Arqiva has confirmed that the Digital Switch Over process for the Durris transmitter group, serving Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, has been completed successfully. The three public-service digital TV multiplexes are now being transmitted at high power from Durris and, for the first time, from 13 relay sites at Balgownie, Banff, Boddam, Braemar, Brechin, Ellon, Gartley Moor, Gourdon, Lumphanan, Peterhead, Rosehearty, Tomintoul and Tullich. Following switch-off of the BBC Two analog signal on September 1, 2010, the remaining analog signals for BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five were switched off by 00:01 on Wednesday, September 15th. The high-power digital signals for the D3&4 and BBC B multiplexes entered official service at Durris at 05:50. At Durris, the commercial multiplexes SDN, Arqiva A and Arqiva B will retain their pre-switchover parameters until a later technical event in 2011. A wideband aerial continues to be required to receive all six multiplexes until that time. Arqiva is the transmission provider for all terrestrial TV and most radio services in the UK.



Perform Group, a digital media specialist in the sports and entertainment sector, has selected ATEME, an H.264 video compression solution provider, to deploy a set of Kyrion HD and SD encoders and professional decoders for a new IP contribution. ATEME's Kyrion video encoders are designed for a wide variety of live broadcast and contribution applications including production dailies, sports and news gathering, as well as, primary distribution. Based on ATEME's efficient H.264 compliant codec, Kyrion encoders can deliver high quality SD and HD video streams for broadcast contribution over IP networks at low bit rates. Perform Group produces and delivers video content across all platforms on behalf of rights holders and media owners enabling them to place, manage and monetise their content across mobile, broadband and TV. The Perform Group contribution service is using ATEME's Kyrion video encoders, AM2101 HD and AS 2204 SD, to manage live contribution via a 100 Mbps leased line.
GlobeCast, a France Telecom company, and Shanghai Media Group, a leading media company in China, have reached an agreement to jointly provide a host of production and transmission services to serve the needs of international broadcasters and to establish a video fiber link into and out of China. The goal of the agreement is to combine the best of SMG’s domestic Chinese capabilities with GlobeCast’s worldwide network and expertise so as to provide one-stop services to Chinese and international broadcasters based in China. SMG and GlobeCast cooperation includes developing business with news and sports channels, rightsholders, entertainment content producers, and Business TV customers. SMG will provide in-house equipment and facilities in China, including ENG kit and crews, SNG trucks & flyaways, OB vans, tape playout feedpoints in Shanghai & Beijing, domestic fiber links and route switching in China, as well as uplink and downlink transmission solution. A new fiber link has been established between SMG’s PoP (point of presence) in Shanghai and GlobeCast’s PoP in Hong Kong. From there, GlobeCast will provide customers with access to its international fiber network, which has points of presence in Asia, America, Africa and Europe as well as access to its 12 teleports worldwide for satellite delivery. The physical link between the two companies’ facilities will also be backed up by coordination of services and bookings, allowing for seamless delivery of services within and outside of China. GlobeCast and SMG will also build a digital file transmission services for domestic use within China, utilizing GlobeCast technologies and SMG’s network resources. GlobeCast’s Content Exchange solution, a powerful content management tool will make up part of the network. It will allow content producers, news agencies, editors and subtitling houses to come under one platform to exchange and share audiovisual files of any file size and in any format from any broadband connection and deliver the final product to the studios with ease.

GlobeCast has also established a new Point of Presence (PoP) in Warsaw for its fiber network, the GlobeCast Backbone Network. This new terrestrial link allows GlobeCast to offer hybrid satellite-fiber solutions in Eastern and Central Europe and to easily transport audiovisual content between this region and the rest of the world. Warsaw is the 33rd point on the GCBN, which today spans more than 92,000km of DTM fiber linking Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. This new fiber link from Paris (Telehouse 2) to the Pkin technical center in Warsaw will open a wealth of new possibilities in this market, most notably the easy distribution of foreign channels in HD by Polish cable operators. This new link will also offer the many Polish channels looking to increase their audience increased access to GlobeCast teleports and satellite platforms around the world, including Hot Bird. GlobeCast can now receive a channel’s signal directly in Warsaw, and deliver that channel to its Paris teleport for broadcast on Hot Bird or any other of its satellite platforms in the world. In this way, GlobeCast allows Polish channels to reach Polish communities — in particular in North America and Canada.



Oregon Networks has announced imminent launch of the Onyx STB manufactured by Korea-based Consumer Electronics brand Digital Streams. The new device offers a simple way for consumers to stream UK's popular Internet video services and music, as well as accessing photo sharing and social networking sites on their televisions. To offer consumers the maximum freedom of choice, the media player allows access to multiple branded content outlets via a slick and animated user interface. These include catch-up TV, leading movie rental services and User Generated Content, such as YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food, and various video podcasts. Other widget based apps include Facebook, Twitter, BBC News, BBC Sports and Accedo FunSpot games. The device provides access to millions of videos at any given time, with much of the content free of charge, and blockbuster movies shortly available for instant streaming via subscription or pay-per-view purchase models. The Onyx global content search capability is activated through a single click of the remote control, and includes options for context-sensitive searching of video on the Internet, as well as on Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) guidelines-compliant home network devices. The Onyx-powered DPS 1000 STB from Digital Streams is a dedicated Internet video streaming device, featuring ultra-compact design, simplified set up process, comprehensive media format support and energy efficiency.