AV Specialist - Africa Edition Vol 92 - (Page 15)

Distance learning in Africa is geared mainly towards teacher training and the upgrading of teaching skills in primary and secondary schools and the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the few African countries to encourage private training via the airwaves. Success At IBC Brings Megahertz Two Orders From Nigeria Megahertz Broadcast Systems has been commissioned to build two new SNG vehicles for customers in Nigeria. Comfax Nigeria placed both orders on behalf of its clients, Lagos Television and Leda Television, at the IBC convention in September. Both vehicles will be delivered during 2007 and will be used for news gathering and live coverage. The SNG vehicle destined for Lagos Television will be based on an Iveco Daily panel van. Megahertz is handling the coachbuilding and will also install an on-board generator, two Sony DXC-D50W cameras, a Ross Synergy switcher, a pair of DVCAM VTRs with Panasonic editors, a Soundcraft FX16 audio mixer, Paglight lighting kits, Tandberg encoders and decoders, a Gigasat microwave link and an Advent NewSwift 1.5m satellite dish. Megahertz technical director Steve Burgess says: “This is a very sophisticated set-up because the vehicle will have two cameras, vision and audio mixers and on-board editing. It is unusual for a panel van to have this level of equipment installed but we are more than happy to meet the technical challenges on behalf of Comfax and Lagos Television.” The second SNG, destined for Leda, is based on a Mercedes Vito panel van. This will be equipped with a generator, Xicom HPA, Tandberg encoders and decoders and an Advent NewSwift 1.2m satellite dish. Once again, Megahertz is handling the coach-building as well as systems integration. Comfax Nigeria’s relationship with Megahertz began some years ago when both companies were involved in installing an FM station on behalf of Harris. Hassan Fawaz, director of Comfax Nigeria, says: “Leda owns a television station in Lagos that we are executing on a turnkey basis. While I was at IBC, I saw an SNG vehicle on the Megahertz stand and realised it would be ideal for Leda’s requirements. The station owner also liked the idea, so I bought it on Leda’s behalf. The beauty of this vehicle is that it is very compact and incredibly simple to operate.” 15 Netia enables broadcast for social change Netia has announced that its Radio-Assist range of digital audio software programmes is being used to launch a new radio project within the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC . Radio Concordia was established to provide religious programming for the South Kivu region while raising the profile of the area’s poor. “The installation of Netia's Radio-Assist here in South Kivu will be a first-of-a-kind achievement for the region, and we're working hard to make this project a reality,” said the Rev. JeanPaul Bahati, the Catholic priest whose mission led him to in the DRC's Bukavu Archdiocese and to the Radio Concordia project. “Radio-Assist will give us the tools necessary to create and broadcast educational programmes that we feel will make a significant social impact here. Because the software is easy-touse and has few technical demands, it will simplify production of programming and eventually enable us to offer members of the community the opportunity to contribute to local programme content.” Bahati studied theology in Rome, followed by courses in journalism at Rome's Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, where he earned a degree in social communication. During the three years he spent working as an immigration editor at Italy's RAI Italian Radio and Television , he became familiar with Netia's Radio-Assist. RAI has counted on Netia technology for its most critical radio operations since 1998, and now Bahati is bringing the same reliable performance of Radio-Assist to the DRC to support and integrate the country's outcasts. The Radio-Assist 7.5 range of digital audio software programmes covers the entire operation of a radio station, from production to broadcast, including acquisition, sound-file editing, commercial and music production, newsroom system, scheduling, multicasting, administration, and more. Bahati and his colleagues received the necessary governmental authorization to install a local radio station and, pending sufficient funding, plan to launch their Gospel-based broadcasts for residents of Bukavu Archdiocese.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AV Specialist - Africa Edition Vol 92

Larger than life
Mediatech Aftrica shines bright in local market
HD camcorder runs with the wild dogs
Divers Down pursues tapeless workflow
Broadcast industy feedback

AV Specialist - Africa Edition Vol 92