News Broadcasting
Red Bee Media builds HD playout solution
MUMBAI: Red Bee Media has been contracted to playout the BBC’s High Definition (HD) technical trial that will run from mid-2006. The trial will be transmitted from the Broadcast Centre in West London, where Red Bee Media has installed a dedicated HD playout system, as part of its commitment to providing broadcasters globally with the most advanced services and technology,
The BBC’s trial HD service will be broadcast for nine to 12 months from mid 2006 on digital satellite and cable. It will also be tested on digital terrestrial on a technical trial from a London transmitter. Trial content on all plaftorms will consist of simulcasts of major events and some repeats of landmark productions, states an official release.
Red Bee Media CTO Chris Howe said: “Red Bee Media has been testing HD technologies for the past year and a half. Where we could, we future-proofed our Broadcast Centre when it was built two and a half years ago to accommodate HD services. Red Bee Media offers an end to end HD service and is excited to be playing out BBC’s HD trial”.
Red Bee Media’s new HD playout solution has been integrated by Television Systems Ltd and includes:
· Omneon HD servers
· Colledia and Omnibus software
· Probel HD mixers
· Axon Dolby E audio processing
· Pixel Power character generation
· Screen Subtitle encoder
· Miranda branding technology
Red Bee Media transmitted its first HD broadcast from its Broadcast Centre to IBC in Amsterdam in September 2004. It then transmitted a specially crafted HD DVB test channel simultaneously in Mpeg 2 and Mpeg 4 from its Broadcast Centre to Amsterdam throughout IBC2005.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
