First HD Radio transmission for Columbia

With the installation of Broadcast Electronics' HD Radio transmission equipment last month, Tropicana 102.9 FM, owned by Caracol Radio Network, became the first station in Colombia to transmit using HD Radio technology, says Broadcast Buyer.

The installation is part of a test granted under temporary authorisation by the broadcast governing agency in Colombia, and was conducted in the country capital of Bogota.

"We are pleased that a group of the stature of Caracol has chosen to become a leader with HD Radio technology in their country. Combined with the strong activities in Brazil, Mexico and elsewhere, iBiquity's HD Radio technology is becoming the clear choice for Latin America," said Jeff Jury, COO of iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer and licensor of HD Radio technology.

A Bill to amend Jamaica's Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act, which seeks to expand the categories of broadcasting licences available under the Act and to recognise independent programme providers as licensees within the cable framework, was passed on 25 July, states JIS.

According to Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who piloted the Bill, it was previously passed in the Senate in 2006, but was not debated in the Lower House, pending bipartisan support and discussion.

She noted that the lapse of time "has provided a further opportunity to refine this amendment Bill, and also it allows for further consultations within the industry".

PlayBox Technology has partnered with Playout247 to produce an advanced playout operation in the heart of London's media communications industry, reports Broadcast Buyer.

This operation now supports 24 conventional satellite channels and 38 Internet channels at full satellite broadcast quality.

Finding existing IPTV services lacking, Playout247 developed its own content delivery network which, according to Matt Vidmar, chairman and CTO, "is really fine tuned to deliver broadcast quality to broadband homes".