Thomson-Broadcast

PARIS — March 29, 2011 — Thomson Broadcast announced today that New Jersey-based broadcaster WMBC-TV has successfully deployed an ATSC single-frequency network (SFN) to improve its coverage in New Jersey and New York City. The installation ― Thomson Broadcast’s first implementation of an ATSC SFN solution — allows WMBC-TV to reach target viewing areas in New York that were not adequately served from the broadcaster’s New Jersey transmitter due to interference from terrain and building profiles.

Thomson Broadcast upgraded WMBC-TV’s existing DCX Paragon transmitter for SFN compatibility and provided a second Thomson Elite 1000 (ELT-3K80-ULA) solid-state transmitter located on the Empire State Building in New York. The addition of this second transmitter in SFN mode increased penetration into the targeted areas, significantly improving WMBC-TV’s broadcast signal coverage.

Both transmitters are fitted with the ADAPT-IV exciter and use Thomson Broadcast’s FPGA and PowerPC technologies, making upgrades and improvements simple and cost-effective. Thomson Broadcast also provides the SFN multiplexing, with the installation of a NetProcessor 9030 at the WMBC-TV studio to manage the necessary SFN timing information to the two transmitter sites. Thomson Broadcast supplied system setup and commissioning for the project, with third-party verification of system timing at several sites in the WMBC-TV coverage area.

“This installation by Thomson Broadcast provides a solution that is perfectly adapted to our needs,” said Victor Joo, general manager at WMBC-TV. “The ATSC SFN allows us to overcome specific conditions in the densely built-up areas we serve, and with our excellent relationship with Thomson Broadcast, we were confident that the company’s technology would be right for WMBC-TV.”

The Thomson Broadcast Elite family is a comprehensive line of market-leading transmitters that meet the ever-increasing efficiency, availability, serviceability, and low cost-of-ownership demands of today's broadcasters. Based on the latest generation of open exciter platform, Elite transmitters are compliant with DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-H, ATSC, ATSC-M/H, FLO, DAB, ISDB-Tb, and other digital standards on demand.

“This first deployment of an ATSC SFN by Thomson Broadcast has been a great success for the company and for WMBC-TV,” said Richard Fiore, vice president, worldwide sales, Thomson Broadcast. “In addition to overcoming the various challenges of installing a transmitter on the Empire State Building, it was the first implementation of SFN compatibility in both the DCX Paragon and Elite 1000 transmitters, and the successful completion of the project illustrates the value of an SFN in conditions encountered by many broadcasters.”

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 About WMBC-TV

WMBC-TV is an independent full-power commercial TV station licensed to Newton, N.J. Programming is available over the air, on cable TV, and via satellite throughout New Jersey and New York. WMBC-TV's 24-hour program schedule features a lively and informative program mix for viewers of all ages. WMBC-TV is wholly owned by Mountain Broadcasting Corporation.

About Thomson Broadcast

Since the earliest years of broadcasting, the Thomson name has been synonymous with expertise and innovation at the highest level. A trusted partner to the world’s leading broadcasters, Thomson has pioneered many developments that have shaped the industry, leading innovation in solid-state technology, Digital Adaptive Pre-correction (DAP), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), and Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB); winning multiple Emmy® Awards; and gaining more than 50 patents in technologies that have become fundamental to broadcasting. Thomson Broadcast is building on this great heritage with a market-leading portfolio of transmission products for terrestrial television, radio broadcasting, and scientific applications, combined with world-class systems integration services. With more than 50,000 active Thomson transmission systems deployed worldwide and a global support presence, Thomson Broadcast continues to forge technologies for the future, with initiatives such as the innovative GreenPower and broadcast/mobile convergence programs.

About Technicolor

Technicolor is home to industry-leading creative and technology professionals committed to the creation, management, and delivery of entertainment content to consumers around the world. Propelled by a culture of innovation and underpinned by a dedicated research organization, the company’s thriving licensing business possesses an extensive intellectual property portfolio focused on imaging and sound technologies. Serving motion picture, television, and other media clients, the company is a leading provider of high-end visual effects, animation, and postproduction services. In support of network service providers and broadcasters globally, Technicolor ranks among the world’s leading suppliers of digital content delivery services and home access devices, including set-top boxes and gateways. The company also remains a large physical media service provider, being one of the world’s largest film processors and independent manufacturers and distributors of DVDs and Blu-ray™ discs.

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For information about products from Thomson Broadcast, please visit www.thomson-broadcast.com.

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