The SABC has implemented Dalet 5.0, a digital radio broadcasting solution powered by Sybase's Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) database, to run programming on 12 of the stations in the national radio network which reaches an average daily audience of more than 20 million people. The system is used to format music, news and advertising content across the stations.
It also runs the national broadcaster's external radio service, Channel Africa, which comprises four language services, in English, French, Portuguese and Kiswahili, and reaches millions of listeners throughout Africa via shortwave - and the world via streaming media.
The SABC's radio programmes are broadcast internally and internationally on nearly 600 FM, medium wave and short wave transmitters, and through broadcasting facilities and studios that are among the most modern in the world. Transmitter control and studio centres are located throughout the country.
"The SABC's return on investment in content production is maximised by the solution's flexibility and efficiency in reformatting content for radio," says Theuns Nel, radio digital systems manager at the SABC. "By automating the technical complexities involved in content conversion and distribution, we are cutting down on the amount of time spent on programming while simplifying the process."
The Dalet application, which has an open architecture that interfaces easily with third-party systems, and the embedded Sybase ASE 11.9.2 database enable integrated access to the SABC's disparate back-end systems.
This provides a content production solution that integrates multimedia and multichannel authoring, asset management and multiple platform delivery tools. From acquisition to editing, publishing and broadcasting of content, the solution enables the SABC to benefit from a digital radio content factory.
Dalet's platforms interface with other system databases via XML, enabling them to communicate and share content. The choice of XML as a standard makes it easy to connect with most existing systems. Other Dalet tools allow editors to access newswires automatically and radio station programmers can feed the audio database directly from CD jukeboxes.
"The solution enables media organisations such as the SABC to reap the benefits of digitisation," says Kim Beetge, software sales manager at Eminently More Suitable (EMS), the local Dalet representative. "Content management systems facilitate workflow and simplify delivery across multiple media. The net result for media organisations is improved productivity and greater audience reach, in keeping with Dalet's 'produce once, broadcast many' philosophy."
Beetge notes that electronic media are becoming increasingly digital, enabling broadcasters and content providers to benefit in many ways.
Storage, management and retrieval of assets can be simplified through the use of database management systems. Integrated production tools and digital networks enable producers to manipulate multimedia content and collaborate with others.
Nel says the main advantages of the solution include the shared storage of sound files, and the fact that tape is no longer required as all editing is done on screen. Communication managers can easily synchronise with the database, allowing them to provide the press with background information and to respond quickly and accurately to ad hoc media questions.
"Where news content is concerned, for example, the automating of all technical details allows reporters to focus on producing quality content, and ensures that listeners nationwide have access to the latest and most comprehensive news."
Databases located in each province ensure that all stations can run independently. A shared database is located in Johannesburg, which allows for the sharing of files that are of national interest. Future plans for the system include a music database which will provide the same information for music compilers throughout the country.
Beetge says the SABC first opted for the solution because of its newsroom's requirements for file sharing on a national basis. Use of the system was expanded as a result of the ease of programming.
"The solution allows programmers to acquire and edit sound files more efficiently, it simplifies programming tasks with integrated music scheduling and accurate logging, and it minimises downtimes with a variety of backup and redundancy options. It also facilitates library management and has advanced searching capabilities."
Dalet has a worldwide partnership with Sybase, and Sybase's database management systems have been incorporated into many of the multimedia broadcasting solutions developed by Dalet.
"Sybase's ASE delivers rich database functionality, including full transaction processing, stored procedures, row-level locking, and Java support, but it still has a small footprint and is virtually maintenance free," says Sybase SA marketing manager Julie Tomlinson. "It is highly scalable and suited to the requirements of complex environments such as that of a national broadcast network."
Sybase ASE supports the data processing needs of traditional online transaction processing and the complex data manipulation needs of decision support systems. ASE also enables the management of transaction-intensive applications and data.
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