 2011 dRAMA seA shAdOw ANd eGYP-TIAN YOUsRY NAsAR-ALLAh, whOse AfTeR The bATTLe wAs ChOseN fOR The 2012 CANNes PALMe d’OR COMPeTITION.

rusHes

topical screeninGAbu Dhabi’s Aflam film club got topical last month with the screening of screenwriter/director Mohamed Diab’s 678. The film tells the story of three women’s fight for justice against the daily reality of sexual harassment in post-revolutionary Egypt, and the unlikely heroine sta-tus achieved by one of the three after she stabs an attacker in the groin.

AflAm tAckles the issuese

alister cHapman leads tHe way

amt Holds sony session

FrencH Festival timeAbu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Au-thority and the Institut Francais, alongside sponsors including two-four54, hosted the third annual Fran-cofilm Festival last month.Festival highlights included the re-gional premier of the new Asterix film and French and Arabic language films from directors closer to home in Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco.

frAncofilm iii hits cApitAl

communityall tHe latest From tHe reGional production and broadcast community


COMMUNITY

Panasonic held a workshop last month to show o� the fi lm-making potential of its new LUMIX DMC-GH3 mirror-less camera, as part of Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai Knowledge Village.

The electronics giant brought New York-based photographer and fi lm-maker Eduardo Angel to town for the event, which was attended by almost 100 professional and would-be pho-tographers and videographers, as well as local fi lmmaker Sherif Mokbel, to host a session on producing fi lm and promoting short fi lms, while demon-strating the video recording capabili-ties of the GH3 camera.

Mokbel told the audience: “The GH3 is an amazing and versatile camera. Compact and light-weight, it puts the fun back in making short fi lms or ev-eryday personal videos. This camera is packed with functions that allow the user to just point and shoot and record fantastic videos. That’s not all, the GH3 also caters to the professional photographer and videographer, be-cause it allows them to be creative by using features such as in-built Time-Lapse function.”

The GH3 includes features a class above the other G Series models, but is

WORKSHOP LATEST

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-GH3 came to town for Gulf Photo PlusDSLR BUSTER?

EVENTS

APRIL 3Pan Arab TV Channels Strategy Conference

This conference seeks to address the signifi cance of Arab satellite TV channels, the popularity of internet TV and the infl uence of foreign channels and

their shaping of popular thinking and behaviour. www.datamatixgroup.com

APRIL 3-4Arab Media Forum

Dubai Press Club hosts the Arab Media Forum at Dubai’s Grand Hyatt hotel, looking into the

latest developments in the regional media from the printed press to TV, fi lm

and social media. www.arabmediaforum.ae

APRIL 11-17Gulf Film Festival

The Gulf Film Festival is the annual non-profi t

cultural in Dubai that seeks to develop local and

regional fi lm culture in the Gulf and develop future fi lm projects, as well as be a destination festival for the international fi lm community to discover

Gulf cinema. www.gulffi lmfest.com

MAY 21-23PALME ME

The defi nitive showcase of the future of sound and light technologies returns to Dubai with,

according to the organisers, nearly 5,000 serious buyers from 69 countries in attendance,

with a combined purchasing authority of

US$759 million.www.palme-middleeast.com

still compact when compared with an SLR camera, with comparable perfor-mance and functions. The body also features a new control layout with three dials on the front and back as well as single-function buttons. Us-ers can choose from AVCHD, AVCHD Progressive, MP4 or MOV formats, with frame rates at 50p (PAL), 25p (PAL) or 24p. It can record at a bi-trate of 72 Mbps (ALL-Intra) or 50 Mbps (IPB) and features built-in Wi-Fi which means the camera can be viewed and controlled remotely from a smartphone or tablet.

WORKSHOP LATEST

DSLR BUSTER?

SPEAKER’S OPINION

“As a professional you are always on the look-out for cameras that you can depend on. Teaching people how to take pictures and shoot video becomes so much easier and rewarding when you have products like the GH3 and the fast F2.8 Panasonic Lumix lenses to help you along.”EDUARDO ANGEL, FILM MAKER


COMMUNITY

SCENE CHANGE

INT’L DATACASTINGChris Barrett has joined International Datacasting as VP of Research & Develop-ment. IDC is a global leader in video, audio and data con-tribution and distribution solutions serving the world’s premier broadcasters.

“I like to take things to the next level,” he said. “I’m pleased to join a company making great strides in prod-uct design and development.”

AVIDAvid has appointed Louis Hernandez as president and chief executive o� cer. Her-nandez has been a member of the Avid Board since 2008.

George Billings, speaking on behalf of Avid’s board, said: “Louis is a visionary, inspi-rational leader with a stellar track record of driving the op-erations and growth of tech-nology companies in a variety of industries..”

