The Mediatech Africa trade show will again be taking place from 20-22 July at the Coca-Cola dome in Johannesburg, where the latest in technology and equipment will be on display.

 

This biennial trade exhibition will amongst others showcase broadcast, film and production, professional AV, DJ and professional music equipment; animation, as well as new media and web equipment.

 

The diverse programme will include live demonstrations, workshops and a business matchmaking programme. Visitors will be able to pre-register and be matched to the relevant exhibitors. Meetings will then be facilitated between interested parties, allowing exhibitors to engage visitors on a more personal level.

 

Steve Alves of Concillium Technologies comments: “We believe that 2011 will be one of the most challenging year yet. Both from a technology and revenue generating perspective the relentless pressure to deliver services over multiple digital platforms via communication networks that are ever evolving require broadcasters to become skilled in the reliable receipt and delivery of content across a variety of networks”.

 

 

Speaking of multiple digital platforms, the web will start playing a more prominent role in broadcast and film distribution according to Inala’s Colin Wainer. He said that there will be an abundance of ‘new’ IPTV broadcasters providing content, which will be distributed in multi-viewing formats, allowing viewers to watch it anywhere and at any time.

 

Greg Pokroy, coastal division manager for Jaycor International, feels that new projects and sustainable business after the 2010 World Cup will be key in 2011. “South Africa was given a great opportunity to showcase our broadcast and production capabilities” he said, “and we must capitalise on this securing new business for 2011. South Africa must keep up to date with technological advances allowing the country to be a prime venue and a world class broadcaster”.

 

Wainer elaborated further, stating that broadcast suppliers are gearing up to face the technological challenges posed by DVB-T2 for DTT. He also stressed the importance of employing the correct content tailored to the specific African market. 

 

Quentin Barkhuizen of Telemedia added: “The only technological challenge that this will create is of course the requirement to digitally interface a local channel for a specific local area particularly when the DTT multiplex is perhaps already fed with eight channels from a satellite TV distribution system”.

 

 

3D movies are all the rage, and 3DTV isn’t too far behind. The 2010 world cup was broadcast live in 3D to several countries, and indeed South Africans were able to wonder at the spectacle in various 3D viewing areas including the Sony 3D ‘dome’ in the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton. Does this mean 3DTV is on its way to South Africa?

 

“3DTV will see development during the next year primarily in the origination and production of content for overseas 3DTV channels” explained Jess Goedhals, general manager of Sony Broadcast South Africa.

 

“It is very unlikely that any South African broadcasters will start to broadcast this year. There are however a number of local production companies that have already started producing 3D TV content. Wildlife filmmakers like Aquavision have also started to produce content for the overseas 3DTV channels such as Discovery”.

 

Concillium’s Alves shares Goedhals’ believe that 3DTV will not be a top priority for broadcasters during 2011. This is because the technology in his view is still somewhat expensive, proprietary and not that practical for everyday viewing. 

 

 

Buyers are attracted to Mediatech Africa to view and discuss new technologies such as DTT and 3DTV and much more in fact. “New technologies, products and the opportunity to network with local and international companies within the industry is a great attraction” said Camera Platform’s Tink Minster.

 

Sony’s Goedhals adds to this, stating that Mediatech Africa is the only local forum that enables consumers to view virtually all the products and services available to the local broadcast and production industry.

 

Companies wanting to take advantage of the exhibition's reach can send an email to Claire Fuhri on sales@mediatech.co.za. For further information contact Simon Robinson on 011-025-3180 or email simon@mediatech.co.za.