Yet another Divicom win, this is starting to bore me...
Digital Pioneer WRAL-TV & WRAZ Select THOMCAST HDTV/SDTV System
08/16/1999 Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1999, Business Wire)
ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE--Aug. 16, 1999--THOMCAST Communications, Inc., prominent supplier of broadcast and wireless communications products and services, announces the sale of HDTV and SDTV encoding systems to WRAL-TV, the first digital television station, and its sister station, WRAZ-TV. The THOMCAST Communications CDS Unit will supply WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC) and WRAZ-TV (Durham, NC) with DiviCom encoding systems, including MV-400 HDTV and MV-40 SDTV encoders, the THOMCAST Pearl PSIP Manager and Opal Data Broadcasting Gateway, and integration and installation services. Thomcast will also supply WRAL with an HDTV encoding system to be used for contribution feeds.
WRAL-TV (Channel 5) is a CBS affiliate, and has the distinction of being the first commercially licensed digital television station on air. WRAL-TV has been transmitting digitally since July 23, 1996. WRAZ-TV (Channel 50), is a Fox affiliate. The Capitol Broadcasting Company owns WRAL-TV and manages WRAZ.
Tom Beauchamp, WRAL-TV Director of Engineering, is looking forward to reaping the benefits of the THOMCAST package. "We selected the Thomcast/ DiviCom solution after careful consideration of product performance, system architecture and functionality. Our goal was to "future proof" our investment as much as possible," he explains.
"Without a doubt, WRAL is a digital visionary and on the cutting edge of today's digital technology developments. We are excited to be selected by a broadcast organization with real world DTV experience," states Mark Richer, Vice President and General Manager of the THOMCAST Communications CDS Unit.
On January 1, 1999, Comark Communications, Inc., and Comwave merged to form THOMCAST Communications, Inc. The Comark Division of THOMCAST Communications Inc., an Emmy award winner, is a leading supplier of high power UHF and VHF television transmitters to the terrestrial broadcasting industry in both analog and digital technologies. Comark provides broadcasters with complete digital solutions through its CDS unit. The Comwave Division of THOMCAST Communications, Inc. is the worldwide MMDS market leader for analog, digital, and 2-way voice/data applications. THOMCAST, a wholly owned subsidiary of THOMSON-CSF, is a leading world-wide broadcast products and systems supplier. THOMCAST's world-wide presence includes operations in France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States.
WRAL-TV-5 is a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc., a diversified communications company with headquarters in Raleigh, NC. In addition to WRAL-TV-5, the company owns and operates WRAL-HD, WRAL-FM, Capitol Networks, North Carolina News Networks, Microspace Communications Corporation, and Capitol Agribusiness, all located in Raleigh NC. CBC also owns and operates WJZY-TV Charlotte, the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club in Myrtle Beach, SC. CBC founded LocalTV on Satellite in Raleigh, NC, and is a broker for WRAZ-TV Raleigh, and WFVT-TV Charlotte, NC.
Contact: CONTACT: THOMCAST Communications, Inc. Tami Ambosie, 570-474-6751 tambosie@thomcastcom.com
15:02 EDT AUGUST 16, 1999 |
