MIAMI—Spanish Broadcasting System has announced that LaMusica, its popular audiovisual entertainment app, has begun live streaming as LaMusica TV on The Roku Channel.

LaMusica TV offers a 24/7 slate of programming including live streaming of SBS's top-ranked radio shows, popular hosts and iconic personalities, SBS reported.

“This groundbreaking connected TV distribution partnership marks a significant milestone for our company as we expand access to our growing portfolio of audiovisual content, hosted by our recognized team of popular personalities, to millions of Hispanics nationally,” SBS Chairman and CEO Raúl Alarcón said. “We’re building on LaMusica's position as the No. 1-ranked Latino music app through live streaming a broad and unique mix of digital video offerings on the nation's top-ranked TV streaming platform. This partnership reinforces LaMusica's evolution into a premier audiovisual entertainment destination and sets the stage for the dramatic growth of our audience. We look forward to working with Roku to expand the reach of LaMusica’s award-winning content while simultaneously introducing the Roku platform to a new universe of Latino viewers.”

More specifically, LaMusica TV debuts with a variety of its perennially popular live on-air offerings including “El Vacilón de la Mañana” from WSKQ-FM in New York; the “Raúl Brindis Show” from KROI-FM in Houston; “Alex Sensation’s MegaMix” from WXDJ-FM in Miami; popular personalities El Terrible, Eddie One and Chiquilín from KLAX-FM and KXOL-FM in Los Angeles; as well as a selection of the ever-popular “El Despelote,” “El Circo,” “La Guerrilla,” “Whatsup?” and “Mega Reguero” programs from SBS's roster of formats in Puerto Rico.

LaMusica TV ultimately will also premiere SBS's live concert series, including major events such as its Calibash, MiamiBash and MegaMezcla venue performances, as well as its unplugged artist showcases, SBS reported.

“The addition of LaMusica TV to our platform strengthens our position as a destination for inclusive and relevant entertainment,” said Jennifer Vaux, vice president, content acquisition and programming at Roku. “As our audience continues to grow and diversify, we're thrilled to offer even more content that serves our Spanish-speaking viewers.”

MIAMI—Spanish Broadcasting System has announced the sale of its Mega TV business and certain associated real estate to Voz Media for a total acquisition price of $64 Million. 

The transaction is expected to close upon Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval.

"I am very proud of the nearly two decades of award-winning programming, community dedication and industry accomplishments achieved by Mega TV, a network operation that succeeded in forging its own unique position among Hispanic viewers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico," commented Raúl Alarcón, chairman and CEO of SBS.

"I am especially pleased to leave this unique asset in the hands of a dedicated Hispanic owner, Orlando Salazar, the founder of Voz Media, who will continue the expansion of Mega TV and honor its unwavering commitment to faithfully serve our nation's burgeoning Latino population,” he continued. “Minority ownership of the media, and the opportunities it affords to our nation's fastest-growing constituency, is a critical component in guaranteeing a stable, profitable and promising future for America."

"It is an honor for Voz Media to be selected to continue the work and tradition started by Raúl Alarcón and Mega TV in the Spanish language television media market," stated Orlando Salazar, founder of Voz Media. "We take seriously the challenge of moving Mega TV forward in both reach and content, as we continue to serve Spanish speakers across the United States."

Voz Media currently has offices and studios in Dallas as well as in Miami and Madrid. Voz Media provides alternative news and content for Latinos in the U.S., as well as Latin America, that reflect the core Hispanic values of hard work, faith and commitment to family.

MIAMI—Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc, (SBS) (OTC Pink: SBSAA), has announced its expansion into digital marketing with the launch of its newly created pure-play digital marketing department, DigIdea, Digital Marketing Solutions. 

The addition of DigIdea Digital Marketing Solutions to the SBS family will make SBS a one-stop shop for a business' complete marketing needs, the company said. 

SBS already has TV, radio and streaming operations with Mega TV, Spanish language radio stations in 8 markets, LaMusica and SBS Entertainment.

DigIdea's full-service digital solutions will include search marketing, display, ott/ctv, email, and social.  

