EbonyLife TV Goes Live with PlayBox
See PlayBox Technology on stand 8.C30 at IBC 2013, RAI Centre, Amsterdam
EbonyLife TV has chosen a complete broadcast system from PlayBox Technology for a new channel transmitting in high definition by direct satellite to subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa. The installation includes ingest, storage, content management, channel branding and playout automation using PlayBox Technology’s flagship AirBox and TitleBox servers. EbonyLife TV is based at Studio Tinapa, Nigeria’s ultra-modern ‘Nollywood’ movie production centre at Calabar in Cross River State.
“We wanted a no-hassle complete automation workflow from one vendor,” comments EbonyLife TV founder and seasoned broadcaster Mo Abudu. “PlayBox Technology has an excellent reputation in Africa and worldwide both for the robustness of its control and playout systems and for the efficient support it provides during initial planning, installation, training and onsite testing. Our production staff like the system’s fast and logical user interface which gives them all the information and control they need to perform each specific task. Our technical management team recognise and appreciate the system’s reliability. Knowing that it works and is fully protected by redundant PlayBox Technology servers, we are able to concentrate on our main objective of originating entertaining and informative programmes.”
“EbonyLife TV produces a large proportion of its content in house,” adds PlayBox Technology Managing Partner and Director, Sales, Don Ash. “For that reason, it needed a solution which could capture and pass live video and audio content as well handle pre-prepared files. The system we have provided is capable of easy expansion if or when the station introduces additional channels. It was installed over a two week period prior to the channel going live at the beginning of July.”
“The system was assembled in our test centre and configured to suit the requirements of EbonyLife before being delivered,” details PlayBox Technology UK Sales Director Ben Gunkel. “Dual high-definition servers drive the channel output. The media asset management and traffic system power the operation before going to air. A PlayBox Technology MAM server allows operators to access their growing content library. The traffic system provides advanced scheduling with forward planning and reporting for the advertising sales team.”