Two of the main vendors competing in the electronic newsgathering (ENG) and point-to-point microwave markets have independently announced separate corporate moves aimed at improving the level of service they offer broadcasters.
Last week, the Vitec Group announced it would form RF Extreme, a new business unit composed of Nucomm, RF Central and Microwave Services. The consolidation is expected to be completed and operational by the first week of April 2009. The move creates a central point of contact for broadcasters to access Nucomm and RF Central products as well as services offered by MSC.
In January, Vislink Group announced a similar move bringing together Advent Communications, Link Research and Microwave Radio Communications under a new business unit called Vislink News and Entertainment. According to Duncan Lewis, chief executive of Vislink, the restructuring focuses the formerly separate business units on better serving broadcasters with new technologies and seamless support.
According to the Vislink Group, the new business unit will support and develop the satellite communications portfolio of Advent, the RF and wireless camera systems of Link and the ENG and microwave offerings of Microwave Radio Communications.
Similarly, Vitec Group’s collection of the RF Central, Nucomm and MSC under the new RF Extreme banner aligns the companies to respond to the changing needs of the market with technological advances as well as a high-level of customer support and service, said Joop Janssen, CEO of the Vitec Group Broadcast Systems division.
Both reorganizations come during a period of rapid change in the ENG market. Not only has the 2GHz Broadcast Auxiliary Service relocation project advanced significantly, but new approaches to newsgathering in the field based on broadband Internet connectivity are transforming newsgathering workflow.