"The Digidea initiative will provide expertly crafted and creative digital marketing solutions to ad agencies and clients seeking to reach the U.S. Hispanic consumer. Our Company's 40-years' experience in serving Latino audio fans gives us an enormous leg up in providing the necessary knowhow, tools, and staff to guarantee effective and immediate results for our digital clients." stated SBS Chairman and CEO, Raúl Alarcón.

DigIdea is slated to launch October 2022 starting in L.A., followed by N.Y., Puerto Rico and Florida. 

MUNICH, Germany--Three major Australian broadcast organizations recently conducted trials of DVB-T2, the next-generation of the Digital Video Broadcasting terrestrial standard.

Rohde & Schwarz provided transmitters, repeaters and test equipment to ABC (Australia Broadcasting Corporation) and SBS. Free TV, an industry body representing Australia’s commercial broadcasters, also supported the trial.

The Rohde & Schwarz equipment includes: an R&S TLU9 50 W transmitter, an R&S ETL TV analyzer and an R&S BTC broadcast test center.

DVB-T2, which can support 4K delivery, is being considered as a replacement for the existing DVB-T TV standard for over-the-air television transmission. Nearly all Australian TV viewers rely on over-the-air television service.

"Terrestrial free-to-air television delivers its service to 99 percent of the population, and over 20 million Australians tune in every week," remarks Peter Lambourne, CEO of Broadcast Australia, owner/operator of a large transmission network.

"This trial has been an important part of ensuring that when the time is right, the terrestrial television platform will be ready for the next stage of its evolution and can deliver the best possible viewing experience."

SEOUL, S. KOREA—SBS, the South Korean television and radio network is transmitting live UHD coverage of select World Cup matches over ATSC 3.0 in immersive and interactive audio using Fraunhofer’s MPEG-H audio format. The demos marks the “world’s first” regular broadcast of immersive and interactive audio powered by MPEG-H according to the broadcaster.

In addition to the opening match between Russian and Saudi Arabia, SBS says it is broadcasting more than 30 matches in UHD/MPEG-H over the ATSC 3,0 broadcast transmission standard during the month-long tournament, including the final and all matches involving the South Korean team. To complete the experience, the loudspeakers at the stadiums from which the matches are being aired include a 5.1 surround setup. For the viewers, SBS is offering three audio presets to hear each match: S. Korean, English or “pure stadium atmosphere.”

[Read: Do We Need More Audio? A Primer On Immersive (3D) Sound]

In addition, a “Dialogue Enhancement” feature will allow viewers to individually optimize the mix of dialogue and effects based on their listening situation

Although the U.S. iteration of the ATSC 3.0 uses Dolby AC-4 for audio, South Korean broadcasters are using the MPEG-H standard for ATSC 3.0 audio. 

For a comprehensive list of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see our ATSC3 silo. 

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA—Seoul Broadcasting System recently rolled out a new 4K OB van and chose a pair of tools from Studer by Harman. The Vista X audio mixer and Infinity Core 400 audio matrix were installed to provide high quality of sound for this 12G SDI UHD single link production vehicle.

The Vista X provides operators with VistaMix features for consistent sound in live, multi-microphone events. The VistaMix allows for the increase in gain for talking mics, reduces gain for others, while also keeping the gain at a constant level. With the Vista X, the truck has four independent processors and CPU-based DSP enables two independent DSP cores running in parallel.

SBS first utilized the OB van during production of the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating competition in Gangneung, South Korea. The truck is expected to assist in production for the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang as well.

MUNICH, GERMANY — South Korean broadcaster SBS will be building out its ATSCo 3.0 network on Rohde & Schwarz transmitters, the vendor said today. The countrywide network will be expanded by adding stations on Namsan, Yongmoon and Gwanggyo Mountains. Rohde & Schwarz said SBS would be using the German manufacturer’s technology to set up a terrestrial TV network and broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in UHD.

SBS decided to go with R&S after doing its first 3.0 broadcast last month. The broadcast, which featured world-cup, short-track speed skating,was terrestrially broadcast from the transmitter station on Kwanak Mountain where Rohde & Schwarz installed a liquid-cooled R&S THU9 transmitter system.

