Newsforce, the global satellite news-gathering company, has installed two Tadiran Scopus MPEG compression products on its remote broadcasting vehicle in South Africa.
The mobile system is used to uplink live and recorded video and audio footage collected from around the country and can be linked to satellite networks across the globe, including DSTV`s direct to home satellite bouquets.
Newsforce provides a complete operations and customised delivery service as a global communications operator - from live coverage to permanent services - from strategic offices throughout the world. With France Telecom as one of its shareholders, Newsforce is a part of the vast GlobeCast network. It is fast becoming a major player in the multi-million dollar global broadcasting industry.
Pictures collected on site (on videotape or live camera position) are equalised to the correct broadcast standard and compressed to the preassigned bitrate for transmission. Newsforce uses an 8Mbit feed that produces consistently sharper results than analogue TV signals.
"We`re currently in a test phase that enables our engineers to find the most cost-effective mix of digital encoding and decoding products. It also enables local broadcasters to assess the value of satellite transmission for their contribution feeds," says Newsforce group technical director Geoffrey Mann.
The E110 encoders and IRD decoders, supplied by local digital video specialist Graphic Image Technologies (GIT), have been leased to Newsforce for the six-month duration of its tests with the option of buying the equipment should the trials prove successful.
"South Africa has a well established terrestrial broadcasting system which is set to be replaced by more flexible digital broadcasting technology," says Mann. "South African broadcasters have expressed sufficient interest in satellite broadcasting technology to warrant the introduction of a mobile unit in the country."
Mann adds that digital compression has become the accepted format for satellite broadcast signals. "Combined with the remarkable development in MPEG-2 hardware in the last 10 months, we decided to move from fixed bit-rate transmission to variable bit-rate MPEG-2 signals, building on MPEG-2 as the digital compression standard," he says.
Given the variety of products on the market, Newsforce conducted a global test of equipment that fit its specific profile.
"In our business and especially our mobile business, we wanted compact products with little or no weight restrictions for the limited real estate we have at our disposal," says Mann. "Scopus offered the only solution we were completely satisfied with."
Scopus clients have the added benefit of customised after-sales service through the company`s global network of local agents and distribution offices.
"International-standard backup and support are part of the deal," says Mann. "In GIT we have a full-time, readily available resource of expert technicians ready to answer any questions we may have with respect to our Scopus equipment."
Should its tests prove successful, Newsforce may look to standardise its equipment worldwide, opening the window to a lucrative distribution channel in South Africa.
"Scopus is one of the best on the market," says Mann. "With a contract to supply 18 mobile satellite trucks for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the future`s looking up."
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