Biz Archives - Page 10 of 21

Commercial Radio Continues to Grow in the U.K., Fueled by Digital Audio Broadcasting

October 8, 1996 by kevin

London, U.K. Commercial radio’s market share in the UK is continuing to grow rapidly, according to a study by the Radio Advertising Bureau. And the study projects continued growth for the next several years, thanks to the introduction of digital broadcasting and an increase in the number of stations.

The report, entitled “The Future of Commercial Radio,” also says that the rate of growth in commercial radio audiences will slow. Commercial radio was introduced in the UK in 1973. Its audience share has doubled in the last ten years, and now stands at 60%. In the first half of 1996, advertising revenues in radio rose by 16%.

Digital broadcasting, being introduced in the UK under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act of 1996, will result in greater choice for listeners. Allocation of new frequencies for digital means that listeners in an average area will have access to eight national BBC stations, eight national commercial stations and 16 local stations.

Filed Under: Biz

Americ Disc Opens Silicon Valley CD/DVD Manufacturing Plant

October 8, 1996 by kevin

Modesto, CA. Montreal-based Americ Disc opened its new manufacturing plant to serve the Silicon Valley area today. It’s a 100,000 sq.ft. facility that will specialize in CD-ROM and DVD production, with an annual capacity of over 40 million discs.

“The compact disc industry, CD-ROMs in particular, is fast-growing and very service-oriented,” commented Pierre-A. Deschenes, President and CEO of Americ Disc. “This new plant brings us closer to our many West Coast customers and strategically positions us to serve the entire American market. It has the equipment and expertise that will make us the leader in a major promising market, DVD.”

Americ Disc already has plants in Drummondville, Quebec (Canada), and Miami, FL, as well as a service center in Minneapolis. With the new plant, the company has a total capacity of over 225 million discs annually, making it one of the two largest independent CD manufacturers in North America.

Filed Under: Biz

Mediatrix Announces High-Quality Audio for Internet Phone System

October 7, 1996 by kevin

Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada). Mediatrix Peripherals, Inc. has announced the Audiotrix Phone®, a high-quality audio device for Internet telephony. The company says that the new device incorporates a dedicated programmable DSP chip for hardware voice compression, supports all legacy audio standards and offers 16-bit CD-quality, full duplex stereo digital audio. It supports Intel’s AC’97 advanced audio specification, and offers support for Microsoft DirectX3 (Direct Sound and Direct 3D Sound).

“We demonstrated the Phone at the Interop DotCom show in Atlanta last month, and the response was overwhelming!” says John Moran, President of Mediatrix. “It’s a much more cost effective solution than traditional office telephone systems, and it is going to be a very hot item.”

The Audiotrix Phone includes everything needed for holding high-quality Internet telephone conversations. The customer receives a bundle that includes an audio adapter and DSP package, a high quality handset (SoundXchange® by InterActive Inc.), and custom CTI software.

Filed Under: Biz, Production

Wheatstone To Unveil New Low-Cost Broadcast Console, Designer Furniture, at Radio World

October 7, 1996 by kevin

Los Angeles, CA. Audioarts Engineering, a division of Wheatstone Corporation, is preparing to introduce a new console at the World Media Expo and NAB Radio Show, which opens on Thursday (Oct.10) at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The Audioarts R-5 on-air radio console will be available in the fourth quarter of this year for a list price of $5,795 (US). It delivers “better than 16-bit digital audio performance,” and it is targeted to small-market applications.

“With the introduction of this less expensive and feature-rich audio console, Audioarts is expanding into new markets, such as college and smaller market radio stations,” says Ray Esparolini, Director of Sales, Wheatstone Corporation.

“The R-5 is very versatile and can be used in many ways, possibly as the main control console in smaller market stations or as the secondary console in medium-sized markets.”

The R-5 is designed for easy installation. Among its features, the R-5 has two pairs of Sifam™ VU meters for stereo program and audition. All switches are LED illuminated for easy identification and low maintenance. It includes Audioarts exclusive Simple Phone™ mix-minus feature, which simplifies a busy station’s multiple call-in operations; full function tape remote controls; and four microphone pre-amps. The new console also provides electronic switching throughout and two inputs per channel.

Also going on display at the Wheatstone booth at Radio World (booth #2043) will be a new line of studio furniture for radio stations, featuring a designer look. The U-shaped counter array of the new line includes a sweeping curve toward the interview area, and an interview counter that is kidney-shaped. The furniture includes a substantial amount of storage space, as well as generous wire raceways, and hinged punch block panels.

“This new line incorporates a highly stylized approach to radio console furniture,” explained Wheatstone President Gary Snow. “The design is based on a curved style of architecture. It includes a beautiful combination of hardwoods and laminates. The cabinets have hardwood rounded corners. It is extremely refined furniture, the kind an architect would select if he or she were designing the interior of a radio station.”

Filed Under: Biz, Pro Audio

Techni-Tool Offers a Specialized Broadcast Engineer’s Tool Kit

October 4, 1996 by kevin

Plymouth Meeting, PA. Techni-Tool has released a tool kit designed specifically for broadcast engineers. The Techni-Tool 8440 Broadcast Engineers’ Kit is a complete 80-piece tool kit packaged in a molded polyethylene case, with a patented comfort handle, interior partitions for test gear, recessed locks and two tool pallets in a molded black poly shell.

The set contains a full selection of pliers, nutdrivers, balldrivers, screwdrivers, strippers, files, hex keys, and lots more. Various optional items such as crimp tools, meters, and an ESD field service kit are available to customize the kit for specific applications. The kit is priced at $385 (US), and the case is available separately for $135 (US). The case is 18″L x 13″W x 6″D.