Astrium Technology Makes Sky Sports News HD Channel Possible
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Friedrichshafen - Since December last year the new Sky Sports News HD channel has been using Astrium Services' Satellite News Gathering vehicles (SNGs) and SKYWAN technology to obtain live content and transmit it to the Sky studio for editing and broadcasting to German and Austrian viewers. This technology is part of the Astrium Services' ND Satcom product range.
The SNGs' contribution and transmission capabilities are operated by remote control from the hub station. The SKYRAY Light antenna system offers local or remote one-touch operation for automatic pointing with no need for line-up procedures. IP connectivity to the studio is established using Astrium Services' SKYWAN technology.
"The simplicity and reliability of this system requires minimal technical know-how, thus letting our 22 reporters concentrate on what's important - getting sports news out there" comments Mr. Roman Steuer, Senior Vice President Sky Sports News HD.
Sky's 6 new SNGs are continuously on the road in Germany and Austria, pledged to being the first on location when sports news happens. The channel is on air 24/7, covering over 30 different sports with 200 employees committed to bringing sports news, results and background stories to their audience.
The fleet of SNGs is monitored and controlled from the hub station using Astrium's Media Fleet Manager, an easy-to-use management tool to plan, schedule and book DVB and IP uplink sessions in one system. A central database stores all events and bookings and the resource management screen displays the status of available transponders and stations. Support of DVB and IP transmission enables Sky to optimize its production workflow. The Media Fleet Manager considerably simplifies the scheduling and management of transmission resources within Sky's fully automated SNG fleet.
Through its ND SatCom product range, Astrium Services is a leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT, broadcast, government and defence communication networks and ground station solutions. Its innovative technologies are deployed in broadcast and media, enterprise and telecom environments, as well as government and defence, worldwide. The ND SatCom team and technologies hold more than 30 years of experience in providing a reliable source of secure, comprehensive and tailored engineered solutions satellite networks and systems.
About Astrium
Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and the third in the world. In 2011, Astrium had a turnover close to Euros5 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide, mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Astrium is the sole European company that covers the whole range of civil and defence space systems and services.
Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure; Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment; Astrium Services for comprehensive fixed and mobile end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security and broadcast satellite communications equipment and systems, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide.
Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group - comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter - generated revenues of Euros 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of over 133,000.
www.astrium.eads.net
Press contact:
ND SatCom GmbH
Cathrin Rautenberg
International Sales & Marketing
Phone: +49 7545 939 7034
E-Mail: cathrin.rautenberg@ndsatcom.com
www.ndsatcom.com
