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ERTA migrates to file-based operation and creates disaster recovery facility

NETIA, a leading software manufacturer of media asset management and radio automation solutions, today announced that the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) is using Radio-AssistTM 8 to overhaul and upgrade its nationwide radio service. ERTA, which broadcasts daily in the eleven languages spoken by ethnic groups among the country’s population, is implementing a project to boost its transmission coverage and migrate from tape to file-based operations.

Local integrator USI (United System Integrators) has worked with ERTA to create a new workflow based around Radio-AssistTM 8, encompassing all stages from production to broadcast, including acquisition, sound file editing, scheduling, multicasting, and administration. The architecture of the system includes a centralized archiving facility into which ERTA’s library of 50,000 hours of tape-based content is being digitized. To provide continuity in case of interruption to the main system ERTA is creating a disaster recovery site with duplicated content for additional security.

Thirty workstations equipped with Radio-AssistTM 8 will offer ERTA’s production staff of 150 journalists and editors access to the full range of the system’s production tools, and to the content archive and index. To provide an efficient working environment for ERTA’s multi-lingual staff, the Radio-AssistTM 8 system supports eight different languages used by production teams.

“The Radio-Assist 8 system is at the core of our new production system, and gives us the ability to move to a very efficient and flexible way of making radio programs,” said Haileab Abrha, Deputy Director General and Head of Media Technology.

“The system fits easily into our existing broadcasting environment and the ability to use multiple languages in the interface makes it very flexible for our staff.”

“Radio-Assist 8 is the ideal platform for a broadcaster like ERTA to move from analog to digital operations,” said Michael Shebelle, General Manager of United System Integrators. “With the access to the digitized archive that Radio-Assist 8 provides, and its range of production tools, ERTA’s staff will be able to greatly increase the quality and efficiency of their work.”

About ERTA
Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency /ERTA/ disseminates its news and programs nationwide and overseas via Radio, Television and Online. Ethiopian Radio launched its regular service in 1935 while Ethiopian Television /ETV/ was inaugurated in 1964. However, prior to its inauguration, ETV had transmitted the first and historic assembly of the Organization of African Unity held in 1963, in Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Radio and ETV were merged in 1995 forming the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency /ERTA/. ERTA is directly accountable to the House of People’s Representatives.

About NETIA
NETIA, a GlobeCast company, is a leading provider of software solutions that enable efficient management and delivery of content to today’s full array of media platforms. Relied on by more than 10,000 users in 200 installations in more than 40 countries, NETIA solutions allow content producers and owners to manage content from ingest to delivery, targeting multiplatform outlets including the Internet, VOD, IPTV services, and mobile devices.

NETIA provides content management solutions to major radio and television brands and to multimedia groups around the world. Clients include SBS and ABC in Australia, RAI Italy, France Telecom/Orange, MediaCorp Singapore, RTL France, Radio Globo in Brazil, RTM Malaysia, Radio France, the Associated Press, France Télévisions, TV Center Russia, and L’Équipe 24/24. NETIA has its headquarters in France, with offices in the United States, Paris, Rome, and Singapore, in addition to a global network of professional distribution partners.

About USI
United System Integrators is a leading provider of ICT integrated solutions in the Financial, Government, Telecom and Service sector in partnership with industry technology leading manufacturers. USI provides Enterprise Computing, Networking, Security, Telecom, Media as well as Core baking solutions following a methodology that adds value to its customers. USI supplied and installed its solutions for a large number of customer base in Ethiopia and has been in business for the last 14 years.