March issue Television Broadcast magazine
Sinclair/Acrodyne Deal Done
Ron Merrell, Executive Editor
(March 12, 1999) It's a whole new ball game at Acrodyne, now that shareholders for both companies have approved a deal that paves the way for Baltimore, MD-based Sinclair Broadcast Group to acquire 32 percent of transmitter manufacturer Acrodyne Industries, Inc. (located in Blue Bell, PA).
As the newly invigorated company steps up to NAB '99, Acrodyne has adamantly affirmed that it will stand behind its Diacrode technology. But, can the Diacrode play a major role in digital broadcasting?
It will if Sinclair's vice president of New Technologies has his way.
Nat Ostroff, who led the industry into IOT technology through the Klystrode, senses that the Diacrode could not only play a major role in digital broadcasting, but will definitely be a key component as the company also sets its sights on a departure from business as usual at Acrodyne.
Ostroff said he feels that, "From a strictly engineering point of view, the Diacrode is an ideal device for digital broadcasting."
This, he said, is due to its linearity and bandwidth capabilities.
Although it was reported earlier in Television Broadcast (see 12/98 issue) that, as a result of the investment in Acrodyne by Sinclair, Acrodyne's Diacrode (ACT) transmitters would no longer be offered by the company, the opposite now appears to be true.
In fact, at this year's NAB convention, Acrodyne will demonstrate DTV broadcasting at Las Vegas station KBLR-TV (which will by that time have installed and be operating an Acrodyne ACT DTV transmitter).
This is the same transmitter that last year was selected for a transmission product "Pick of Show" Award by Television Broadcast.
Ostroff went on to point out that it's not the only device that will do digital. "While Acrodyne will continue to be a champion of Diacrode technology, it will also invest in and create a world-class IOT product."
Asked when Acrodyne would deliver such a product, Ostroff would say only, "Expect it sooner than later."
So, why would Acrodyne move into IOT-equipped transmitters if the Diacrode is the ideal device for digital broadcasting? As Ostroff explains it, "While the IOT may be the next best device for digital, the IOT is a well understood, accepted technology. It's a mature technology. And, it's available from many different manufacturers.
"As a result," he added, "it's accepted widely. Basically, it would be inadvisable to ignore what the industry wants. Therefore, Acrodyne will offer both Diacrode and IOT products."
He concedes that at present the Diacrode is offered only by one manufacturer, but that may change in the near future.
Meanwhile, Sinclair has announced that it has hammered out an agreement with Acrodyne to supply transmitters for Sinclair's stations in the amount of $30 million. This order will help Acrodyne improve its market position as a major high-power television transmitter manufacturer.
Infusion of capital by this agreement and by purchasing stock will allow Acrodyne to make substantial changes that will transform it from an entrepreneurial company to a world class operation, according to Ostroff.
Aside from this, Ostroff insists, "We want to establish that Acrodyne is an American transmitter company managed by broadcasters."
With this unique position now defined, Acrodyne will be a company commanding attention in 1999. Ostroff plans to make sure of that. |
