October 2016
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Hitachi Kokusai adopts OB-Box concept for outside broadcast
Hitachi Kokusai Turkey recently delivered a multifunctional outside broadcast ( OB ) vehicle to Thailand ’ s Royal Thai Army Television ( Channel 5 ).
Based around Hitachi ’ s OB-Box concept , the OB vehicle is designed to support productions where a larger OB truck would be impractical or cost-prohibitive . Cemal Yilmaz , general manager , Hitachi Kokusai Turkey , shares with APB the finer details of the OB-Box concept .
Can you elaborate on the OB-Box concept and how it can benefit broadcasters such as Channel 5 ? Cemal Yilmaz : OB-Box is a concept that enables broadcasters to use the latest production technologies in a highly costeffective way .
In essence , Hitachi ’ s OB-Box is a fully featured modular OB facility that is delivered to the customer and then mounted onto a vehicle ’ s chassis using a proprietary fixing kit . This approach significantly reduces the manufacture and delivery time in any market worldwide as it removes the need to source and ship an appropriate vehicle for each customer .
The OB-Box comes in three different configurations , which support four , eight and 12 production cameras . The option of a booth side extension adds further flexibility to unit sizing . In addition , an ability to connect two OB-Box units in a cascade configuration adds more versatility and facilitates many different sizes of OB units up to 20 camera mobile facilities .
Each OB-Box is specified , designed and manufactured at Hitachi ’ s Istanbul-based facility to meet the customer ’ s OB needs . The unit provides all of the video , audio , transmission and infrastructure capabilities needed to create a standalone OB facility . The technical specification of the unit is such that it will support any broadcast signal from serial digital to HD and even 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) production .
Alongside satellite and fibre connectivity , the units integrate powerful Ethernet connectivity , which provides production teams with Internet facilities on-site . At the same time , OB-Box features sophisticated cloud capabilities , which enable users to send 4K / UHD content back to the broadcaster ’ s production centre quickly and easily .
In the face of technologies such as cellular bonded and drone technologies , how can today ’ s OB vans be designed to continue to be relevant to broadcasters , who are increasingly cost-conscious ? Yilmaz : While these new technologies aid broadcasters in increasing the number of production tools available , there still remain
Hitachi ’ s OB-Box concept is essentially a fully featured modular OB facility that is delivered to the customer and then mounted onto a vehicle ’ s chassis using a proprietary fixing kit .
big advantages from having an OB vehicle at the site of the event or news scene .
One feature of OB-Box is its small , lightweight design , which enables users to access locations that are not possible for the larger , traditional type of OB truck .
Instead of one big truck , a broadcaster can also afford to buy two or even three OB-Box units , which can then be used to televise a wide range of smaller sporting , cultural and current affairs events within its region . While the facilities that a big OB provides is required , several OB-Box units can be cascaded together .
One area that Hitachi is looking to support with the OB-Box concept is 4K / UHD production . How do you see this trend developing , and is the OB-Box concept also designed to support IP live production ? Yilmaz : The answer to both questions is yes . From the start , OB-Box has sought to exploit the latest advances in broadcast technologies , including 4K / UHD and IP-based production .
We can demonstrate how , with OB-Box , Hitachi can capture images in the highest resolution and then communicate these pictures back to base quickly and easily . A strong theme running through the OB-Box concept is its ability to create the highest quality broadcast pictures in the most economical and cost-effective way .
1,450 satellites to be launched over the next decade
On average , 145 satellites with launch mass of more than 50kg will be launched annually by 2025 for government agencies and commercial organisations worldwide .
Collectively , the 1,450 satellites over 50kg to be launched over 2016-2025 will represent a market of US $ 250 billion for the space industry to build and launch , predicted consulting and analyst firm Euroconsult in the 19th edition of the Satellites to be built and launched over the next 10 years report .
Of these , government satellites are set to dominate — the 880 satellites to be launched for civilian and military agencies in 60 countries will represent a market of $ 193 billion . Governments dominate the space industry , Euroconsult explained , as established space countries replace and expand their in-orbit satellite systems and more countries acquire their first operational satellite systems .
In the commercial space sector , a total of 560 satellites are expected to be launched by 40 companies over the next decade . Most of these satellites , said Euroconsult , will be for the replacement of the communications capacity currently in orbit .
Over two-thirds of the commercial
Some 1,450 satellites , for both government and commercial purposes , will be launched over the next decade , Euroconsult has predicted .
space market remains concentrated in geostationary orbit , the destination of almost 300 satellites operated by 30 companies for communications and broadcast services . The 11 commercial constellations to be launched into non-geostationary orbits for communications services and Earth observation imagery should represent a market of $ 1.6 billion per year on average over the next decade , Euroconsult concluded .
Eagle News provides bird ’ s-eye view of Mongolian election
For its coverage of Mongolia ’ s parliamentary election this June , Eagle News deployed Aviwest ’ s DMNG PRO180-RA video uplink system , which allowed the local broadcaster to successfully broadcast live HD video of the event over 3G / 4G cellular wireless networks with “ minimal delay ”.
G . Baterdene , chief engineer at Eagle News , explained : “ During the election , speed and efficiency were critical from a broadcast perspective . Our viewers wanted to be kept abreast of the results in real time .
“ Aviwest ’ s DMNG PRO180-RA is a lightweight , compact and dockable solution that made it easy for our news crew to move between various venues and stream live high-quality HD video . At the end of the day , our viewers felt like they were in the heart of the action during the parliamentary voting process .”
Eagle News travelled to 10 different election voting centres throughout the city of Ulaanbaatar , transmitting an up-close look at the Mongolian voting process . After the election was over , the first results were announced by the Mongolian election agency . Leveraging Aviwest ’ s DMNG PRO180-RA system , Eagle News crews provided live coverage of the results , giving viewers immediate access to information .
According to Eagle News , the DMNG PRO180-RA system ’ s ability to automatically detect real-time network capabilities was “ especially useful ” during the election . Through a user-friendly and intuitive touch-screen interface , the broadcaster could easily configure and operate the system , as well as communicate with the studio through the IFB return channel .
The DMNG PRO180-RA features eight 3G / 4G internal modems with internal high-efficiency custom antenna array , a built-in Wi-Fi modem , and two H . 264 video encoders , allowing Eagle News to stream live HD video without latency . Weighing about 1kg , the portable system can be easily connected to any professional camera and mounted via V-Mount , Gold Mount or PAG plates .