L-ACOUSTICSL-ACOUSTICS has appointed Emma Beer to its new press and media o� cer post.Stéphane Ecalle, director of marketing said, “The creation of a dedicated communica-tions post is a direct response to the continuing growth of L-ACOUSTICS, and our wish to increase our capacity to serve the media in the sector. Emma has already begun contribut-ing to our strategy.”

QVESTQvest Media has appointed Thomas Müller as GM. Mül-ler thus directly succeeds Stephan Seeländer, who has managed the company in Dubai since the beginning of 2009. Seeländer is moving within the company group to Wellen+Nöthen in Cologne, Germany, where, as head of projects, he is responsible for the management of the inter-national project business.


NAB PRODUCTS

DPA GETS VOCAL

Calrec will be showcasing its Hydra2 at NAB this year. The company aims to demonstrate the ability of HydrA2 to interact with third-party control and pro-duction automation equipment. To give broadcasters a sense of Hydra2’s potential as a networking solu-tion, Calrec will exhibit its equipment in a scenario akin to how it would be used in an actual production environment. Demonstrating the Calrec Serial Pro-tocol will be a Ross switcher emulator i, which will allow for visibility into and third-party control.

CALREC DEMOS HYDRA2 COMPATIBILITY

www.calrec.com

www.dpamicrophones.com

At NAB 2013, on booth SU8505, AmberFin, a leading developer of fi le-based media ingest, transcoding and quality control solutions for content owners, broadcasters, sports organizations and post-pro-duction houses will demonstrate how new enhance-ments to its iCR software help meet the new FCC regulation mandating that all video content broad-cast on television in the US now requires captions when it is distributed over Internet Protocol (IP).

AMBERFIN BRINGS CAPTIONS TO NAB

www.amberfi n.com

TRIPPING THE LITE FANTASTIC

www.litepanels.com

DPA Microphones will introduce the d:facto II Vocal Microphone at NAB 2013. With a true studio sound that’s perfect for live music broadcasting, this latest addition to the d:facto line o� ers an extraordinarily natural sound with high separation and extreme SPL handling, giving users unlimited possibilities for their performances. In addition to use with the new DPA wired handle, the d:facto II provides the added benefi t of a state-of-the-art adapter system, which allows for seamless integra-tion with many professional wireless systems.

MYBEST KIT

RTS ADAM

MODULAR

INTERCOM

MATRIX

“Upgrading with the latest RTS products represented the optimal solution. It allowed us to extend and modify the existing installation selectively. That meant we could save time by installing and pro-gramming the update ourselves.

“Ideally, you always want to invest in the technology of tomor-row, but, given the pace of development, that is naturally very diffi cult. With this system, however, we’re as close as possible to the ideal solution. This is tanks to the backwards compatibil-ity inherent in the RTS philosophy.”PAUL DARBYSHIRE, PINEWOODSTUDIOS’BROADCASTDIRECTOR

Litepanels will debut a variety of new LED lighting products at

the 2013 NAB Conven-tion. Litepanels will show production

models of the largest members of its Fresnel fi xture family, the

Inca 12 (tungsten balanced) and Sola 12 (daylight balanced) fi xtures. These cool-running powerhouses combine

“We are extremely proud to have developed an ingenious adapter range that brings the true DPA sound out of a wireless system,” says Christian Poulsen, CEO of DPA Microphones.

the performance of large Fresnel fi xtures with the advantages of LED technology. Both versions supply powerful and controllable illumination comparable to a 2K while using just a small fraction of the energy required by traditional tungsten or daylight Fresnel fi xtures. With custom designed, lightweight Fresnel lenses, they emit even, collimated light that is eas-ily controlled manually or via an integrated DMX module to facilitate remote dimming and fl ood-spot focusing simultaneously.


NAB PRODUCTS

JVC’s new GY-HM70 shoulder mounted camcorder offers a professional appearance together with excel-lent image results in low-light situations, making it ideal for videographers at weddings and other events. Offering superior image stabilisation and loaded with new features for enhanced dependability, it ensures every precious moment is captured in perfect detail.

