Press Release: Spescom Media IT’s take on the upcoming MediaTech 2011
7 June 2011
The 2011 NAB (National Association of Broadcasters)show in Las Vegas in April offered insight into current broadcast technologies and trends driving them, and these are very similar to what Spescom Media IT believes will be on show at the local MediaTech 2011 event in July 2011. The international focus on the continuing migration to HD, the need to repurpose content for multiplatform delivery, and for broadcasters to begin building a ‘new media’
presence has particular relevance in South Africa.
Spescom Media IT, a Jasco company with a more than two-decade track record in supporting, supplying and delivering turnkey solutions for the local and regional broadcast industries, will be showcasing a number of solutions – like its ViewCast streaming media appliances – that provide some answers to the current challenges facing local broadcasters.
Says Thomas Makore, MD of Spescom Media IT: “While we don’t have anything like the bandwidth available in the US and Europe, South African broadcasters are now positioning themselves to move to IP TV, exploiting the demand for content on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, and via Internet. To meet the needs of local broadcasters, we have entered a partnership with ViewCast for its range of streaming media appliances.”
Local bandwidth limitations (speed, coverage and cost) mean broadcasters can only do some of what their international counterparts can – like stream a live broadcast to the broadcaster’s server system on a dedicated network for download by users who log into the server, rather than stream the broadcast live directly to users. The ViewCast range of solutions — the Niagara streaming appliances (including portable solutions), Osprey video capture cards and VMp digital media management systems – simplify the complex workflows required for the Web-based streaming of news, sports, music and other video content to computers and mobile devices for not just broadcasters but businesses and public sector organisations that wish to exploit current technologies to more effectively reach, communicate with and expand their audiences.
Says Makore: “The ViewCast solutions enable easy transformation, management and delivery of digital media over enterprise, broadband and mobile networks. They include powerful easy-to-use digital media management tools as well as professional-grade HD streaming systems that are tailored to meet the needs — and budgets — of a broad range of organisations., ViewCast’s solutions are proven, robust, reliable and cutting edge. and their entry into sub Saharan Africa is well timed.”
Spescom Media IT has also secured an agency for Thomson Video Networks products, becoming the vendor’s SLA partners in sub-Saharan Africa. As a worldwide leader in compression systems for satellite, terrestrial, cable, IPTV, mobile TV, and Web streaming, Thomson Video Networks helps broadcasters deliver superior quality video to anything from small handheld devices to large 3D high-definition screens, with the lowest bandwidth to ensure a profitable business model. A trusted supplier with more than 20% of the active channels deployed worldwide, the range of Thomson Video Networks products supply a broad range of needs, from hybrid multiformat compression systems to contribution links for content exchange networks.
Says Makore: “Through its relationship with Thomson Video Networks, Spescom Media IT is responsible for the local support of the MultiChoice satellite and mobile TV head end platforms.”
Makore believes 2011 will continue to see evolutionary changes in technology and within the broadcasting industry. The ubiquity of new technologies and the ease with which consumers are adopting new media platforms will see demand for content repackaging and different delivery methods grow.
“Broadcasters know their business models and technology platforms will need to adapt to meet new demands – Spescom Media IT has the technology and expertise to assist,” Makore concludes.
About Spescom Media IT
Spescom Media IT is a Jasco group company. Jasco’s core focus is to deliver integrated business communication solutions that enhance the way businesses communicate with their customers, leveraging voice, video and data technologies through its various ICT and Telecommunications business units.
The deep technical expertise and considerable industry know-how housed in these business units combine to deliver world-class solutions including integrated contact centre platforms and applications, a range of voice application technologies, as well as telecommunications, connectivity and broadcast solutions. At Jasco we are positioned to leverage current and future technology trends and developments to meet the dynamically shifting requirements of our customers and ensure their continued competitiveness.
For more information visit us at Jasco at
www.jasco.co.za and Spescom at www.spescom.com
