The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has announced that entries for the 2011 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards will be accepted until 24 September 2010. This industry-recognised annual competition honours outstanding design and engineering in 35 consumer electronics product categories.

The 2011 Best of Innovations honorees will be announced on 9 November 2010 at the New York Press Preview and showcased at the 2011 International CES, 6-9 January 2011. The awards are sponsored by CEA, the producer of the International CES.

Harris Corporation has opened a new factory in Brazil to manufacture low- and mid-power UHF television transmitter products to support the region's transition to digital television. The facility will enable Harris customers in the region to benefit from competitive pricing, improved lead-time and immediate access to post-sales support.

X2O Media, a full-service provider of software, network management, and content services for professional digital signage applications, has signed a distribution agreement with Graphics Distribution Inc. (GDI). Under the agreement, GDI will provide distribution and sales support functions for X2O's Xpresenter Xe Series of stand-alone digital signage systems in the United States.

Telestream, provider of digital media tools and workflow solutions, has announced the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire the business operations of the Anystream division of Grab Networks. The combination will further extend Telestream's position in the software video transcoding market and significantly enhance the company's ability to provide enterprise-class, file-based and live encoding solutions across the globe.

Ross Video has entered into an agreement to acquire Norpak Corporation, which is majority owned by Rovi Corporation. The sale is scheduled for completion on 17 September 2010.

Norpak is the manufacturer of Nielsen encoders and closed captioning inserters as well as VBI, VANC and transport stream data insertion products. Norpak has been an openGear partner for the past three years and offers a range of openGear compliant data insertion products.

Blackmagic Design has announced the acquisition of all assets of EchoLab Inc., designer and manufacturer of production switchers for over 35 years. This experience has culminated in the latest ATEM range of production switchers that include cutting edge technology for features such as up conversion on inputs, multilayer SuperSource input, Stinger transitions, and built in multi-view monitoring, all in a familiar and affordable, fully digital M/E style design.

In the lead up to IBC 2010 Cinegy, developer of workflow, asset management and OEM solutions for the broadcast and post production industries, has announced a new partnership with Netherlands-based solutions provider AA Media Group.

AA Media Group specialises in delivering solutions to broadcasters and media owners that help them to implement tapeless workflows based on best-of-breed IT technology.

The UK Broadcast Training and Equality Regulator (BETR) has just published the results of its annual survey, looking at how the broadcasting industry is doing in terms of providing equal opportunities based on gender, race and disability.

The report, based on diversity information from 70 broadcasters in TV, radio and cable & satellite, totalling approximately 61,000 staff, looked at both workforce data numbers as well as best practice in the industry, considering what strategies work and what don't.

Highlights from the report include:

Streambox and Fisher Communications Inc have announced a strategic partnership to further develop solutions that will enable Fisher and other broadcasters to expand video contribution and Web streaming initiatives for all distribution platforms.

Fisher is also the first US customer to deploy the new Streambox Avenir compact mobile encoder. The Avenir joins a number of other Streambox IP-based streaming and video transport solutions deployed by Fisher to enhance the remote newsgathering capabilities of its news teams.

Egyptian company Nilesat, a leading satellite operator in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, launched the Nilesat 201 last week. The new satellite will transmit 300 additional television channels and bring HDTV and 3D television to the region, as well as carrying IPTV and broadband services.