SDHC/SDXC cards are the recording media, the reliability and cost-effectiveness of which make them the most widely used media by professionals today, and dual card slots offer failsafe shooting features. When the card in slot A is full, or if an error occurs, the

JVC doubles up

Harris takes Volt to Nab

www.harrisbroadcast.com

www.jvcpro.eu

www.ocon.com

Rohde and Schwarz will introduce the new AVHE100 headend solution at NAB, which is now also available for the DVB-S and DVB-S2 satellite standard. What sets this headend apart from con-ventional solutions is its architecture and innova-tive technologies such as R&S CrossFlowIP, which greatly improve failsafety. All major encoding/multiplexing center features are integrated into just a few hardware components, making it one of the most compact systems on the market.

roHde aNd sCHwarz for dVb-s/s2

www.rohde-schwarz.com

Following its CABSAT debut, Harris will unveil its latest software based NEXIO Volt server at NAB this year. The Volt will provide higher channel counts in a compact form factor, while increasing options for robust media storage. Harris Morris, president, Harris Broadcast, said: “The marriage of highly integrated IT platforms with Harris’ proven NEXIO software allows us to deliver the real-world opera-tional benefits that our customers need today.”

camera switches seamlessly and automatically to the card loaded into slot B.

OConor will debut its full range of lens con-trols and camera

accessories for the new Blackmagic Design

Cinema Camera at this year’s NAB. A key to the OCon-

nor accessory family lies in its universality. Each of the

Sell it to me

Playbox

Schedulebox

web-baSed

Schedule

manager

“From start-up TV

to national broad-

casters, customers

want solutions, not

boxes. At one level

expanding our line

of modules is a step

in the right direc-

tion. At another, with

our global 24/7

customer support

and the Broadcast

Systems Group, we

are now providing

customers with an

A-to-Z service for a

wide range of their

technical broadcast

requirements. These

are the driving forces

of our continuing

expansion.”

VASSIL LeFTeROV,

CeO, PLAyBOx

TeChNOLOGy

oCoNor lauNCHes blaCkmagiC aCCessoriesOConnor accessories — from the Universal Camera Baseplate, O-Focus Dual Mini Follow Focus, O-Box WM Mattebox to the O-Grips handgrips, works right out of the box, to line up and interface seamlessly with the Blackmagic Design camera.

Due to their universality, OConnor’s accesso-ries offer a versatile system, ready to work with Blackmagic or the next new camera innovation.


NAB PRODUCTS

POLECAM ZOOMING IN

Digital Nirvana’s latest version of its broadcast monitoring product, Monitor IQ, will make its US debut at NAB. “We’re very excited about this upcom-ing NAB show,” said Hiren Hindocha, president and CEO of Digital Nirvana. “Our products are unique in the market and o� er capabilities and cost savings that customers are demanding.”

Monitor IQ provides centralised management, automatic ad detection,

a director’s audio track, as well as an advanced metadata harvester. Moni-tor IQ combines the functionality of content recording (HD and SD in full resolution), content searching, retrieve and repurposing, web publishing, signal monitoring, air-check logging, archiving, ad verifi cation and tracking, and com-petitive analysis in a scalable networked appliance. www.digital-nirvana.com

DIGITAL NIRVANA DEBUTS LATEST MONITOR IQ

Cinegy will be unveiling its new Cinegy Player at NAB. The player is a new tool for broadcast professionals that demand outstanding quality, precision and playback performance while work-ing with high-end video formats.

Cinegy Player includes native sup-port for most broadcast industry stan-dard video codecs within the two most common containers – MOV and MXF.

Cinegy Player’s performance is beyond anything available on the market so far, using the same underlying technol-ogy as Cinegy’s video server and video production and workfl ow solutions.

As a special NAB treat, Cinegy will be issuing free licences, worth US$129 to the fi rst 1,000 visitors to its stand at the show.www.cinegy.com

CINEGY FREEBIES FOR NEW PLAYER

SSL UPGRADES C10 COMPACT CONSOLESolid State Logic will be showing the latest V4 Software for the C10 HD Compact Broadcast Console at NAB. The new software release introduces a range of features and options that expand the capability of the C10, dem-onstrating the company’s commitment to improvement. The C10 turned the industry upside down by delivering ex-ceptional power at an attractive price point, and the legacy continues with

this new system upgrade.“As the C10’s popularity continues

to grow around the world, we have listened to feedback from our users for the V4 system upgrade,” says Piers Plaskitt, CEO of SSL, Inc. “The new streamlines workfl ow for operators, and we are confi dent this will keep the console in its sector-leading position in the coming years.”www.solidstatelogic.com

Polecam will be at NAB for the fi rst o� cial showing in the US of the Z10 high performance HD zoom lens along with the ZIF controller and wide angle adaptor.

Polecam rigs will be on site featur-ing a host of minicams, DSLR cameras and the larger videocams such as the Canon C300 large sensor camera which will be on display and available for demonstration.

Also on show, the new Polecam Long Head with improved circuitry ideally suited to larger cameras such as the C300 or the Sony NEX 700.The Polecam wire strut system will be shown – an option which enhances performance and provides increased stability. Plus, Polecam can usually be relied on for some fun competitions at trade show events.www.polecam.com

digital studio - april 2013

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