Harris expands its activity in new geographic markets

Among the most numerous projects, some of them very ambitious from a technological point of view, that Harris has announced at IBC 2011, the communications tower and playout and signal distribution center that Policom is developing in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, stands out for the celebration of the 2017 Asian Games.

Harris Morris, president of Harris Broadcast Communications, has assured in his speech that his company is facing the difficult times of the international economy with very good solvency, expanding its activity in all corners of the planet. Morris gave the example of Russia, where they have just opened a headquarters in Moscow, with a growth for the company of 50%, or Spain, with a growth of 30%.

With a curious press conference structure organized in several groups according to the area of ​​interest, Harris has announced some of the most interesting projects in which he is participating.

Among the most ambitious are the communications tower and playout and signal distribution center that Policom is developing in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, in preparation for the 2017 Asian Games.

Harris has also announced that Mediatec Broadcast Sweden will install the Harris Selenio media convergence platform into its video headend (VHE) solution for two high definition (HD) IPTV channels operating from its regional facility in Helsinki, Finland.

Mediatec's Helsinki facility provides HD encoding and broadcast services for a news, current affairs and entertainment channel and for an independent film channel operated by one of Finland's leading private broadcasters. Selenium helps reduce maintenance needs considerably, while minimizing the need for rack space within the master control.

Debuting for the first time at IBC, Selenio is capable of supporting IP and baseband signals using an ultra-compact, energy-efficient 3RU modular rack with 14 interchangeable slots that is useful for combining multiple workflow functions in a broadcast or new media environment. In a mission critical national VHE environment Selenium is ideal for combining specialized cards for encoders, multiplexers, DVB-T2 adaptation and embedded control and supervision.

Mediatec will also install a Harris Videotek VTM4140 system, which includes an eye diagram video input module and an advanced audio analysis option to provide quality control on encoded HDTV signals. Swedish systems integrator DiViTec Digital Video Technology will supply all equipment.

Mediaset

Separately, Harris has expanded a Platinum integrated routing solution for EI Towers (EIT) by adding frame synchronizers in each input module on the router, representing an industry first that helps simplify the operation of EIT master control.

EIT, Italian operator of the Mediaset group, will be in charge of central switching for all the Mediaset group's contribution signals. The initial deployment of the integrated router at EIT two years ago, which was built around five Platinum routers, was the first implementation of Platinum mux-demux audio technology and the first-ever integration of mux-demux audio within a broadcast router.

Harris Platinum is the only router on the market that supports internal frame synchronization. The new EIT router eliminates approximately 400 external frame synchronizers and minimizes the need for cabling, rack space, maintenance costs, complexity and power consumption. EIT estimates a 70% reduction in electrical consumption and has reduced approximately 230 rack equipment units to just 32.

EIT's 512x512 core router is now complete with internal frame-synchronizing audio de-embedders on each input and internal keyers on each output. This allows the Platinum router to process and route signals between discrete and embedded audio within the same frame, regardless of source or destination.

EIT also uses a Platinum 1024x128 router configured with eight integrated Harris viewers, centralizing signal monitoring functionality within the routing solution. The complete installation includes the Harris 6800+ processing node platform, Videotex TVM series waveform monitors for test and measurement, and IconLogo channel branding products. Among other applications, the Harris CCS Navigator network monitoring and control system also provides graphical navigation and device configuration.

Finally, Harris has provided a complete integrated content workflow solution to Bid Shopping, owner of several broadcast channels, including Bid, the first live auction television channel in the United Kingdom.

The integrated content workflow solution will allow Bid Shopping, formerly known as Sit-Up TV, to centralize the production and management of its digital media assets across its three TV channels (Bid, Pricedrop and Speed ​​Auction) and Pricedropper, its only online channel, essential to its channel-based business strategy. The complete solution includes Harris Nexio AMP broadcast servers, Invenio digital asset management equipment, ADC automation, and Broadcast Master sales and scheduling software.

Harris has also been awarded the contract for an integrated solution for Sky News Arabia, the new 24-hour news channel in Arabic. The integrated solution will form part of the broadcast automation facility at the broadcaster's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Construction of a new service, the first of its kind for Sky News in the Middle East, is already underway within the twofour54 Middle Zone and will launch in Spring 2012.

El contrato incluye algunas de las últimas prestaciones de producto de la cartera de software de Harris. La automatización de emisión Harris ADC ofrece a los operadores un funcionamiento estándar y estabilidad a la vez que llega a nuevos niveles de integración con la serie de programación y gestión de medios Harris Broadcast Master. Esto se consigue por medio de mensajería de protocolo BXF, que automáticamente envía los cambios de último momento y los actualiza por medio de la automatización ADC. Sky News Arabia también instalará software Harris Invenio Motion para la gestión de medios digitales.

Soluciones completas

At IBC, Harris is showing a complete business solution adapted to new business models under the premises of ease of use, total integration and deployment in order to help maximize workflow efficiency. Harris Corporation comes to Amsterdam with a strong vision and integrated workflow solutions to help broadcasters, cable networks and new media companies improve operational efficiency and return on investment by simplifying the use and mobility of content between different departments.

Harris demuestra así una fuerte integración entre sus propuestas de automatización, gestión de activos digitales, y ventas con una solución que integr de manera eficiente los flujos de trabajo empresariales y técnicas de automatización y producción de próxima generación. El objetivo es distribuir eficientemente y administrar el contenido, los recursos y automatizando al máximo los flujos de trabajo.

Harris muestra en su stand los sistemas de automatización ADC y D-Series, la solución de gestión de activos digitales Invenio y los sistemas de programación y ventas Broadcast Master, Landmark y Vision, cuya combinación crea procesos de flujo de trabajo más eficientes y maximiza los recursos.

In addition, Harris also offers interoperable products, systems and services that provide workflow solutions for broadcast, cable, satellite and out-of-home networks. The Harris One solution offers, in an integrated and cost-effective way, the possibility of establishing advanced workflows for new content distribution business models.