Harris Corporation has received a significant order for its Videotek test and measurement equipment from leading Italian media group, Mediaset in the run-up to NAB. The new kit has been bought as part of the launch of Mediaset’s new HD play-out facility in Milan, and brings the number of Videotek TVM-900 and TVM-950 units installed the Videotime Production Centre to more than 20.
“We chose the Harris Videotek test and measurement instruments to handle all the signal measurement in our new digital terrestrial television play-out facility for Pay-Per-View and Interactive MHP,” said Mauro Cassanmagnago, research and engineering director, Videotime – Mediaset Group. “With its built-in waveform monitor, vectorscope, picture display and audio meter, the TVM series provides a raft of signal monitoring that we required, including analysers for teletext and WSS and Dolby E decoding, in one compact and cost-effective package.”
As an existing customer of Harris’ Videotek products, as well as Leitch routing and distribution products, Videotime – Mediaset Group was keen to work with the company on a number of levels to facilitate its move to HD. Therefore, Mediaset began testing the TVM-900 in March 2005, and last summer became the first beta site in Europe for the new TVM-950.
“We are delighted to have Mediaset as a key customer site for our latest Videotek test and measurement products to facilitate their HD rollout,” said Dave Dougall, vice president of sales, EAME, Harris Broadcast Communications Division. “The TVM series has generated tremendous interest with our customers worldwide since its launch last September. As well as offering an array of functionality in one device, the new TVM-950 also provides unique functions such as monitoring capabilities in quadrants – an essential feature for Mediaset, as they were keen to reduce the number of instruments that their operators must check and control.”
