S&T and Magna Systems develop and install system upgrade for Freeview Australia Electronic Programme Guide
S&T and its Australian partner Magna Systems and Engineering today announced that they have developed and installed a major system upgrade to the Freeview Australia EPG system, with Magna providing local support and systems testing for the installation and S&T providing new customised versions of software.
David Cutts, Managing Director at S&T, said, “The upgrade was commissioned by Freeview to improve the performance and user experience of the EPG with modifications to the MHEG receiver application and relocation of the schedule data processing to a single data centre. The TSBroadcaster2 carousel systems at all the broadcaster playout centres have also been upgraded to support new features. HWW, Australia's leading provider of TV Metadata, which collates the schedule data from all networks, have also assisted with consolidation of similar programme schedules for different markets.”
The Freeview EPG, which has been on-air since July 2010, provides eight-day listings for all Freeview channels as well as integrated PVR support with series links and accurate recording.
Andrew Robertson, Freeview’s consultant engineer said, “S&T and Magna Systems have successfully and promptly delivered this complex project resulting in a better user experience and significant performance efficiencies. The upgraded Freeview EPG is a solution that we are very pleased to have had implemented by S&T and Magna. We expect to see more Freeview EPG receiver products enter the market this year as a result.”
Freeview’s EPG system is the most complex MHEG application system delivered outside of the UK, managing schedule data presentation as well as integrated PVR booking, series links and accurate recording, for multiple broadcasters across multiple states and time zones.
David Bowers, CEO of Magna Systems said, “We are delighted to have completed this major upgrade for Freeview Australia as it has addressed new requirements from the Freeview broadcasters for an increased number of unique markets, whilst also delivering an improved user experience with faster performance and improved operational reliability.”
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About Magna Systems and Engineering
Started in 1968, Magna Systems & Engineering is a seasoned company, originating from the early days of television in Australia bringing together high-level expertise from senior engineering professionals. The company has a very select position in the marketplace of suppliers to the broadcast & communications industry.
Magna Systems & Engineering supplies individual products to plug into existing systems from a prestige range of over 40 quality brands and operates in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia with a common philosophy for all entities “a company big on experience but with the attention to detail of a specialist operation.”
The engineering and operation expertise of Magna Systems & Engineering extends to broadcasting, telecommunications, satellite earth stations, post-production facilities and station automation. Magna Systems & Engineering also provides complete service support for all hardware and software products supplied either as one-off or complete turnkey systems.
For sales information contact David Bowers
Magna Systems and Engineering
Address: Unit 2/28 Smith Street, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9417 1111
Fax: +61 2 9417 2394
sales@magnasys.tv
www.magnasys.tv
About S&T
Strategy & Technology Ltd (S&T) is a UK-based company with offices in Colorado, USA and Hong Kong. It has been developing and implementing technology based on international standards in digital TV since 1996. S&T is the leading independent company in the industry sector that supports the MHEG interactive TV and standard worldwide and is the market leader in the supply of data carousel generation, playout and monitoring systems for interactive television. S&T was been awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade in 2010. More information can be found at www.s-and-t.com.
Contact:
David Cutts,
Managing Director
david.cutts@s-and-t.com
Tel. +44 (0)207 183 1500
Press and PR contact:
Jennie Evans
Manor Marketing
jennie@manormarketing.tv
Tel. +44 (0)1635 44991
About Freeview
Launched in 2008, Freeview is the free digital television service in Australia. It comprises all the channels from Australia’s free-to-view broadcasters. Freeview encourages Australians to switch to free-to-view digital television by promoting its benefits including more channels, more moments, better picture and superior sound, for free. Freeview is not-for-profit and owned by ABC, SBS, Network Seven, Nine Network, Network Ten, Prime, Southern Cross and WIN.
See www.freeview.com.au/epg for full details of the Freeview EPG.
PR contact –
Simon Lloyd
Access PR
simon@accesspr.com.au
Tel. +61 2 9292 7003
About Andrew Robertson
Andrew Robertson BE(elec) MBA is an independent broadcast engineering consultant based in Sydney. With more than 25 years’ experience in both free-to-air and pay TV, Andrew has delivered major broadcast engineering projects in Australia, Hong Kong, India and Taiwan.
Contact: andrew.robertson@kanda.net.au
Tel. +61 400 661 827
For more press information contact:
Salvatore T. Di Muccio
Well Above
salvatore@wellabove.com
Tel. +61 412 64 99 64