In August 2016, SBS decided on an SFN-based transmitter network from Rohde & Schwarz featuring a 1+1 passive standby configuration with ATSC 3.0. During the evaluation phase, SBS also used Rohde & Schwarz transmitters to conduct SFN trials with the new ATSC 3.0 standard.

South Korean broadcasters and consumer electronics providers LG and Samsung have been instrumental in developing ATSC 3.0. South Korean broadcasters announced last February that they would start ATSC 3.0 broadcasts as of this February. SBS and KBS did live transmissions of the emerging standard at NAB 2016 in April. In July, The Korea Herald reported that South Korea would officially adopt the standard, and at the Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas earlier this month, LG rolled out its first TV sets equipped with ATSC 3.0 tuners.

For more TV Technology coverage, see our ATSC 3.0 silo.

STOCKHOLM—Ericsson is partnering with Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service once again, as it has signed an exclusive media delivery services contract with the public service broadcaster.

This new contract will have Ericsson aggregate, prepare and deliver content from multiple international content owners and distributors from its broadcast and media services hub in London. The media assets will then be delivered directly to SBS’ headquarters in Sydney in a transmission-ready format. Ericsson will also provide Quality Control and deliver full technical metadata that adheres to SBS’ technical and editorial specifications.

 Ericsson previously signed a contract with SBS to provide its captioning services.

MUNICH—South Korean broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting Systems is laying the groundwork for ATSC 3.0 with the decision to install an SFN-based transmitter network from Rohde & Schwarz with a 1+1 passive reserve configuration. This is intended to help SBS set up a terrestrial TV network across Seoul for broadcasting the 2018 Winter Olympics that will take place in Pyeonchang, South Korea.

The transmitter network includes R&S THU9 liquid-cooled transmitters with 5 kW and 2 kW, and is expected to be operational by November on Kwanak, Namsan, Yongmoon and Gwanggyo Mountains.

SBS had previously used R&S transmitters to conduct SFN trials with the new ATSC 3.0 standard.

SINGAPORE—Software-based technology provider Dalet Digital Media Systems has announced that it will send its Dalet Galaxy Media Asset Management platform down under to the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. The Australian broadcaster will use the MAM system to facilitate collaboration across all SBS departments and orchestrate acquisition, preparation and distribution workflows under a single system, according to the press release.

SBS says that it will implement dozens of different workflows and integrate 10 different systems with Dalet. With the new architecture SBS expects to bring its archives into the production workflow and provide embedded tools for program prep and new media workflows from a single system. Features of the integration will include the Dalet Workflow Engine and Dalet Work Orders.

As part of its managed services agreement with SBS, the Dalet Galaxy MAM will take over program management and multi-platform publishing with Ingest QC and Playout provided by Deluxe Australia. Other integrations include IBMS sales and traffic software from SintecMedia, Adobe Premiere, NLEs for craft editing, Front Porch Diva for archive, as well as other in-house systems to provide a single user interface.

STOCKHOLM—Ericsson signed a pair of contracts with Australian public service broadcasters ABC and SBS for multi-year captioning services.

The deal with ABC is a new contract to deliver live and file-based captioning across ABC’s television network, which includes ABC, ABC2, ABC3, and ABC News 24. The deal with SBS is an extension of the two companies’ partnership for an additional three years.

These deals are in addition to the contract that the company signed with ANC, Australia’s24-hour multi-channel, multi-platform news service, back in November.

RENNES, FRANCE—Korean TV broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) has acquired TeamCast’s exTra3.0 terrestrial exciter, according to the terrestrial and satellite modulation technology provider. SBS will reportedly use this new exciter to test the ATSC 3.0 standard.

exTra3.0

The exTra3.0 exciter is a real-time, stand-alone terrestrial exciter that is fully software upgradeable. It has integrated features such as Digital Adaptive Precorrection for RF signal performances, Automatic Gain Control to adapt radiated RF signal levels, and both forward and reflected power measurements.

SBS will use the exTra3.0 for the broadcaster’s testing of ATSC 3.0 technology during the standard finalization period, per Eric Pinson, TeamCast’s business unite manager. ATSC 3.0 offers support for UHD/higher content delivery, personalization and interactivity, and more flexible usage, i.e. fixed, portable and mobile usage.